The Children's Trust Fund social worker dramatically increases social services and mental health services offered throughout the Poplar Bluff R-1 school system. The social worker is critical to prevention and intervention services and to the reintegration and follow-up of children who return from receiving services outside the school district. The social workers are responsible for working with students and families to help them overcome situations that bar the student from a healthy, productive life. One goal of the social worker is to help students overcome problems that impede learning and to assist them in identifying educational, occupational and life careers that hold promise for their personal fulfillment. The social worker is the liaison for the child and all agency services. The social worker will be part of the Community Resource Council (Caring Communities) and will obtain any physical, social or mental health services a child needs. The social worker also sees that transportation and any other requirements for accessing needed services are provided.

The social worker’s responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Working with the school, children and families to identify needs and provide information and services to address these needs
• Being part of the Community Resource Council (CRC) and Student Assessment Team (SAT) referral system.

On a daily basis the social worker is involved in activities such as:

• Providing pertinent information that will assist in identifying needs and how they may be met.
• Following up on all cases that require major intervention services and helping with reintegration of students.
• Planning school personnel in-services to implement specific prevention activities.
• Being a child advocate whose goal is to see that every child’s needs are met and that the child is moving towards a happy, productive life.
• Conferring with students to help them with daily management skills such as coping skills, social skills, and day-to-day functioning skills.
• Working with children and families to reduce absenteeism and encourage family support for education.
• Being knowledgeable of community and area resources and making and following through on appropriate referrals.
• Making home visits and/or phone calls as a child/school/home liaison.
• Being a resource person for teachers, the SAT and other school personnel.
• Serving as a liaison between the school and outside agencies such as Missouri Children’s Service Division, Juvenile Justice system, psychological and substance abuse counselors, physicians and other professionals.
• Serving on interagency teams for students who need a wide range of help and assisting with disadvantaged and homeless students.
• Maintaining reports and files and meeting with supervisory personnel.

THE FIELD EXPERIENCE FOR THE BSW CANDIDATE:  A field education student would become involved in a multitude of activities including assessing family dynamics, linking families to services, home visits and helping students be more successful in school and group work with students.  Every day presents new opportunities for a field education student to explore the world our children live and provide intervention as needed.  Micro-, mezzo- and macro-level practice level experiences are available with emphasis on micro and mezzo. The field instructor is a BSW with experience in school social work, mentoring, intensive in-home family stabilization services and hospital social work.

WHAT STUDENTS SAY:  “The pace in the Poplar Bluff School setting was steady.  There were two social workers who worked with all the students and accepted referrals from within the school district.  As a field education student, one social worker served as my agency supervisor.  I frequently worked with the other school social worker, attendance trackers, various teachers, principals and school counselors within the Poplar Bluff School District.
      Supervision in the agency will be close, at first, to provide a foundation of knowledge about the agency and procedures and then the practicum student will be given his/her own referrals and students to work with.  The field instructor is always reachable if help or input is needed but the field instructor will not supervise closely after the first few weeks, if the student is doing well.  The school social work setting is structured but the BSW student will do many tasks independently. 
      The student will have the opportunity to engage in all types of practice:  Micro, mezzo and macro.  The field education student will have the opportunity to work with many students one-on-one and students’ families.  He or she will engage in the planned change process from beginning to end with many students and their families that have varying needs.  The field education student will also have the opportunity to form and lead a self-esteem/self awareness group for Senior High girls.  There will also be numerous opportunities to participate in several different community organizations such as Caring Communities, Family Counseling, Butler Co. Juvenile Office and Ozark Foothills Families.  The Poplar Bluff R-1 School District is an excellent opportunity to gain a broad range of experience and beginning competence in the social work profession. 
      I feel I have gained much competence and knowledge in generalist practice at Poplar Bluff Schools.  There has been a wide variety of generalist practice experiences for me to participate in during my field experience.”

" The Poplar Bluff Schools R-1 field placement was a sometimes fast paced and sometimes slow paced placement.  The supervisor was readily available when I needed her.  The skills and knowledge I gained  will help me in every aspect of my life.  I felt the staff took me in and guided me.  The overall experience was a great one and I recommend this placement for future students."

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