National School Social Work Week 2023

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                                   National School Social Work Week

WHEREAS, School Social Workers who are master’s level trained professionals are dedicated to improving the
well-being of thousands of children and their families each year; and

WHEREAS, The DeKalb County School District School Social Work Department has 53 social workers serving
learning sites: and

WHEREAS, School Social Workers embody this year’s Social Work Month theme “Social Work Breaks Barriers”
embodies how school social workers help empower individuals, families, communities, and our society to overcome
hurdles that prevent them from achieving better well-being; They are meaningful contributors to establishing and
communicating a welcoming school environment. School Social Workers promote family involvement, respect,
and uplift culture, listen with their ears and their heart, and foster safe and supportive school environments. They
are employed to effect positive change with individuals, families, groups, and entire communities; and

WHEREAS, School Social Workers advocate and remove a number of barriers to learning by utilizing interventions
to improve school attendance, behavior, and academic achievement; mobilizing family, school, and community
resources to enable a child to learn as effectively as possible; alleviating stress by making connections for
students, family, and school staff with appropriate interventions; providing crisis intervention and homelessness
services, assessing students mental health concerns and making referrals where appropriate; identifying and
reporting child abuse, neglect, and exploitation; conducting home visits; enhancing the professional capacity of
school personnel; and assisting in implementing multi-tiered supports in schools where it is most needed; and

BY THIS ACTION, let it be known that the DeKalb County School District Board of Education and Interim
Superintendent Dr. Vasanne Tinsley hereby proclaim March 5-11, 2023, as School Social Worker Week in the
DeKalb County School District, and the members of this body commend the School Social Workers and its
department for the work done to help provide supportive services to DeKalb’s child and their families and improve
DeKalb’s education system. In witness whereof, we affix signatures on the 13th day of March 2023.




                                        Mrs. Vickie B. Turner, Chair                 Mr. Diijon DaCosta, Vice Chair
                                      Mr. Diijon DaCosta Sr., Board Chair           Mrs. Deirdre P. Pierce, Vice Chair



                                                         Mrs. Cheryl Watson-Harris, Superintendent
                                                        Dr. Vasanne S. Tinsley, Interim Superintendent