The School Social Worker

  The School Social Worker This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something I may earn a commission.  Below is a combination of what I learned through my education but also through experience as a school social worker.  Some of what you read may seem like basic knowledge, and it is.  If that's the case, I hope you find it helpful to know that you're not alone in your role and you find this as helpful reminders on how you practice.  You play a vital role in your students lives and at times it can feel isolating.  If you're new to school social work I hope you find the information helpful as you find your niche within the world of school social work.   Being nice.  When working in schools you encounter all types of students. A hand full of these students will have maladaptive skills that are interpreted by adults as rude, disrespectful, defiant, or even flat out mean.  Some of these students may have mental healt...

  The School Social Worker This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something I may earn a commission.  I am not a dietician, a nutritionist or anything remotely related.  However, I have educated myself on diet (not diets!) and what foods I put into my body.  I became a vegetarian shortly after having my first child.  I never really liked meat, especially red meat and the dreaded pork chops (apparently a St. Louis/midwest thing?) so I phased it out.  After watching documentaries on food, I attempted a vegan diet but boy is that difficult!!! I have replaced many dairy items with non-dairy products like milk, butter, ice cream, etc.  But cheese exists soooooooo I have failed at being 100% vegan.  I'm sharing this because my knowledge of what I eat and the affects of it on my body (or my kids bodies) and even a person's mental health has spilled over into my practice .  I never rule out that what the...

  The School Social Worker This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something I may earn a commission.  First off, do you even have an office?? I didn't for so many years.  Most schools will make an effort to provide you with some kind of space, but it's not always readily or consistently available.  I've worked in the hallway, a lot, and have even held therapy sessions in a CLOSET! Yes, a PE closet.  Insert palm to forehead here. This space, as you might guess, is not appropriate for therapy sessions.  Not only are you you in close quarters with the students which can be uncomfortable, it can also pose as a safety risk and affect confidentiality.  These types of rooms don't have a window which is needed to protect yourself from any potential violent behaviors or from a student accusing you of inappropriate behavior.  If you leave the door open, you're increasing the chances of violating confidentiality as many of these cl...

  The School Social Worker This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something I may earn a commission.  Hi there and welcome to the School Social Work blog! I am in my 13th year as a school social worker in the area of special education and I'm excited to share my experiences, tips, and expertise in the area!  It has it's ups and downs just like any other job, but working with children and adults is a unique and special experience.  It can be emotionally draining and you can encounter a significant amount of secondary trauma and compassion fatigue. We are often exposed to repeated  experiences of secondary trauma whether it be death, homelessness, abuse, observing significant mental health issues, or strained family dynamics.  I am often told "I don't know how you do it". I ask myself that some days and I hope to talk about it later. On the other hand, this job has many rewards.  There are  many students who are wonderful ...