School Social Worker

Many students face barriers to learning that make it difficult for them to be successful in school. These barriers include but are not limited to learning difficulties, mental health issues, poverty, racism/discrimination, alcohol and other drug abuse, child abuse and neglect, homelessness, domestic violence, and pregnancy. The focus of the School Social Worker is to improve the educational outcomes of students, especially students who are experiencing barriers to learning.  The School Social Worker provides a wide variety of services.

Practice Includes:

• Crisis Intervention
• Individual and group counseling to address mental health concerns, including anxiety and depression.  Foundations of these sessions focus on strengths, building resiliency, and creating a sense of belonging.
• Providing students and families resources due to financial and housing instability.
• Home-school collaboration
• Advocacy
• Coordination of school and community services and consultation.

Helping students to:                                                      

• Cope in times of crisis
• Access mental health services
• Become resilient, successful learners
• Gain personal and social competencies

Collaborating with Administration to:
Implement effective systems and policies which address: 

• Attendance
• Mental health
• Alcohol and other drug abuse
• Teen pregnancy/School aged parents
• Violence
• Suicide and sudden death
• Child abuse and neglect
• School safety

Supporting parents to:

• Effectively participate in their child's education.
• Understand their child's developmental and educational needs.
• Access school and community resources.
• Strengthen parenting skills.

Linking schools and communities to:

• Coordinate the delivery of AODA and mental health services
• Providing resources for students and families
• Develop resources to adequately meet the needs of students and families

Assisting educators to:

• Work effectively with parents
• Discover new resources
• Understand family, cultural, and community factors affecting students
• Meet education outcomes for students of diverse backgrounds  

RESOURCES:

If you are in need of Mental Health Services,  contact Dodge County Clinical Services Crisis Line @ 920.386.4094, after hours call 888.552.6642

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:  Call, text, or chat 988 to connect to a trained counselor, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you are looking for essential community services in Wisconsin, call 211 or click the following link Essential Community Services

Dodge County Community Resource Guide A guide to resources in the community including rental/housing assistance, food pantries, medical assistance, transportation, parenting resources etc.

Dodge County Guia de Recursos en la Comunidad- Una guía de recursos en la comunidad incluyendo asistencia para alquiler/vivienda, despensas de comida, asistencia médica, transporte,recursos para padres etc.

Wisconsin Wayfinder supports families of children with delays, disabilities, special health care needs, and mental health conditions. Children’s resource guides are helpers who assist families, caregivers, professionals, and organizations in finding a wide array of supports and services available through the Children’s Resource Network. Their services are free and confidential.