Wayne County

Public Schools

Cultivation, Personalization, Innovation - Every Student, Every Day!

School Social Workers

Overview

The role of the school social worker is to serve as a link between the home, school, and the community. Within this scope, this worker combines skill in dealing with people, knowledge of social, emotional, cultural, and economic issues affecting students and schools, as well as facilitates the learning process by prevention and intervention of problem situations. Through social work methods, this worker is able to foster the inherent growth potential of all children and youth.

Assessment of Student and Family Needs
The School Social Worker uses assessment to determine the special needs of students and families.

Direct Service
The School Social Worker provides direct services to the student and family in the home and school.

Advocacy
The School Social Worker assumes an advocacy role to ensure that the educational, social, emotional, and health needs of the students are met.

Coordination/Liason
The School Social Worker serves as a liaison between home, school, and community to address student and family needs. They communicate and address concerns, thus ameliorating factors that impede student learning.

Program Planning
The School Social Worker provides input for program planning and evaluation. They also contribute to the development of intervention and prevention programs.

Core Values and Ethical Principles

The mission of the social work profession is rooted in a set of core values. These core values, embraced by social workers throughout the profession's history, are the foundation of social work's unique purpose and perspective. Core values, and the principles that flow from them, must be balanced within the context and complexity of the human experience. Below is an extract of the NASW Code of Ethics approved by the 1999 Delegate Assembly:

Value: Service
Ethical Principle: Social workers' primary goal is to help people in need and to address social problems.
Value: Social Justice
Ethical Principle: Social workers challenge social injustice.
Value: Dignity and Worth of the Person
Ethical Principle: Social workers respect the inherent dignity and worth of the person.
Value: Importance of Human Relationships
Ethical Principle: Social workers recognize the central importance of human relationships.
Value: Integrity
Ethical Principle: Social workers behave in a trustworthy manner.
Value: Competence
Ethical Principle: Social workers practice within their areas of competence and develop and enhance their professional expertise.

Reference: http://www.naswtn.com

Attendance Policy

For further information regarding Wayne County attendance policies reference: Attendance K-12 Policy Code 4400

Regular attendance is necessary to ensure academic success in school. We know that you support your child's school success.
The North Carolina Compulsory Law (NC General Statute 115C-378) requires every parent, guardian, or other person having charge or control of a student between the ages of 7-16 shall cause that student to continuously attend school. This includes children under the age of 7, once they are enrolled, unless the child is withdrawn from school. Wayne County Public Schools are required by state law to notify parents/guardian when the student has reached (3), (6), and (10) unexcused absences. Failure of a parent/guardian to adhere to the law is in violation of the above statute. Parent may be prosecuted under the Compulsory Attendance Law if these absences cannot be justified under the established attendance policies of the local school board. Parent/Guardians who are found guilty of not abiding by this law may be subject to a fine or imprisonment or both at the discretion of the court. Please Note the Following:

Please note the following regulations:

1) Parents/guardians are required by Wayne County Board Policy to submit a note signed by the parent/guardian stating the reason for all absences
2) All absences are considered unexcused if a note is not presented to the school within 3 days of the student's return to school.
3) Principals may require certification from a physician or the health department to verify absences for illness.

Wayne County Public Schools may file a complaint with juvenile court counselor when a student is habitually absent from school without a valid excuse.