| A two stage study was used to examine changes in school social work practice in public schools in Pennsylvania between 1990 and 2002 and to examine the phenomenon of new school social work positions added by school districts and Intermediate Units between 1996 and 2001. In the first stage, a survey was mailed to school social workers using a composite mailing list and 222 usable surveys were returned representing a response rate of 52.9%. Respondents reported demographic data and answered items pertaining to their role and function in the schools. The 2002 data was compared to data collected by PDE in 1990 by using a series of Chi Squares to identify significant changes in the proportion of school social workers reporting demographic items and items pertaining to role and function. The results indicated that school social workers in Pennsylvania experienced significant changes in demographic profile, position title, educational background, certification status, employment setting, program assignments and services provided. In addition to the comparison data, 80.9% reported agency based personnel housed in the schools.;The second phase of the study consisted of interviews with administrators in school districts and Intermediate Units adding school social work positions between 1996 and 2001. Five themes emerged around this phenomenon suggesting that school social positions are increasing because of the growth in mental health issues with children and the severity of social problems facing families. Other factors associated with this phenomenon include the importance of existing school social work positions in the decision to add more school social workers, the perception that social workers are better trained to deal with multiple systems impacting on students and that social workers are providing services similar to those provided by guidance counselors in public schools. The results from this study would provide school administrators with data pertaining to the role and function of school social work positions in Pennsylvania and provides some insight into the reasons that school districts and Intermediate Units are adding school social work positions. The results would also provide social work education programs with data about services provided by current practitioners. |
