Social Work Services

School social workers strengthen students’ learning opportunities, achievements, and socio-emotional functioning by providing the following services:

• Providing casework services to students and families facing adversity

• Facilitating individual and group support sessions

• Serving as mandated reporters for cases of suspected child abuse and/or neglect

• Responding to cases of suicidal ideation

• Serving as members of the district crisis team

• Upholding the Georgia Compulsory School Attendance Law through filing complaints with DeKalb Juvenile Court and submitting referrals to the Solicitor General’s Office

• Providing services to children experiencing foster care placement, homelessness or migratory living arrangements

• Make recommendations to teachers, administrators and parents regarding school related concerns

• Interpreting school policies and procedures which impact student performance

• Serving on County and District committees to address child welfare matters, including: attendance, foster care, discipline, homelessness, social emotional learning and other issues impacting children and youth

• Identifying community resources for children and families

• Youth Mental Health First Aid

• Connections Matter

• Darkness to Light Sexual Abuse Prevention Training

• Department of Family and Children Services Mandated Reporter Training

• School Social Work In-service for all school staff

• Child Abuse In-service for all district volunteers

• Restorative Practices

The DCSD McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth program is designed to address the problems that homeless children and youth face with enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school. The DCSD Homeless Education Program (Title IX, A) helps children and youth residing in temporary housing situations to ensure educational stability. Children and youth experiencing homelessness face unique barriers to accessing and succeeding in school. The McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. § 11431 et seq.) establishes the definition of homeless used by public schools and the educational rights to which homeless children and youth are entitled. Under the McKinney-Vento Act, the term “homeless children and youths” means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

The DCSD Homeless Education Liaisons removes barriers for homeless children and youth to ensure access to education and academic challenges and student achievement standards to which all students are held throughout the district.

The DCSD Homeless Education Liaisons assist homeless children and youth by:

• facilitating the identification of homeless students;

• ensuring that homeless students are immediately enrolled;

• resolving disputes between the school and legal guardians or caregiver,

• coordinating school transportation services,

• assistance with school supplies and school uniforms,

• assistance with credit recovery classes,

• assistance with senior dues such as graduation cap, gown, and diploma fees,

• assistance with school required immunizations and vision, hearing, and dental screenings,

• providing linkage to local community resources to assist with housing needs.

Contact Information

• School Social Work Department
  DCSD Homeless Education Program

• 678.676.1804

• 678.676.2012

A system-wide intervention program for students who violate certain drug-related policies. Students are referred by local administrators or Student Relations. Classes are held on a scheduled Saturday, and students are accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Contact Information

• Shelly K. Bishop, MSW
  Coordinator

• 678-676-2009

• Tameica Williams
  Facilitator

• 678-676-6331

The Sources of Strength program is a comprehensive, evidence-based initiative designed to promote mental health and resilience among young people. Here are some key components and objectives of the program:

Key Components

1. Peer Leadership
2. Strength-Based Approach
3. Eight Protective Factors
4. Training and Workshops
5. Community Involvement

Contact Information

• Shelly K. Bishop, MSW
  Coordinator

• 678-676-2009

• Goodwill.org

• Habitat for Humanity

• Salvation Army

• Work Source DeKalb

• First Step Staffing

• Georgia Department of Labor

• Goodwill Industries

• Atlanta Community Food Bank

• DeKalb Access Resource Center

• Hosea Feed the Hungry

• ICNA Relief

• Peace Baptist Church

• School Social Work Department
  DCSD Homeless Education Program

• 678.676.1804

• 678.676.2012

• Ms. Sonja Tobler, LMSW, CSSW
  Homeless & Foster Care Education Liaison

• 678.536.7067

• Ben Massell Dental Clinic

• DeKalb County Board of Health

• Good Samaritan Health Center

• MedCura Health

• Financial Assistance Program – Plain Language Summary

• Prevent Blindness Georgia

• Lion’s Lighthouse

• The Progress Place, Inc

• Chris 180

• Positive Growth Inc.

• DeKalb Community Service Board

• Georgia Crisis Access Line

• HelpGuide.org

• Pathways

• Decatur Area Emergency Assistance Ministry

• Decatur Cooperative Ministry

• Partnership for Community Action

• Saint Vincent de Paul

• International Women’s House

• City of Refuge

• Hagar’s House

• Interfaith Outreach Home

• Odyssey III

• Project Community Connections, Inc.

• Task Force for the Homeless

• United Methodist Children’s Home

• Hope Atlanta

• MARTA

• Love146: Ending Child Trafficking and Exploitation

• National Human Trafficking

• Latino Community Funding

• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)

• National Human Trafficking Hotline
  Get Help- 1-888-373-7888
  TTY: 711
  *Text: 233733
  24/7 CONFIDENTIAL

• DeKalb Access and Resource

• Division of Family and Children Services

• Juvenile Court

• Probate Court

• Rape Crisis Center

• Resources for Affordable Housing

• Resources for Affordable Housing (2)

• Resources for People with Disabilities

• Resources for People with Disabilities (2)

• United Way 2-1-1