SSWN

My second item of interest is a website called School Social Work Net or SSWN that provides support, resources, and a community for School Social Workers. This website includes current research, effective interventions, useful tools for direct practice, and podcasts that discuss important topics within the school environment. Additionally, this website provides an online tool that allows for School Social Workers to track both time and data to assist in making better practice decisions, advocating for workload and role within the school, and identify needs and trends for the social services department. Both access to the website and time tracking tool are free to those who are interested in accessing this item of interest. 

The way that I have been using SSWN at Evanston Township High school is by reading current research on interventions to ensure that I am using best practice with the students on my caseload. SSWN provides school social workers with evidence based research articles to ensure that direct practice interventions are meeting student needs. For example, my supervisor and I have been utilizing mindfulness research and tools provided on SSWN for the social skills group that we cofacilitate. These mindfulness tools will be useful for the students as they prepare and complete their final examinations for the semester. Additionally, I will be using the SSW tools app next semester to track sessions with students and create measurable data. Overall, I feel that SSWN is a point of reference and community that allows for school social workers to connect with the field and find resources that are specific to schools. 

School Social Work Net fits into providing evidence-based education, behavior, and services area of the school social work practice model. The School Social Work team is comprised of licensed practitioners with years of experience in the field as well as researchers that are providing current resources on evidence based practice. SSWN works to provide school social work and mental health professionals with current tools, interventions, and research that remain within a strengths based perspective and can  be used with diverse populations. Beyond interventions and tools for practice, SSWN provides a live stream of current news that is relevant to the field and might effect current policy implementation. By utilizing SSWN, school social workers can build upon their knowledge of evidence based interventions, stay current on research and best practices, and be part of a collaborative community of like-minded professionals.

Below is the link to the SSWN website. Once again, it is free to sign up with your email and full of useful information. I hope you find this tool useful and feel a sense of community amongst fellow school social workers!


https://schoolsocialwork.net/