Chicago Public Schools Celebrates School Social Worker Week

CHICAGO—Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is uplifting more than 600 school social workers and nearly 50 school social worker interns across the District who work and advocate with students, families, and teachers to ensure that every student has the support they need and deserve to succeed every day. The United States formally established National Social Work Month in 1984 and school social workers are recognized during the first full week of March.

“Our social workers deliver vital support to our students that set up students for success,” said CPS CEO Pedro Martinez. “We are grateful to take this moment to celebrate all our social workers for their dedication to our students, their families, and our schools.”

School social workers help ensure students get the services and support to develop vital life skills. Social workers help students emotionally show up ready to succeed. They may help students process trauma or grief, work to remove barriers to students’ education, or advocate with parents and others to ensure students with disabilities have the support they are entitled to under the law and need to succeed, among many other supports.

“School social work has been a fantastic way for me to serve the students of McKay,” said Aisha Kinslow, a social worker for 11 years at McKay Elementary on the city’s Southwest side. “I’ve been able to connect with not only our scholars but also the community as a whole. The role of a social worker is critical because we serve as a connector to different resources that benefit our student and family communities.”

Although school social workers are housed under the District's Office of Diverse Learner Supports and Services (ODLSS), school social workers provide services for all students. Thanks to a recent grant, ODLSS launched a lending library with more than 3,000 unique pieces that school social workers can request to be delivered to their school to use to support students.

There are more than 600 school social workers and nearly 50 school social worker interns supporting every school in the District. The number of social workers has increased by more than 60 percent over the past six years. The District provides social workers with ongoing support, including mentoring, check-ins, and surveys as well as professional development.

CPS received a $15 million grant this school year from the U.S. Department of Education; ODLSS plans to use part of that funding to boost school social worker retention further.

The District’s school social worker Internship is a paid, year-long competitive internship. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and can be submitted via this form. Many school social workers are recruited from the internship program. Interns receive mentoring and support beginning day one and are trained by a tenured school social worker. The District recruits social workers from universities across Chicago, and throughout the nation. Social worker openings are listed on the CPS Job Board.

“As a former school principal, I know the transformational impact that school social workers can have on our students, families, and our schools,” said Chief of ODLSS Joshua Long. “We want to thank all of our incredible school social workers doing tireless work every day in our schools.”