Put SSW in the Driver’s Seat:

Steering the School MH DebateMyrna Mandlawitz, Ed.M., JD

Director, Government Relations

School Social Work Association of America

“In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress.”

-- John Adams, 2nd U.S. President

SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE…BUT…

YOUR Voices Count!

“There is nothing more eloquent to a member of Congress than the voice of his/her

constituent.”

-- Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi

Social Work Code of Ethics

Social workers should be aware of the impact of the political arena on practice and should advocate for changes in policy and legislation to improve social conditions in order to meet basic human needs and promote social justice.

SSWAA Mission & Vision Mission:

SSWAA empowers school social workers and promotes the profession to enhance the social-emotional growth and academic outcomes of all students. 

Vision:

We envision school social work as a valued, integral part of the education of all children, connecting schools, families and communities.

The “Bottom Line”

Changing public policy is a marathon, not a sprint!

You may not reach your goal in a day, a month, or a year…but never stop beating the drum!

National MH Initiatives

The State of Play for Children’s Mental Health

Post-Newtown Discussion

Solution #1: More school resource officers, locked buildings, & armed staff?

OR Solution #2: Improving school climate to

create safe, nurturing environments for learning?

“Now is the Time” & Other Initiatives School Climate Transformation Grants

Implementing multi-tiered behavioral programs Project Prevent Grants

Schools in communities with pervasive violence Comprehensive School Safety Program

Large scale research to improve school safety

SSWAA Told the White House to… Hire more MH professionals for prevention,

early intervention, crisis intervention & building strong supports for & relationships with students and staff.

Promote school-wide PBIS. Increase & enhance services for students

with emotional challenges in general and special education.

More SSWAA suggestions…

Provide universal screenings & follow up services for P-12 students with MH issuesby trained school-employed MH professionals with appropriate referrals to community services.

Increase community education on issues related to MH and exposure to violence, e.g., national campaign!

Proposed Congressional Actions School Social Workers Improving Student

Success Act (Moore, D-WI) Grant program: Hire & retain SSW in high-need

school districts Reducing Barriers to Learning Act (HR 2378;

Loebsack, D-IA) Change “pupil services” to Specialized

Instructional Support Personnel (SISP) Office of SISP in US Dept of Education Grants to hire State SISP Coordinators

More Bills in Congress Student Support Act (HR 2375; Lee, D-CA)

Reduce ratios of students to school MH providers, Keep Kids in School Act (S 672; Casey, D-PA)

Allowed to use funds to hire more school MH providers.

Focused on reducing suspensions/expulsions. Mental Health in Schools Act (HR 1211;

Napolitano, D-CA) School-community partnerships.

“Message” Bills

School Social Work Week Resolution (H.Res 146) Sponsor: Rep. Moore, D-WI

National SISP Week (H.Res 183) Sponsor: Rep. Loebsack, D-IA

Elementary & Secondary Education Act Student Success Act (HR 5)

Eliminates mentions of mental health services Every Child Achieves Act (S 1177)

Title IV: Needs assessment Allowable use for mental health services SEE NEXT SLIDE FOR THE GOOD NEWS!

Elementary/Secondary School Counseling Program Only federal grant specifically to hire school-

employed MH providers, including SSW. Eliminated in House bill. Bipartisan amendment keeps program in

Senate bill. 10 NY districts just received new grants. NOW, need to keep in final ESEA bill.

Advocacy Activities Effective School Staffing Model (SSWAA,

NASP, ASCA): Emphasizes team approach to safe, supportive

schools.

A Framework for Safe and Successful Schools (SSWAA, NASP, ASCA, principals, SROs): Improving school safety & increasing access to MH

services.

Achieving Great Public Schools (NEA)

SSWAA Documents

School Social Work Practice Model

National SSW Standards for Social Emotional Learning (final version June 2015)

Latest Advocacy Document

Safe, Healthy, and Ready to Learn www.futureswithoutviolence.org Policy recommendations addressing violence and

trauma Clear statements about need for school-employed

MH providers & SISP Budget cuts should not result in eliminating positions. Appropriate ratios. Appropriate mix of staff necessary to support teachers.

Also addresses healthcare, juvenile justice, & community partnerships.

FY 2016 Appropriations (Funding) Cuts proposed in House and Senate for

education/health/labor overall. President proposes increases and includes

School Counseling Program. Money drives everything!

So What Does All This Mean For YOU?

STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE!

SSWs Play a Critical Role

“School Improvement” should always address: barriers to learning student engagement in learning

SSW are integral to “school improvement”: Provide direct interventions to students Increase and support family involvement Link to community services, as appropriate Provide professional development for staff

Local Advocacy: How to Begin SSWs’ right/responsibility to advocate for

profession & students. Find out

who district decision makers are where decisions are made (school, district central

office, state) If represented by union, get them involved! Is there a local SISP coalition? If not,

consider forming one!

Making Changes At District Level Develop “plan of action.” Pick priority issue & discuss with SSWs. Choose leader & organize group. Find “partners!” Research & present case to decision makers.

Support with facts. Develop succinct and clear message.

Be ready to answer tough questions and offer solutions!

Go to the Public

Start with clear message (“elevator speech”). Develop media list Develop sample op-eds, letters to editor, press

releases Meet with local editorial boards, radio & TV

stations, local access cable TV Use social networking: Facebook, Twitter,

YouTube

State Advocacy Learn state government basics.

Check state website Learn about branches of legislature & key issues

Connect to legislature’s website Check legislative calendar, including key committee

meetings Learn when members will be at home Check introduced bills on issues of interest Sign up for “notification” on bills of interest

Committee Testimony

Check for public hearings on key bills. Contact the committee about testifying. Notify your legislator that you’ve requested

time to testify. Usually have to submit “request to testify”

when arriving at the hearing.

Build Relationships

Identify your legislators. Have an initial in-person meeting, if possible. Establish yourself as an “expert” and a

resource. Stay in touch through website, email,

Facebook; become a “fan!”

AND MOST IMPORTANT…

BE COUNTED!!!

THAT MEANS….

BUILDING THE PROFESSION

OF

SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK!

How Can you Do That?

If you are NOT a member of NYSSSWA and SSWAA, JOIN TODAY! ….and I don’t just mean so you can get a

discounted conference registration or CEUs. Once you’ve joined, GET INVOLVED!

Committees? Legislative action?

Already a Member?

Pledge to do the following: Get at least ONE more (OK, maybe more than

one!) unaffiliated SSW to join NYSSSWA and SSWAA.

Start to build a relationship with at least one legislator – local, state, and/or federal.

Educate at least one potential community partner about SSW.

SPEAK OUT FOR SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK!

A Few Final Thoughts Be ready to explain

How school social workers differ from community-based folks.

Why students need a team of supports in every school every day…and those team members are not “interchangeable parts.”

How partnerships with community resources are critical, and are the “bailiwick” of SSW.

….AND be sure to gather as much DATA as you can along the way!

"There is no trust more sacred than the one the world holds with children. There is no duty more important than ensuring that their rights are respected, that their welfare is protected, that their lives are free from fear and want and that they grow up in peace."

--- Kofi A. Annan, Former UN Secretary-General

Take the Challenge….

Thank you for Becoming Stronger Advocates for School Social Work!