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The week of March 2 - 8, 2008 has been designated as School Social Work Week. School social workers in Johnston County will be celebrating the role they play in ensuring a successful school experience for their school's students.

The position of school social workers in the district has grown rapidly in the last few years. As schools prepare students both academically and socially, the role of the professionals working with students has expanded. School social workers play a unique role working with children, youth, their families, school staff, and communities.

Effective school social work services contribute not only to a healthy school environment, but benefit society as a whole. They provide crisis intervention, counseling services, and support; they link students and families with school and community resources; and they work with all school personnel to help students succeed. Working one-on-one with a student or designing group activities that reinforce successful learning skills, school social workers create a team environment where everyone works for the betterment of their students. Student success is heightened when families, teachers, and school social workers work collaboratively to provide positive school-home communicat on.

School Social Work Week is sponsored by the School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA). SSWAA is a national organization representing school social workers across the country.  Johnston County has nine School Social Workers and two Social Work interns who serve a total school population of more than 30,000. All nine School Social Workers are certified by the Dept. of Public Instruction.