R277-506-4. School Social Workers

  A. A candidate for the Level 1 School Social Worker License area of concentration shall have:

  (1) completed a Board approved program for the preparation of school social workers including a Master of Social Work degree from an accredited institution;

  (2) demonstrated competence in the following:

  (a) articulation of the role and function of the school social worker including relationships with other professional school and community personnel, organizations, and agencies;

  (b) the understanding of the organization, administration, and evaluation of a school social work program;

  (c) social work practice with individuals, families, and groups;

  (d) the development and interpretation on of a social history and psycho-social assessment of the individual and the family system;

  (e) the analysis of family dynamics and experience in counseling and conflict management and resolution;

  (f) the communication and consultation of skills in working with the client, the family, the school staff, and community and social agencies;

  (g) the understanding of the teaching/learning environment;

  (h) the analysis of school law and child welfare issues;

  (i) the use of social work methods to facilitate the affective domain of education and the learning process; and

  (j) the knowledge pertaining to the cause and effects of social forces, cultural changes, stress, disability, disease, deprivation, neglect, and abuse on learning and on human behavior and development, and the effect of these forces on minorities of race, ethnicity, and class.

  (3) completed an approved school social work internship in a school setting or in an agency which includes a substantial amount of experience with children and contact with schools; and

  (4) been recommended by an institution whose program of preparation for social workers has been approved by the Board.

  B. A candidate for the Level 2-Standard School Social Worker License area of concentration shall have:

  (1) completed at least three years of successful experience as a school social worker under a Level 1 School Social Worker License area of concentration or its equivalent; and

  (2) been recommended by the employing LEA with consultation from a teacher education institution.

  C. The Board may approve the social worker program of an institution if the program meets the standards prescribed in the Standards for State Approval of Teacher Education for school social workers, developed and available as provided in R277-506-3D.