Social Work Program K-12

Boise Schools Social Workers bring unique knowledge and skills to our school system. Social workers are instrumental in furthering our District’s academic mission, especially where home, school and community collaboration is the key to achieving our mission. Services provided by our social workers include:

• Collaborating with school and community resources to assist students in maintaining enrollment and achieving academic success.
• Acting as a liaison between home, school and community to enhance communication and relationships, and to assist in identifying factors that influence student performance.
• Supporting and collaborating with parents, administrators, guidance counselors, mental health professionals and other special services to improve student success.
• Assisting families in understanding and accessing resources available within the school and community.
• Providing short-term crisis intervention, counseling and student support groups.

Our Mission is to provide services that enhance and promote the educational, emotional and social needs of students and families in order for them to make use of the resources available to them to achieve their full potential within their home, school and community.

Secondary Level Services

All District high schools and some junior high schools are served by Social Worker whose services compliment the school’s contribution to the student by providing a discipline that encompasses a perspective and a methodology different from that of the teaching profession. Social workers use their skills to identify those factors responsible for any difficulties which would adversely affect a student’s progress within the Boise School District. She/He takes corrective action through the implementation of a problem solving approach geared to each student’s needs. Social workers provide short-term and extended intervention with students, either individually or in groups. In addition, social workers will provide short-term casework with parents, crisis intervention, parent education and skill development, consultation with teachers and other staff members, provide liaison referral services to community agencies, and conduct home visits.

Qualifications: Master’s Degree in social work from an institution approved by the State Board of Education, Pupil Personnel Endorsement and Social Work License from the Bureau of Occupational Licenses.

Elementary Level Services

Many of our elementary schools are served by Community Resource Social Workers whose services compliment the school’s contribution to the student by providing a discipline that encompasses a perspective and a methodology different from that of the teaching profession. Social Workers use their skills to identify those factors responsible for any difficulties which would adversely affect a student’s progress within the academic setting. These professionals join with an identified student’s family to develop a plan for stability that will support the student’s ability to be successful in the school setting. A community resource social worker develops a family-centered plan that assists families with housing, food, utilities, child care, clothing, school performance, counseling, behavior problems, medical care, parenting and liaison referral services to community agencies.

Qualifications: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in social work from an institution approved by the Bureau of Occupational Licenses.

Social Workers - Names, locations and contact information