{"id":4900,"date":"2016-03-07T19:13:06","date_gmt":"2016-03-07T23:13:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/?p=4900"},"modified":"2016-03-08T15:55:37","modified_gmt":"2016-03-08T19:55:37","slug":"school-social-workers-create-bridge-between-school-and-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/school-social-workers-create-bridge-between-school-and-home\/","title":{"rendered":"School social workers create bridge between school and home"},"content":{"rendered":"

They are praised for going above-and-beyond to support students and families.<\/p>\n

They work tirelessly behind the scenes to make connections and access additional resources.<\/p>\n

They collaborate with teachers, administrators, school counselors, support staff and community agencies to remove barriers to education.<\/p>\n

They are school social workers, and we celebrate their efforts during National School Social Work Week, March 6-12.<\/p>\n

\"thank<\/p>\n

Linkhorn Park Elementary School principal Barbara Sessoms doesn\u2019t hesitate to brag about school social workers with whom she has worked over the years.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are chauffeurs, couriers, counselors, teachers and bargain shoppers,\u201d said Sessoms.\u00a0\u201cThey are true givers of their time, energy and in some cases, finances. They truly make things happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even the overwhelming workload doesn\u2019t deter social workers from being \u201cwilling to provide whatever support is necessary to meet the needs of students,\u201d according to Green Run High School principal Todd Tarkenton.<\/p>\n

Support ranges from securing food, clothing and transportation to home visits and crisis intervention.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey have hearts bigger than I can describe. They\u2019re going to go to whatever degree they need to in order to take care of their families,\u201d said Gay Thomas, administrative coordinator in the division\u2019s Office of Student Support Services.<\/p>\n

\"Jeneshia\"<\/p>\n

Thomas has no shortage of examples of how school social workers are going the extra mile.<\/p>\n

She noted that a high school student with a medical disability was a wheelchair user and could not ride the school bus because there was no paved access from his house to the street. Through a school social worker\u2019s networking and advocating on the student\u2019s behalf, the city provided a paved connection so the student would have easier access to the school bus from his home.<\/p>\n

Another school social worker learned of terminally-ill student whose wish was to receive a Westie, or a West Highland white terrier, for Christmas. She made phone calls, posted requests online and was able to get a puppy for the child within a week, complete with veterinary care, food and supplies for at least one year.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe once had an honor roll student who stopped coming to school,\u201d recalled Thomas. \u201cOn a home visit with the school resource officer, the school social worker discovered the student\u2019s brother was threatening her and made her stay home from school.\u00a0They worked with the family and were able to ensure the student was safe and able to come back to school.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thomas added that she\u2019s known school social workers to rent trucks to help families move, work with their churches to set up food pantries and provide financial assistance to help pay for summer school. This is in addition to their daily school responsibilities of assisting with special education committees, student response teams, homeless verification, truancy and other needs as requested.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is important to recognize when a student\u2019s physical and emotional needs are not being met. Unstable housing and a lack of food, clothing or medical care can have a significant impact on a student\u2019s academic success,\u201d said school social worker Nancy Reckling.\u00a0\u201cWe help reduce those barriers.\u00a0School social workers create a bridge between the school and the home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"jump<\/p>\n

School social worker Donna Whiteside describes their work as \u201can extension of the school.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOur profession helps the teacher better understand the student who is experiencing physical, psychological and emotional difficulties, [and we] help parents understand their vital role and address the barriers that make it difficult for a student to succeed,\u201d said Whiteside.<\/p>\n

Whiteside conducts countless home visits to keep parents informed and keep the lines of communication open.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s rewarding when a parent is empowered and able to meet the basic needs for their family,\u201d she said. \u201cIf I can help them achieve that sense of security and stability, then I know the children will be more successful in school.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor my high school students,\u201d added Whiteside, \u201cteaching them how to trust themselves and others despite the hardships and challenges is very rewarding.\u201d<\/p>\n

First Colonial High School principal Nancy Farrell describes her school\u2019s social worker as \u201cthe bridge that connects First Colonial to all of its students and families.\u201d From meeting with students in the school counseling office to delivering food in neighborhoods, Farrell says that school social workers are \u201can incredible asset to our school and the community we serve.\u201d<\/p>\n

Serving students as a school social worker rather than an elementary school teacher is a shift Kenya Jones made five years ago.<\/p>\n

\"Kenya<\/p>\n

\u201cI have always enjoyed helping others who are in need. After teaching students with a wide array of needs in the classroom, I wanted to be more involved in helping to meet their needs,\u201d explained Jones.<\/p>\n

\u201cSchool Social Workers address issues such as truancy, homelessness, mental health concerns and other challenging environmental factors that students and families face,\u201d added Jones. \u201cWe support parents and students, enhance their emotional well-being and help to improve their academic performance. It is rewarding when you can see progress being made.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTheir influence is far-reaching and sometimes we aren’t made aware of just how far their influence goes,\u201d noted Tim Sullivan, Bettie F. Williams Elementary School principal.<\/p>\n

He credits his school social worker for making sure that students at his school receive backpacks filled with school supplies, new tennis shoes, food every weekend and presents at Christmas. She also collaborates with a local restaurant, Surf Rider, to ensure students in need enjoy a Thanksgiving meal.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is like she has a magic wand,\u201d said Sullivan, \u201cbut the magic is in her hard work and her love of children. She is a gem.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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