ABORIGINAL SOCIAL WORK
In School District #57
WHAT IS SOCIAL WORK
Social work is a profession
concerned with helping individuals,
families, groups and communities to
enhance their individual and
collective well-being. It aims to help
people develop their skills and their
ability to use their own resources and
those of the community to resolve
problems. Social work is concerned
with individual and personal
problems but also with broader
social issues such as poverty,
unemployment and domestic
violence.
Human rights and social justice are
the philosophical underpinnings of
social work practice. The uniqueness
of social work practice is in the
blend of some particular values,
knowledge and skills, including the
use of relationship as the basis of all
interventions and respect for the
client’s choice and involvement.
GENERALIST PRACTICE
• Provide a myriad of services
• Direct and Indirect service
• direct=help students meet
personal goals by providing direct
individual service to students
• Indirect=services done on behalf
of students ex: advocacy
Social Emotional support
This is an abstract term. What does it
mean??????????
• Self harm
prevention/intervention
• Suicide prevention assessment
and intervention
• Conflict resolution
• Anger management
• Addictions reduction
• Substance use education
SOCIAL WORK
Sample services provided by
Members of the Social Work team
• Advocacy at school
• Working with MCFD
• Working and connecting with
Probation
• Home visits
• Connecting with families and
guardians
• Attending community
appointments
• Working with RCMP
• Increasing self esteem
• Anxiety reduction
• Transportation
• Increasing food security
• Connecting community agencies
• Attending court
• Sexual health risk reduction,
prevention and intervention
• Delivering group and classroom
workshops to proactively address
social issues and provide pro-social
education:
SOCIAL WORK
The role of the social worker is extensive
Social workers are trained professionals with a minimum of a 4 year in social
work or a relevant health and human services degree.
Currently the school district has 7 qualified and trained Aboriginal social
workers.
Social workers are located in a total of 8 schools
5 elementary schools
3 high schools
Each ASW can carry a maximum case load of 25 students
SOCIAL WORK
Schools that currently do not have a social worker in their building, are
strongly encouraged to contact the Social Work Coordinator to work
collectively to best met the needs of students.
Social Workers receive on-going educational training
The job of the social worker is not static
Social workers need to continually stay updated on current and best practice
Be updated on community resources and work to build relationships in a host
of realms both within and outside the school.
SOCIAL WORK
Community resources are not as easy to access as one might think
Often waitlists are long, meaning students may not receive immediate services
other than what the school has to offer.
A social worker is a collaborative effort, meaning communication is
paramount. A social worker is only one member of a much larger team.
SOCIAL WORK
Making the referral
Now that you have become aware of a situation or an issue a student is
experiencing, you have decided to refer the student to a member of the social
work team.
How do you do that .
Fill out a referral form, forms are available from the assigned school social
worker or the Aboriginal Education worker. A form can also be obtained by
calling the Social Work Coordinator directly, at the Aboriginal Education
Department.
SOCIAL WORK
Who does the referral go to?
• If there is a social worker, at your school, the referral goes directly to the
school based social worker.
• If there is no assigned social worker, at your school the referral would be
sent directly to the social work coordinator, through the ABED
Department
SOCIAL WORK
What can you expect
• If the student is in elementary school, the social worker needs to contact
the family or guardian of the student to obtain a signature in order to
provide individual services.
• Once the social worker has obtained consent they will meet with the
student, access the situation and create a plan, with the student that will
best meet the students primary needs.
• The goal is always to meet the student where they are at and work
collectively to move the student forward in productive and proactive
manner.
• The school Administrator can also expect a monthly summary report.
MORE INFORMATION
• If you have any further questions, please contact the Social Work
Coordinator: April Hendrickson
• Phone: 250-562-4843 ext. 210
• Email: ahendrickson@sd57.bc.ca