Social workers play a very vital role at Madison City Schools

HHours before the start of another school day, social workers at Madison City Schools might find themselves scrambling to the aid of a family or student.

A house fire. A family medical emergency. Efforts to meet food, clothing or transportation needs.

MCS, working closely with principals, school counselors, the Safety and Security Coordinator, Mental Health Services Coordinator, Development Office Coordinator and community advocates.

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John Peck Madison City Schools Public Relations Manager

March 5-11 is National School Social Work Week. Madison City Schools would like to recognize its social worker team of Briana Hawkins, Heather Myers and contract worker DeAnna Haataja. They play an integral part of

Our social work team meets the needs of students by coordinating with outside agencies, local churches, and community donors. Another resource to meet student needs is through the school district’s Supporting Our Students (SOS) Fund, which is primarily funded through community donations.

“Our goal is to make sure every student has what they need in order to succeed academically,” said Ms. Hawkins, who has been with MCS for six years. “We look at the hierarchy of needs to ensure their physiological and safety needs are being met. If there are concerns, we want to bridge that gap.”

Calls to action often come from a principal or school counselor, with information often relayed by a teacher or support worker. The social work team might work oneon-one with students or coordinate with groups to deliver support services. While a large focus may be to children from disadvantaged backgrounds, support covers the entire socioeconomic spectrum.

Social workers are trained in mental health to provide services related to a person’s social, emotional and life adjustments to school and society.

Some of their work is helping to educate parents to give them life tools. They do this through parenting workshops covering matters like behavioral issues.

School Social Workers are there to bridge the gap between the school and the home. If a student is struggling at school with poor attendance or failing grades, they may reach out to the family and find out that more is going on at home and help meet that need with community resources. One can catch MCS Social Workers doing anything from meeting with students at schools to check in, teaching Parenting or Mental Health First Aid classes, or talking with parents about needed resources and support.

The most rewarding part of the job, they say, is being able to see students and families overcome various challenges that once seemed impossible.

“To know that we had a small part - along with teachers, counselors, and other school staff in empowering students to succeed - makes the hard days so worthwhile,” said Ms. Myers. Ms. Haataja agreed. “Students need more than just school supplies to be successful. I love to see the look on a student’s face after receiving new shoes/clothes that we help provide.”

Superintendent Dr. Ed Nichols said the district’s social workers are a key part in upholding the district’s “Empowering Students” vision statement. “Our social workers stand in the gap to assist students and families at their most vulnerable moments of life. I am so appreciative of our social worker team,as well as our counselors, administrators and staff who watch vigilantly to assist our students every day.”