School Social Work provides many forms of assistance to students, families and teachers. The primary goal of this assistance is to maximize student availability for learning. This assistance may take the form of individual counseling for a student, small group counseling for students working on similar issues such as divorce or grief, and counseling for parents/guardians for improving parent/child communication, emotional concerns, behavior issues, and motivation for learning. School social workers assist school personnel by providing classroom activities to promote character development, emotional health, positive and productive social interaction. It is the responsibility of the school social worker to assist school personnel understand conditions which may affect a child's ability to fully participate in his/her education and to facilitate referrals to appropriate community resources. School social workers play an integral role in the EIP and PPT process and are familiar with the requirements of the school system. All students, regular and special education, may utilize school social work. Insuring individual success for all students is our primary goal. Referrals for social work assistance occur at many levels and can be requested in person, by school phone (684-3181) or email (zitos@stafford.ctschool.net) by students, parents and teachers. Confidentiality is strictly observed as per FERPA and HIPPA guidlines. |