Online Resources for School Social Work
- SocialWorkersToolbox.com
- School Social Work (SSW) Network
- NASW Press
- SWHelper
- School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA)
School social workers can need help just like anyone else, so if you’re going into this diverse, ever-changing field, it’s a good idea to look for websites geared towards school social workers. They can make all of the difference in your success with students, parents and teachers.
SocialWorkersToolbox.com
While not meant exclusively for school-based social workers, SocialWorkersToolbox.com is a goldmine of content, and much of it can be applied in the classroom just as easily as a foster home. It’s divided into neat sub-sections for topics like “bullying,” “drugs,” “alcohol” and “mental health,” and it offers all kinds of articles, videos, games, activities, workbooks and checklists for both social workers and their clients. Whether you need to help a student boost their self-esteem, cope with a compulsive disorder or understand the effects of puberty, SocialWorkersToolbox.com can help.
School Social Work (SSW) Network
As you might have guessed from the name, the School Social Work (SSW) Network is devoted to the support, education and training of social workers in academic settings. For this reason, it’s one of the best online resources for school social workers. There are countless blog entries with titles like “Social Skills Interventions for Students with Behavior Challenges” and “Service Animals in Schools: A Primer. When you’re done going through the archive on the website, you can also browse the SSW’s Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Pinterest accounts. It isn’t just a single website. It’s an entire network of information and opportunity.
NASW Press
NASW Press is an offset of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). It specializes in books, journals and reference works dedicated to social sciences, and it can be a great resource for everyone from guidance counselors to truant officers. Not everything is geared towards social work in an academic setting, but you can purchase things like the 178-page “School Social Work Toolkit” that offers activities, workshop ideas, crisis intervention tips and common policy forms that you’ll see as an administrator. As a bonus, you can rest assured that all advice is coming from top-notch researchers and educational experts. The NASW wouldn’t steer you in the wrong direction.
SWHelper
The Social Worker Helper (SWHelper) is a busy, multi-faceted website that will quickly become one of your daily stops just like a news channel or social media network. It offers the latest updates on educational reforms, technological breakthroughs and other areas of academic interest, and its articles cover everything from pop culture to mental health services. Today’s top story might be about the way that smartphones are helping research into depression and anxiety; tomorrow’s promoted article might be about not burning yourself out at your job. SWHelper can provide a wealth of knowledge if you’re willing to wade in and open your mind.
School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA)
Do you understand the rules and responsibilities of school social work? Have you been briefed on the National Standards for School Social Work Services? Do you understand all of the ways that you should be reaching out to students, teachers, parents, principals and district leaders in your new role? You might want to check out the website for the School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA). It’s an excellent tool for first-timers, and it can also serve as a brush-up resource for senior social workers. All of the information is flowing from an official nationwide organization for school social work, so you can trust it.
Related Resource: Top 10 Affordable Master of Social Work Online (MSW) Degrees
These are just a few places where you can find valuable tools, tips and exercises for social service fields. If you’re looking for great websites for school social workers, this list should be your starting point.