Ways Participants in “SSW Standards Workshops” Use the “Standards”: Findings from Interviews with School Social Workers

Abstract

This study examined how school social workers who regularly participated in School Social Work (SSW) Standards Workshops used the standards during their SSW practice and the outcomes of the utilization of the standards. Eight school social workers with 3–8 years of work experience participated in the research. Research participants had experienced difficulties identifying and performing their roles and felt that merely relying on their own experiences during their practice had limitations, which motivated their participation in the workshops and utilization of the standards. For some workers, the standards served as guidelines and/or the backbone of their practice. One worker, for example, used the standards personally in daily basis and occasionally with her colleagues to check the “heart” of their work. Some recognized tasks and developed the foundation of their practice by using the standards so that they could explain things with confidence. Another school social worker increased her understanding of their role by using the standards that allowed her to work with the staff from related agencies to develop a common understanding and shared goals.