MISSION STATEMENT
School Social Workers work with students, families, and school staff to access available opportunities and resources to help develop students’ potential and to support their school experience.

SOCIAL WORK ROLE
- Provide ongoing services to students who have social work goals as part of Special Education Services.
- Provide short-term services to students who are in need of social/emotional support in achieving their academic goals.
- Intervene with students who are in crisis due to academic, social, behavioral, or family issues.
- Refer and help families access community, medical, mental health and social welfare services.
- Facilitate communication among staff, students, parents, and the school to support student’s progress.

REFERRAL PROCESS
Students are referred to social workers through the following channels:
•    Special Education services and social work goals.
•    Teacher or Problem Solving Team (PST) recommendation.
•    Parent request or inquiry.
•    Student self-referral.

PROGRAMS and SERVICES
•    Individual and group meetings to work on building skills such as social skills, coping skills, managing anger, making friends, dealing with bullying and approaches to problem solving.
•    Individual and group meetings to deal with issues that are causing stress, such as grief and loss, divorce, or sickness of a family member.
•    Crisis intervention for crisis that might affect an individual, a class, or the entire school.
•    Special Education Assessments  - Social Workers are part of the school team which assesses students for special education.  This includes conducting Social Histories with parents, classroom observations, social-emotional testing, and helping to determine appropriate services for students.
•    Parent Liaison – social workers can be an additional liaison to help with communication between school and home.
•    Referrals – social workers can be a resource to families and link them up with area agencies to meet a variety of needs.
•    Consultation with outside resources including therapists, mental health providers, doctors, and outside agencies.
•    School and Community Education – Social Workers teach a curriculum in classrooms called Second Step, which teaches social and emotional skills.  Also, through school forums, social workers will make presentations on topics of interest to parents.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Following are links to a variety of agencies within the local area, which provide many different services to our community.

Village of Skokie – (847) 933-8208
Contact person: Beth Lindley
5127 Oakton Street, Skokie
http://www.skokie.org/HumanServicesMain.cfm
•    The Social Work staff provides information and referrals such as:
•    Community Resources
•    Employment Resources
•    Housing Resources
•    Financial Assistance Providers and Availability
•    Legal Assistance Resources
•    The social workers also provide advocacy and short-term counseling for various issues

Niles Township Food Pantry – (847) 983-0073
5255 W. Main Street, Skokie  
•    The Food Pantry is open for Village of Niles residents for emergency purposes only.   There is a procedure in order to receive food.  Please call for more information.

Salvation Army Thrift Store – (847) 983-8197

4335 Oakton Street, Skokie
•    Inexpensive clothing items and home goods

Skokie Park District /SPACE

(847)674-1500 - Customer Service for general programs and information
(847)674-1500 x2742 – Nancy Eschker, SPACE coordinator
9300 Weber Park Place, Skokie
http://www.skokieparkdistrict.org/
•    Ongoing recreational programs from children/teens including summer camps
•    Fee assistance is available for those that qualify

•    SPACE  programs are held before and after-school in the Skokie schools for children in K-5th grade.  They provide a nutritious snack, recreational and educational activities in a safe and nurturing environment.

Turning Point Behavioral Health Center – (847) 933-0051
8324 Skokie Boulevard, Skokie
http://www.tpoint.org/
•    Provides individual and family counseling and psychiatric services
•    24 hour emergency mental health services
•    They offer a sliding fee scale for those without insurance coverage

ELL Parent Center – (847) 568-7617
Contact person: Corrie Wallace
9440 N. Kenton Avenue, Skokie
http://www.ellparentcenter.org/
•    The ELL Parent Center provides many services including:
•    English classes (free childcare provided)
•    Parenting workshops
•    Access to community resources (including help with housing, legal issues, immigration, citizenship, employment, and many others)

Holiday Giving Programs
•    Various organizations have programs to assist with food/presents during the holidays.  Please contact your child’s school social worker for more information and availability

skokienet.org
•    This website lists many more resources within the community that may be helpful to you and your family.  To access the list, click on the left tab labeled “Social Services” and choose the appropriate category