The mission of the school social work services in the Wake County Public School System is “to provide support services that positively impact the development of the whole child through school, family, and community.” 

What is a School Social Worker?

A school social worker links home, school, and the community.  She works with students, families, school staff, and community agencies to help students receive the best possible education so they can meet the challenges of the future.

What Do School Social Workers Do?

• Understand:
  - Student/family strengths, needs, and problems
  - Student’s community
  - Student’s history

• Offer consultation to school staff

• Counsel individuals, groups, and families.

•  Improve relationships between families and students.

• Connect families to community resources.

•   Explore ways to prevent problems

•  Participate on Student Support Teams and PES teams.

When Are Social Workers Needed in Schools?

When students have:

• Poor attendance
• Failing grades
• Family crisis
• Unmet basic needs
• Emotional and behavioral concerns such as:

-         fighting

-         negative attitude toward school

-         refuses to cooperate with adults

-         student appears sad or depressed

-         drug and alcohol abuse

Who can refer students to School Social Workers?

• Teachers
• Parents
• Students
• Administration
• School Counselors
• Community Agencies

*This description is taken from the WCPSS School Social Work Services pamphlet.

Links to further information and websites:

United Way   www.unitedwaytriangle.org
National Institute of Mental Health   http://www.nimh.nih.gov/
Service Index of Wake County Human Services   www.wakegov.com/serviceindex
Salvation Army   www.keepthebellringing.org
Mental Health Association of North Carolina   www.mha-nc.org
resource of household items   www.withlovefromJesus.org
Legal Aid of NC   www.legalaidnc.org
Children and Adults with Attention/Hyperactivity Disorder   www.chadd.org
excellent preschool resources and mental health   www.lucydanielscenter.org
American Psychological Association   www.apa.org
Womens Center of Wake County   www.wcwc.org
American Academy of Pediatrics   www.aap.org
Volunteer Families for Children of NC   www.vfcnc.org
preschool services and parenting help   www.projectenlightenment.wcpss.net
Smartstart in Wake County   www.wakesmartstart.org
Interact - agency deals with domestic violence and sexual assault   www.interactofwake.org
National nental health and suicide risk screening tool   www.teenscreen.org
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill   www.naminc.org
Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation   www.bipolarchild.com
Family Support Network of NC   http://fsnnc.med.unc.edu/