"Be the Change": School Social Workers as Change Agents To Help Students Succeed

     The week of March 6-10, 2017, marks the celebration of School Social Work Week. With the theme of "Be the Change," school social workers across the country will highlight their critically important role in helping students every day to meet the academic, social, and emotional challenges on the road to becoming successful and productive young adults. Under the leadership of the School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA), the only national organization exclusively dedicated to the profession of school social work, this celebration will emphasize school social work interventions that support students and families to meet these challenges. SSWAA will continue this theme at its annual conference in San Diego, CA, March 22-25, 2017.

     "School social workers are Specialized Instructional Support Personnel, working with students and their families, so that children feel supported at home and at school," says Myrna Mandlawitz, Government Relations Director of the School Social Work Association of America. "Researchers in the field are continually developing new and innovative ways to address barriers to learning that will allow students to successfully complete school and contribute to society," Anne McInerney, SSWAA Board Member, adds.

     Rebecca Oliver, Executive Director of the School Social Work Association, notes, "School social workers are agents of change. When students do not feel heard, school social workers listen. When students or families have unmet needs, school social workers advocate for needed support and/or services. When students, families, or communities feel marginalized, school social workers are an empowering force for change.” Christy McCoy, SSWAA Board Member and Legislative Chair, comments, “School social workers advocate at the school level, community level, state level, and national level for needed change to address the needs of all students.”

     "School social workers help students every day in schools across the country," says Jim Raines, Board President of the School Social Work Association of America, "and those same students are the leaders of tomorrow. We join with the students, families, and school staff across the nation in saluting their school social workers on the celebration of School Social Work Week 2017!"