School social work has an extensive history, all the way back to 1906-07 when it was established in New York, Boston, Chicago and New Haven, Conn. At the inception, school social workers were known, among other things, as advocates for equity and fairness as well as home visitors.

Fast forward 110 years and our VBCPS school social workers are doing that and more.

Workers with regular school assignments are responsible for sitting on special education committees, student response teams, crisis intervention, homeless verification, attendance and other basic needs as requested.

Jeneshia Ferebee spends four days a week at Williams Elementary and one day a week at Luxford Elementary. She and her colleagues work extends beyond the student to the family, with the notion that a student cannot succeed in school without the basic needs and support at home.