School social workers light the way for students

In a school district of nearly 76,000 students, how does Milwaukee Public Schools ensure that the needs of every child are being met? That important effort belongs to school social workers. Help celebrate National School Social Work Week and show appreciation for the highly skilled men and women who make our students’ lives better every day. Thank you, school social workers!

For some students, coming to school ready to learn can be filled with challenges related to learning disabilities, home life, and factors outside the classroom. School social workers (SSWs) are caring adults in the lives of children and teens who attend to individual student needs, connect families to resources, and promote safety and wellness that can lead to improved learning.

School social workers provide a bridge by linking the home, school, and community so students can achieve success. Most MPS SSWs are based in schools, providing direct services to students. Many more SSWs are in special assignments throughout the district, providing services that support mental health grants, initial special education evaluations, district attendance initiatives, community service/ service-learning mentorship, the Homeless Education Program, and more.

School social workers support children and their families with a wide range of needs in a variety of situations. At any given time, MPS is educating 5,000 homeless students and 500 refugee students. One in five MPS students has special needs and 81 percent are economically disadvantaged.

MPS is proud of the role our social workers play in the success of our students, and the entire district is grateful for their service!