MAY, 2004

 

 

Ira Kurland, CSW

City-wide Chapter Leader, Social Workers and Psychologists, United Federation of Teachers

Supporting Those Who Save Lives 

 

For the past 18 years, I have represented the School Social Workers employed by the Department of Education.   As the UFT Chapter Leader for this group, I have observed many changes and challenges in school social work practice.   Fortunately, social workers are very resilient are stronger and today we are stronger than ever. Prior to assuming this role, I chaired NASW's school social work committee.

System Overview

There are 1.1 million students who are educated in over 1100 public schools in NYC. There are about 1200 UFT school social workers that provide social work services to these students and their families. (They provide services to students in general education and in special education; and primary prevention services to Pre-K students and their families.) There are about 1200 school psychologists also, most of whom work in the area of special education.

 

Social workers provide services in the following areas:

  • 572 in School-Based Support Teams (SBST)
  • 65 participate in CSE (Committee on Special Education) review teams (who deal only with non-public schools)
  • 17 work with hearing and visually impaired students
  • 6 are on “Carter teams” – working with students who seek public funding for private school
  • 6 are in pre-school assessment centers
  • 100 are in pre-kindergarten programs
  • 400 are in community school districts (pre-2003 Board of Education structure – providing the related service of counseling to special education students)
  • About 50 are in 50 LYFE programs (for pregnant teens or teen parents)
  • 100 are in “District 75” programs (for severely handicapped students)

 

Social Workers' Challenges   and Successes

Social workers engage in a tremendous variety of high quality work. In general, they work under isolated conditions and have little or no access to supervision or regular meetings with peers.

Social workers strive to provide or obtain the best services for students to assist them in achieving the most from their educational experience.

Students in regular education who present with problems get counseling through the ERSS (Educationally Related Support Services) Program.   Some of the problems exhibited by students who are traditionally referred for special education classes include behavior problems, lack of classroom interaction, and academic failure.   The significance of social workers' intervention through the ERSS program was documented in a recent study about outcomes.   As a result of the ERSS counseling, a full 78% of referred students did not require special education services.

All of these social workers provide primary prevention services to students. They work with teachers and other clinicians to help students. They literally and figuratively save lives each day. Daily they are put to the test, and daily they rise to the challenge.

School social workers are invaluable and often feel unappreciated. They are integral to the functioning of schools. They deserve our recognition and thanks.

 

  

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