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Since 1978, PASSWP has been actively involved in the professional education of Home & School Visitors and School Social Workers in Pennsylvania. Our Board works with the Department of Education, and other professional organizations, to stay on the cutting edge of trends in the field. We look to experts to provide training for the school social workers and home and school visitors who are delivering critical support services to students across the Commonwealth. We are devoted to maintaining the highest possible standards for school social work personnel employed in our schools. To that end, we work with Schools of Social Work and programs that provide education for Home & School Visitors in colleges and universities located within our state. PASSWP strives to offer a variety of continuing education options and networking opportunities for our members and the broader social services community.
 Check out our FEATURED MEMBERS page! Interested in nominating someone? GO FOR IT! We all benefit from sharing positive stories and ideas! The 2017 PASSWP Home & School Visitor/ School Social Worker of the Year Award goes to...
Congratulations!
Click HERE to nominate the next
HSV/SSW of the Year!
Hello and welcome back to a new 2018-2019 school year! All of the board members here at PASSWP hope that you had a nice and relaxing summer. I am happy to say that I made a western trip to Pittsburgh this summer for a college visit with my son, who is a junior in high school. Although I did not get to catch up with the folks who are doing a great job of keeping us all connected in the west, I was able to stop in on the 21st floor, the Cathedral of Learning, at the University of Pittsburgh which houses the School of Social Work offices. What views they have in that building! I hope to get out there again. This, like most years, has been a busy one! Tension stemming from national events such as politics and school shootings always seem to have a trickledown effect with the students and families we work with. As we look at what is happening here in Pennsylvania, a report released by the Governor and the Auditor General’s Office suggests “We probably need more money for mental health.” As we all know, school social workers often provide support and assistance to students and families who struggle with mental health issues. I have received great information and statistics from our past president, Peter Fidgett, who recently attended a meeting of the Governor’s Task Force on School Safety on April 6th, 2018. The question was asked “How many Social Workers are there in Pennsylvania Schools?" A short answer might be “not enough!” The real numbers are:
It is great to see an increase and, although it is not so great that it has taken tragic events to evaluate what can be done, the consensus seems to be that there needs to be more of us! Did you see the article we posted on Facebook in August? One PA school district will be using grant money to add social workers to their staff! In other news...
Good luck with the school year! Joe Werner, MSW, LSW, HSV PASSWP President | ANNOUNCEMENTS Interested in participating in a research study investigating school social workers' experiences with students who are struggling with gender identity in a school setting? Click here to learn how to get involved. * * * SSWAA position paper on family separation School social workers have a long history working with immigrant children and families, ensuring their success and integration into American society. As school social workers, we also understand the long term effects of adverse childhood events. Separating children from their parents after an already arduous and traumatic journey when seeking asylum or refuge from life-threatening circumstances is without a doubt harmful and must stop immediately.
* * * SSWAA considers gun violence in schools A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE. "Just as cancer, motor vehicle accidents, and substance misuse are public health issues, so is gun violence in American schools. Multiple-victim school shootings are both tragic and preventable. According to the American Public Health Association, gun violence has become an epidemic: causing over 30,000 deaths per year and 60,000 injuries with an average of nearly two dozen children killed every day (Cox & Rich, 2018). These deaths and injuries are especially grievous when they happen to our children within the supposed safety of their schools." CLICK HERE TO READ THE SSWAA POSITION PAPER * * * Join the PASSWP Networking Forum below! A place for questions, comments, concerns, & requests for ideas! * * *
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