Social Work
The P.A.E.C. school social work department’s mission is to provide a continuum of consistent support, guidance, quality counseling, as well as a multitude of other services to students, and their families, in an attempt to help promote adaptation, adjustment and growth in areas of interpersonal relationships, self-awareness/self-esteem development, communication skills, emotional development, problem solving skills, and coping skills.
The P.A.E.C. school social workers collaborate with parents, teachers, community agency providers, administrators, and other faculty/staff as a means to enhance and increase the effectiveness of the P.A.E.C. Cooperative and/or district schools in meeting the academic needs of their students.
The P.A.E.C. School social workers provide direct social work services to students and their families who are struggling with emotional and/or social issues that may be interfering with educational progress and success. Such direct social work counseling and services offered by the P.A.E.C. School social work department includes:
*Individual and/or group counseling
*Short-term Family Therapy
*Coordination and Facilitation of monthly Student-Family Wrap Cases
*Crisis Intervention and Response Teaming
*Coordination and Facilitation of Specialized Parent Groups
*Participation in Child Study Team/Screening Team; Eligibility Conferences
and/or Annual Reviews
*Conducting and completing social developmental studies for initial placement in special education and/or re-evaluation purposes
*Designing and implementing IEP social work goals/objectives to meet special student needs
*Facilitating Referrals of student and/or family to community service agencies
*Serving as liaisons between school & home, school & social agencies, and/or other professionals advocating the best interests of the student (i.e., Department of Rehabilitation, Mental Health Agencies, Local Police and Juvenile Officers, Psychiatric Facilities, Medical Facilities, etc.)
*Serving as mental health consultants to parents, teachers, administrators, principals, supervisors, and other faculty/staff working with students and/or families in crisis and/or in need of therapeutic counseling services.
*Providing substance abuse prevention counseling and/or referral to community substance abuse agency.
*Providing Transitional and support planning
*Planning, coordinating, and developing yearly in-service training
*Organizing and collaborating with community agencies in developing and implementing in-school prevention programs (i.e., PLCCA’S If I Can You Can Program; YOS’s Life Skills Program; School-Wide Daily Social Skills Program; PBIS Program; 1stStep to Success Program, etc.)
*Offering and providing internships for two graduate and/or post-masters level students enrolled in a North-Central University school social work program.
*Maintaining active memberships in school committees, school advisory teams, pupil personnel services teams, mental health associations (IASSW, NASW, SSWAA, etc.) and/or various other clubs and organizations (i.e., WSJOA, NOVA, American Red Cross, etc).
The social work services provided to the students and their families address many needs and difficulties which include, but are not limited to:
*Family stresses (i.e., divorce, loss, drug addiction, etc.)
*Various psychiatric Disorders (i.e., mood disorders, adjustment disorders,
cognitive disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, eating disorders, etc.)
*Peer and/or familial relationship issues
*Self-esteem concerns
*Behavioral problems
*Motivational problems
*Childhood/Adolescence Disorders (i.e., Attention Deficit & Disruptive Disorders, Learning Disorders, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Substance Abuse Related Disorders, Communication Disorders, etc.)
*Medical Concerns
The P.A.E.C. School social workers are bound by a professional code of ethics that protects the confidential nature of the counseling relationship. Confidentiality is maintained in all instances, except in cases of abuse, neglect, or when students are in danger of harming themselves and/or others.
All members of the P.A.E.C. School Social Work Department hold a masters degree in social work, have a Type 73 State of Illinois Certificate, and most are registered by the State of Illinois as Licensed Clinical Social Workers.