1. North Carolina School Social Work Vision
To create nurturing relationships with students that enhance academic achievement and personal success as globally productive citizens in the 21st century. We utilize advocacy, leadership and collaboration to promote overall academic success by promoting services that strengthen home, school and community partnerships and alleviate barriers to learning.

2. Parent of a CCS Elementary Student
“Even though I was annoyed when you first made contact with me about my child’s attendance, the minute you started talking with me, my attitude changed. I wasn’t afraid; I wasn’t mad; I wasn’t talked down to. You valued and respected what I had to say, from the very beginning, and I’ll never forget how you helped me. You may be a school social worker, but what I appreciated was the fact that you treated me with respect and you were interested in what I had to say about my child.”

3. Parent Involvement is Vital To School Success
School Social Workers are professionals who routinely work to bring disengaged families/students into the school
School Social Workers strengthen the family/school connection and increase parent involvement by establishing clear lines of communication

4. Effective Communication = Positive Results
Working with students in groups or individually
Connecting with families in homes and communities
Collaborating with school staff to reduce the achievement gap among low-income and minority students
Consulting with administrators and central office staff to promote a safe, healthy, and nurturing environment

5. CCS Middle School Student
A teenage mom was introduced to the school social worker by a staff member. She was inspired to become a social worker because of the compassion and fairness demonstrated by the school social worker. “I remember just last year I was a bad girl, but that’s not who I truly am. My life has changed with the help of my school social worker.” Julissia

6. SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK FUNCTIONS School social work services strengthen home, school and community partnerships.
Assessment of Student, Family and School Needs
Direct Services/Service Delivery
Advocacy
Consultation and Collaboration
Program Planning, Implementation and Evaluation
Accountability

7. Assessment of Student, Family and School Needs Effectively assess and address needs of students, families and school staff.
Interview students, staff and family members to identify needs that affect student learning
Review cumulative record contents for student history
Observe student/families in multiple settings to address barriers to student learning
Partner with agency personnel to address student and/or family needs
Collaborate with student services teams to identify gaps in services and design plans consistent with student needs, strengths, diversity and life experiences and social/emotional factors

8. Program Planning, Implementation and Evaluation Planning, implementing and evaluating programs that promote student and family success
Apply knowledge of environmental factors in planning programs
Conduct needs assessments at assigned sites to assess school needs
Plan programs to promote a safe, healthy, caring school climate that promotes academic success
Assist assigned schools with planning programs that address situations that interfere with student learning

9. Direct Services/Service Delivery Applying social work theories and methods to intervene for student success.
Provide services to students in ways that build on individual strengths and offers opportunities to take ownership in the planning and direction of their own learning experience
Utilize practices such as assessment, crisis intervention and response, home visits, individual and group counseling, conflict resolution, graduation awareness and coordination of school and community services to promote student success

10. Advocacy Ensuring that appropriate services are in place for students and families.
Advocate on behalf of students, families, and the school system using appropriate statutes, case law, policies and procedures
Assist students and their families in gaining access to formal and informal community resources
Use research and technology to assist students, families, schools and communities

11. Effective Advocacy
….can best be accomplished when school social workers keep informed about court decisions, legislation, rules, regulations and policies and procedures that impact school social work practice.
NASW Standards for Practice
School Social Work Services

12. Advocacy = Empowered, Informed Voices
In Cabarrus County Schools, effective advocacy requires an awareness and understanding of many federal and state mandates, including:
Child Abuse and Neglect policies/laws
McKinney-Vento Homeless Education
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
NC Compulsory Attendance Laws
No Child Left Behind Act
NC ABC’s
CCS Strategic Plan
IDEA
Section 504
Response to Intervention

13. Consultation and Collaboration Consulting and collaborating with key stakeholders on behalf of students and their families.
Work with internal and external individuals, agencies and groups to develop programs or systems of care that support and enhance the health, social and emotional well-being, and safety of students
Promote collaboration among community health and mental health service providers and facilitate student access to these services
Join with stakeholders to build effective school-community teams and orient community providers to school climate, culture, structure and to the laws and regulations governing practice in the educational setting 13

14. Accountability Advocate and contribute to school social worker accountability for outcomes aligned with local, state and federal policies.
Conform to the NASW Code of Ethics and Standards for School Social Work practice
Maintain accurate case records and documentation
Evaluate practice and disseminate findings to key stakeholders in order to maximize the effectiveness of services and resources provided to students
Maintain a working knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations, particularly those with an emphasis on child welfare, mental health, confidentiality and student/parent rights 14

15. Cabarrus County Schools’ Social Workers
Fully licensed by the NC Department of Public
Instruction in School Social Work at the following
levels:
Advanced Master of Social Work
Master’s Degree
Bachelor’s Degree

16. Organizational Chart CCS School Social Work

17. Collaborative Efforts in the Community
Collaborative Efforts in the Community Agency partnerships include, but are not limited to:
Department of Human Services
Cooperative Christian Ministry
Cardinal Innovations
Department of Juvenile Justice
CMC - Northeast
Children’s Advocacy Center
Cabarrus Arts Council
Local Law Enforcement
Cabarrus County Court System
CVAN

18. Collaborative Efforts in the Community
Collaborative Efforts in the Community Agency partnerships include, but are not limited to……
Jr. Charity League/Clothing Closet
Mental Health Agencies
Cabarrus Health Alliance
Teen Court-Mediation Center
Salvation Army
Communities In Schools
Cabarrus Partnership for Children
Hispanic Outreach
Big Brothers & Big Sisters
ARC

19. CCS School Social Workers Through the Years Highlights and Milestones
School and Community Resource Manual
Child Abuse & Neglect Policy
CCS and DSS Memorandum of Understanding
Child Abuse Prevention - Touch Safety Program; Blue Ribbon Campaign
Youth Action for Peace
Prom Boutique
After - School Initiatives
Active Parenting Classes
Outdoor Experiential/Adventure Activities
State Level Advocacy (revision of the school social work job description)
School Social Work Internships through our partnership with UNCC
K-8 Attendance Policy
Truancy Court Initiative
School Social Work Department Manual- Best Practices
SAM Campaign (School Attendance Matters!)

20. Service Challenges
School assignments range from 3-4 schools per social worker
Limited time at assigned schools results in fragmented service delivery when addressing issues impacting academic achievement
Timely follow-up with administrators and school staff is hindered by heavy and complex workloads

21. Looking Ahead
Reducing social worker to student ratios (NC DPI is reviewing a plan to establish a ratio of 1 to 800)
Mental Health Reform and delivery of services in the schools
Substance abuse education and services
Truancy Court implemented in
Critical Incident Stress Management

22. We Can Make A Difference!
“ In spite of the many problems permeating the schools, there is enough flexibility in the system today for one creative, energetic social worker to make a significant difference in the lives of thousands of children.” Norma Radin -School Social Work Practitioner and Educator

23. Heather Bradley LaRhonda Bryson
Prepared by
CCS School Social Workers
Heather Bradley LaRhonda Bryson
Doug Carr
Aronda-Dunlap Elder
Melissa Gallimore
Lenee Mann
LeTecia Ray
Michael Sutton
Matthew Weisner
Nina Wilkerson
Jacobia Williams
Visit our website at CCS Homepage/Departments/Student Services/School Social Work