I truly believe that social workers enhance the academic mission of a school or classroom by promoting success through active collaboration between a student’s home, school and community.

As a member of the education team, social workers use their skills and connections to community resources to empower families to effectively advocate for their child across multiple settings. Social workers in schools do a lot of work behind the scenes to help ensure students are taken care of completely. We provide counseling and emotional support to students who are struggling with anxiety, depression, or trauma. And we collaborate with teachers to develop strategies for addressing behavioral issues in the classroom.

Despite the important role that social workers play in schools, our profession is often misunderstood and underutilized. But despite these challenges, I remain inspired by the resilience and strength of the students in my classroom. I am grateful for the opportunity to support them on their journey and help them learn how to advocate for themselves.

On this World Social Work Day, I urge community leaders to recognize the essential role that social workers play in promoting the well-being of our students and our communities. By investing in social work services and supporting policies that promote equity and inclusion, we can help to build a brighter future for all students.

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