School social workers employed by Union County Public Schools serve as liaisons between school, home and community. We consult with classroom teachers, school counselors, attendance personnel and school administrators to help eliminate barriers and to promote academic success for all students. We conduct home visits in order to gather pertinent information and to foster strong relationships between students, families and school personnel. Finally, in order to further assist students and families, we often collaborate with community agencies to access appropriate services not traditionally offered by the school system. 

Functions

School social workers support students in their academic success:

• Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Improve attendance
• Build self-esteem
• Resolve conflicts without violence
• Strengthen interpersonal and intrapersonal skills
• Improve communication skills
• Remain in school and graduate

School social workers support families to:

• Participate more fully in their children's education, through parent conferences and school visits
• Strengthen parenting skills
• Access school and community resources
• Develop realistic expectations and ways of caring for their children which are age and developmentally appropriate
• Seek solutions to barriers that inhibit familial involvement
• Identify and meet their children's social and emotional needs
• Monitor their children's homework and attendance
• Promote trust and understanding to build partnerships among school, home and community

School social workers assist educators to:

• Have a better understanding how factors such as family, culture, socioeconomic status, and physical and mental health can affect students' performance
• Discover new resources
• Respond to crisis situations
• Identify and report child abuse, neglect and dependency
• Obtain community resources to meet the needs of students
• Work with parents effectively