School Social Workers in Grand Forks Public Schools are trained mental health professionals, with a degree in social work and are licensed by the state of North Dakota. They provide services related to a person's social, emotional, and life adjustment to school and/or society, as well as provide consultation to school staff regarding child welfare matters.

Students' school performance and academic success are impacted due to behavioral, emotional, and social problems that negatively affect their role as a student. School social workers help students through prevention, assessment, intervention, and support.

School social workers are the link between home, school, and community in providing direct, as well as indirect, services to students, families, and school staff to promote and support student's academic and social success.

Services for Students

• Provide services that foster social and emotional skills
• Provide crisis intervention
• Develop intervention strategies to increase academic success
• Assist the student with understanding and accepting themselves and others

Services for Families

• Collaborate with family to assess barriers affecting the student's education
• Address family stressors to enable the student to function more effectively as it relates to student education
• Assist families in accessing programs available to students
• Assist families in accessing and utilizing school and community resources

School-Community Liaison

• Obtain and coordinate community resources to meet student's needs
• Assist school districts in receiving adequate support from social and mental health agencies
• Advocate for new and improved community/school service to meet the needs of students and families

Services to School Staff and District

• Develop and implement social and emotional programs to support the educational needs of students
• Provide consultation regarding school law and school policy
• Provide case management for students and families with complex needs
• Develop alternative programs for students who need additional support
• Crisis intervention and consultation regarding student safety

Related Services

• Participate in special education assessment meetings as well as Individual Education Planning (IEP)
• Work with those problems in a student's living situation that affect the student's adjustment in school (home, school, community)
• Mobilize family, school, and community resources
• Assist in developing positive behavioral intervention strategies
• Participate in the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support process (MTSS)