MAY, 2004

A Morning In The Life Of A School Social Worker 

One high school social worker who participated in the NASW focus group gave an example of her typical morning at school.   The school is in a middle class community, and has 4,000 students.   The on-going work summarized below suggests a rather fast paced day.

• Worked with a teenager who is very depressed and does not want to go to school.

•  Assisted a girl who is being sexually harassed by a group of boys; met again with the principal who is refusing to change her class.

• Helped a group of kids address harassment and discrimination through the formation of a gay-straight alliance.

• Followed up on effort to re-unite a foster child with her father.   The child's grades rebounded from an F to a B.

• Met with a child who had been self-injuring.   Helped the girl's mother find an effective therapist.   The child now reports feeling “awesome”.   

• Continued working with a group of difficult kids who were cutting classes.   In partnership with a teacher, created a class just for them, to help them have a much needed positive experience in the school.

Back to School Social Work Page                 Back to Home Page