Rash of Suicides Puts Spotlight on Bullying
NASW NEWS February 2011

As many as one in four U.S. students are bullied with some frequency. An effective bullying prevention program is integrated into the daily life of the school. School social workers are uniquely qualified to intervene in cases of bullying because they understand the cognitive processes involved in victimization. Using a strengths-based approach to psychosocial behavior, school social workers can help targets of bullying avoid internalizing negative messages.

Studies tend to be consistent in explaining reasons students drop out. Students typically said they didn't feel anyone at their school cared about them, or they had to leave to financially support their families. Student boredom, large classroom sizes and language barriers also topped the list of reasons. While teachers may do all they can to help children understand skills they may need as an adult, social workers are specifically trained to understand and help deal with other aspects of children's lives that may result in a negative educational experience.

Children with Disabilities: A Family Affair
NASW NEWS, March 2005

Parents and siblings must be considered as part of the process of adjusting to disabilities. Social workers who work with children with any kind of disability agree that the most important element of this practice is recognizing the whole family unit as a client. One important way to help families access available services is through cross-disciplinary collaboration.