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What is Essential in School Social Work Practice

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Abstract

As the need for school social work (SSW) practitioners increases, more research may be useful to understand how roles and practices are shaped and how this differs from their perceptions of essential practice. To understand the roles and functions of SSW, a survey of nine critical components was developed through an evaluation of national association’s standards that offer guidance for SSW practice. Survey respondents (N = 318) consisted mostly of SSW practitioners (85%), evaluated nine critical components: advocacy, building capacity, home-school liaison, multi-tier system of support, navigating school settings, professional values, service delivery, social work theory, use of data and evidence, and suggested the addition of new essential components. The results focus on which practices are deemed essential and the frequency of performing these tasks. We conclude with implications of practice essentiality and frequency discussed across the nine critical component domains, offering suggestions for future research, education, training, and professional development of SSW practitioners.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA

    Robert Lucio

  2. Lewis University, Romeoville, IL, USA

    Emily Shayman

  3. University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA

    Brandon D. Mitchell

  4. Central Rivers Area Education, Cedar Falls, IA, USA

    Emilie Souhrada

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  1. Robert Lucio
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  2. Emily Shayman
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  4. Emilie Souhrada
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Correspondence to Robert Lucio.

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Lucio, R., Shayman, E., Mitchell, B.D. et al. What is Essential in School Social Work Practice. School Mental Health 16, 403–416 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12310-024-09643-z

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