Hampshire Elementary School
Social Work Resources for Parents
Welcome to the HES Social Work Resource page! We created this page in response to our Parent Needs Assessment and hope that it can be a resource for parents and students throughout the year. Below you will find information on Family Assistance, including food and financial support, Mental Health Resources, including supports for a variety of mental health diagnoses, crisis information, and outside therapy resources, and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Resources, including SEL activities to do at home for skill building and/or on e-Learning Days. If, at any time, you need help, please reach out to one of your HES Social Workers, Mrs. DiSanti or Mrs. Nickol, whose information can be found below under "Contacts."
School Social Work
School social work is a specialized area of social work that involves helping students succeed academically and socially. School social workers are trained mental health professionals who work with students, families, & school staff to provide a variety of services, including:
Academic support: Helping students succeed academically
Mental health support: Addressing mental health concerns & providing intervention
Crisis management: Intervening in crisis situations
Counseling: Providing individual & group counseling
Advocacy: Advocating for students
Policy development: Helping to develop school discipline policies
Community involvement: Facilitating community involvement in the school
Collaboration: Collaborating with school staff & community partners
Contacts
Mrs. Nickol, LCSW - supporting students in grades 1, 3, 5
Phone: (847) 792-3400 ext. 3407
Mrs. DiSanti, LCSW - supporting students in grades K, 2, 4
Phone: (847) 792-3400 ext. 3413
Check out Mrs. Nickol and Mrs. DiSanti's Virtual Social Work Office!
Inside you will find videos and activities that will support social emotional learning, along with calming strategies you can practice!
Receiving School Social Work Intervention at HES
Social Emotional Learning occurs across settings as a Tier 1 intervention for all students regardless of whether or not they have a specific plan in place (i.e. IEP, 504). When students are struggling with SEL standards in the general education classroom, our team may consider moving them to a Tier 2 intervention, starting with Check In/Check Out in order to target areas of need. In order to qualify for routine Social Work services here at HES, Tier 1 and 2 supports must be proving unsuccessful, therefore impacting the student's academic success here at school.
While all students do not qualify for social work intervention, please know that school social workers can check in with students at any time in order to determine or recommend possible supports or resources, whether in school or at home. In order to understand how services are broken down and provided in the school setting, please read the descriptions below.
Students with an IEP/504
School Social Work intervention for students with an IEP/504 involves providing individualized support through counseling services (i.e. in group or individual settings) or classroom support tailored to address the social, emotional, & behavioral needs of students with disabilities, aiming to facilitate academic success by collaborating with the IEP team, teachers, parents, & other professionals to implement the specific accommodations/ strategies outlined in the student's Plan.
Crisis Intervention
School Social Work intervention for students in crisis at school involves providing immediate support & assessment to students experiencing a crisis situation, such as a traumatic event, bullying, family issues, or mental health concerns, by offering individual counseling, connecting them with necessary resources, or coordinating with school staff & families to ensure overall safety & well-being, often including crisis management techniques to de-escalate situations & develop coping mechanisms.
General Education Intervention
School Social Work intervention for general education students can involve a range of services focused on addressing social, emotional, & behavioral needs that are impacting their academic performance, including individual or group counseling, conflict resolution strategies, skill-building workshops, crisis intervention, collaboration with teachers, & connecting students/ families with community resources to support their overall well-being & academic success.