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Social Worker |
RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY,
CARING, FAIRNESS,
TRUSTWORTHINESS and
CITIZENSHIP
...are the work of the school social worker at Duffy School.
Helping
to implement our Character Education Program
means working with children and Duffy staff and parents, trying to assure that
all of our students are welcomed, valued, safe and successful at their school.
In individual and group counseling sessions, small social skills groups, and in
whole class "Circles of Respect", the
social worker listens to the children and teaches them good listening skills.
She and the children share strategies to deal with issues such as bullying and
being left out. Often, small groups of children ask to spend their recess time
resolving playground conflicts.
The
school social worker collaborates with other Planning and Placement Team (PPT)
members to assess children who are referred for Special Education services. She
provides counseling services for mandated Special Education students and for
non-mandated students.
The
Hillcrest Area Neighborhood Outreach Center (HANOC) 
is
located in the southeast corner of West Hartford where several Duffy children
live. The school social worker, in collaboration with the school psychologist,
the Department of Social Services and several other West Hartford agencies,
helps to run the Homework Center at HANOC. She also helps co-ordinate many other
activities and services at the Center.
SOCIAL WORKERS
Social workers are trained professionals who have bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees in social work. They practice in a wide variety of settings, including family services agencies, community mental health centers, child welfare, private practice, schools, hospitals, businesses, nursing homes, courts, prisons, and public and private agencies.
Social workers address problems as varied as substance
abuse, family conflicts, workplace tensions, health problems, disabilities,
mental illness, inadequate housing, poverty, and violence. Social workers work
directly with individuals and families, as well as in public policy,
administration, research, community organizing, and advocacy.
Professional social workers are the nation’s largest group of mental health services providers. Federal law recognizes social work as one of the four core mental health professions.