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1906-1907: A group of settlement workers in New York City assigned workers to visit both homes and schools to promote communication between schools and communities. The Women's Education Association established visiting teachers in schools to improve communications between schools and families with the goal of improving education.
1913: The Rochester, New York Board of Education initiated the first visiting teachers program that was funded by the board of education.
1918: Schools passed compulsory attendance laws, and visiting teachers, the precursor to school social workers, were responsible for monitoring attendance and providing services to improve attendance.
1940-1960: The role of the school social worker changed as schools placed emphasis on communication among school personnel and focused on psychosocial issues. - Today school social workers are charged with working with the entire student body and the staff of the school, as well as maintaining positive and open communications with the families of children and the community at large. They may provide individual services to children and their families or offer training programs for all parents. They often arrange and facilitate workshops and training schedules for teachers and alert them to other training that is available.
- As a result of the intensive work of competent school social workers, the climate of the school is improved and academic achievement shows gains. Children and families are directed to the appropriate services to meet their individual needs and communication between all stakeholders grows. Children are likely to feel valued and important to the system and are more likely to strive to meet their academic and social goals.
- As school social workers establish improved communications with families and communities, schools become better able to address the whole child and provide educational programs designed to meet those needs. Parents are empowered to become part of their child's education and have the confidence to approach teachers when difficulties arise.
- The school social worker is often an agent of change. When there is a positive and open line of communication between schools, parents, community members and outside service agencies, meeting the needs of children and families is a much easier task. When teachers have the support of parents and the community they are better able to design and implement effective teaching plans. When needed training and resources are provided to teachers by the school social worker, teachers are empowered to apply the knowledge and techniques in the classroom without spending excessive amounts of time searching information or locating resources and can focus their energy and expertise in the area of teaching.
