School social work aims to facilitate student success through addressing barriers and inequities. This involves coordinating efforts between schools, families, and communities. The major areas of school social work practice include direct work with students, families, and staff; management; systems change; policy; research; and education. School social workers help strengthen schools, support student transitions, build family and community support, and prepare students for further education and careers. They also work to foster partnerships between schools, families, and communities using Epstein's framework of parenting, communicating, volunteering, learning at home, decision-making, and community collaboration.

1. School Social Work Practice –
Connecting Schools, Families and
Communities
Presented by:
Bimal Antony
II MSW, No. 111

2. School Social Work
 facilitate successful learning outcomes through the
relief of distress and removal of barriers or inequities.
 coordinating and influencing the efforts of the school,
family and community

3. SSW – Major Areas of Practice
• Direct Practice with students/families/school personnel
• School Social Work Service Management
• School Development and System Change
• Education, School and other Policy
• Research into education, family, child/youth issues
• Education & Professional Development.

4. Schools and Community
• Strengthening schools and improving their power to help
young people succeed.
• Improving transitions for young people across developmental
levels and learning environments.
• Building the capacity of parents and community organizations
to support young people’s healthy development.
• Preparing young people for college and careers.
• Strengthening neighbourhoods and entire communities.

5. Schools and Family
Epstein’s framework outlines six dimensions of parent-school partnerships
 Parenting
 Assisting families with parenting skills
 setting home conditions to support children as students
 assisting schools to understand families
 Communicating
 effective communications from school-to-home and
from home-to-school about school programs and student
progress

6. Schools and Family contd...
 Volunteering
 Organizing volunteers and audiences to support the
school and students
 Learning at Home
 Involving families with their children on homework and
other curriculum-related activities and decisions
 Decision Making
 Including families as participants in school decisions
and developing parent leaders and representatives

7. Schools and Family contd...
 Collaborating with the Community
 Coordinating resources and services from the
community for families, students, and the school, and
providing services to the community

8. References
 Linda Taylor, Ph.D, Howard S. Adelman, Ph.D (2000): Connecting
Schools, Families and Communities, California: ASCA.
 Linda Taylor, Ph.D, Howard S. Adelman, Ph.D (2008): Fostering School,
Family, and Community Involvement, Washington: Hamilton Fish Institute
on School and Community Violence.
 Jeanne Jehl (2007): Connecting SCHOOLS, FAMILIES &
COMMUNITIES, Maryland: The Annie E. Casey Foundation.
 Catherine Jordan, Evangelina Orozco, Amy Averett (2001): Emerging
Issues in School, Family, & Community Connections, Texas: Southwest
Educational Development Laboratory (SEDL).
 Debbie Ellis, Kendra Hughes (2002): partnerships by design - Cultivating
Effective and Meaningful School-Family-Community Partnerships, Portland:
Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory.

9. Thank You