School Social Workers reach out to students and their families to overcome barriers that interfere with school adjustment and success. They work with individual students, small groups and families in schools, in homes and in the community. The student and family participate with the social worker to assess their needs, develop and implement an intervention plan, and involve appropriate school and community resources. Barriers in the lives of students include: attendance issues; child abuse, neglect and dependency; trauma, grief and loss; poverty and homelessness; family conflict; domestic violence; delinquency; gang involvement; learning problems and developmental delays; teen pregnancy and parenting needs; and other economic and behavioral issues. All workers are licensed in school social work; most are additionally licensed in clinical social work (LCSW or LCSW-A) and several are licensed as Clinical Addiction Specialists (LCAS or LCAS-A). 

Parental Involvement Coordinators work in our schools to promote and increase parent/family and community engagement to support student learning, and to identity educational opportunities within the school district and community.  The scope of their work includes:

• Conducting meetings, workshops, or other activities to increase parent/family and community engagement in education and to increase awareness of district parent/family and community engagement events and opportunities.
• Fostering positive relationships and communication between the community and schools to encourage success of students and parents in the overall education process.
• Assisting and/or coordinating student personal need supports with other student services staff, that may include food, clothing, or housing assistance programs.
• Maintaining and developing multiple communication channels to engage parents which may include, but are not limited to newsletters, emails, text services, social media, and special events.
• Counseling with students and parents/families to develop strategies/ interventions to promote positive behavior, social interactions, and academic success.
• Visiting student home environments to assist with services that may include, but are not limited to, identifying basic personal needs, food and clothing, developing relationships between parents/families/guardians; providing/arranging interpretation and translation services (as needed) or other services related to improving academic performance and parent/family, and community engagement.
• Collaborating with district leaders as well as various organizations such as resource officers or social services to develop interventions or strategies to minimize student absences and increase parental involvement in educational activities.
• Coordinating volunteers to assist with school related events related to increasing student and parental/ guardian involvement.
• Organizing student data either electronically or physically according to district or federal guidelines.
• Developing awareness regarding specific student needs or barriers to parental engagement based on demographics, culture, community environment, etc.
• Attending IEP or other student conferences to discuss student progress/ needs, interpret, or establish targeted interventions.