Schools across the District have re-opened for the 2024-2025 academic year, and the NASW Metro DC Chapter welcomes back school social workers with thanks, resources, and tools to help them rise to the challenge. 

“School social workers play a critical role in the development of and service to students and families,” says Executive Director Debra Riggs. “Although rarely acknowledged publicly, these highly trained professionals connect youth and parents to needed resources, provide behavioral health expertise, and go a long way toward helping school officials best educate and support the next generation of workers and leaders. I thank every one of them for their hard work already.”

School social workers are invited to access numerous tools, practice standards, publications, and other resources by the National Association of Social Workers, including the following:

• NASW School Social Worker Resources Page
• Back to School for Social Workers: Social Workers Support of Social Justice. YouTube video, 2021. Guidance on how to help students through the pandemic and what social workers should know about social justice and racism. 
• The School Social Work Toolkit: Hands-On Counseling Activities and Workshops. By Alison Varianides. 2012. ISBN: 978-0-87101-438-2. 2012. Item #4382. 178 pages. This is a great how-to resource for social workers, counselors, and mental health professionals in education. Topics covered include the direct practice part of the school social worker's job, as well as the administrative and policy-driven aspects such as child abuse reporting, disciplinary interventions, training, and dealing with teachers and parents. Sample forms, individual and group counseling activities, school programs, and crisis intervention protocols and assessments are included.
• NASW Standards for School Social Workers 
• Multisystem Skills and Interventions in School Social Work Practice. Edith M. Freeman, Cynthia G. Franklin, Rowena Fong, Gary L. Shaffer, and Elizabeth M. Timberlake, Editors. ISBN: 0-87101-295-2. 1998. Item #2952. 492 pages. $14.39 (a 10% saving off nonmember price of $15.99) when you enter your member number and discount code to receive member discount at checkout. The 45-chapter book covers multisystem interventions at different levels to address challenges such as curbing aggressive child behavior, improving attendance in at-risk elementary school children, empowering families, working with teenagers with ADHD, preventing youth suicide and substance abuse, policy development and reform, Medicaid managed care and urban poor people, and more.
• “Back to School for Social Workers: Bolstering Parent Engagement.” YouTube, 2021. Advice on gaining parent trust and engagement.  

NASW Metro DC continues to advocate for anti-discrimination policies related to LGBTQ and other students, as well as for reduced and forgiven student loan debt and school-based funding for mental and behavioral health programs. Any NASW Metro DC member interested in engaging in the chapter’s Social Justice and Policy Committee should contact Riggs at driggs.naswdc@socialworkers.org.