Welcome to NYSSSWA!
Connecting with and serving students, families and schools, the New York State School Social Workers’ Association (NYSSSWA) is the only NYS professional association dedicated solely to the visibility and viability of School Social Workers and the students and families that we serve. Be sure to check out our Advocacy pages for state and federal updates, our Calendar of Events for Professional Development opportunities as well as our members only Resources specific to assisting school social workers in their practice.
COVID-19 Resources for School Social Workers: See Below or Click Here.
“It Takes a Team: The Important Role of School Social Workers, Especially During COVID-19”
Article written by the New York State School Social Workers’ Association, August 7, 2020 (Click title)
Your Membership Dollars At Work!
Role of a SCHOOL
SOCIAL WORKER
School Social Workers, in New York State, are licensed mental health professionals as well as certified by the NYS Office of Teaching as School Social Workers. Responsibilities include:
- Assessments
- Counseling
- Conflict mediation & resiliency building
- Community referral and liaison
- Crisis Intervention
- Violence Prevention/Intervention
- Youth suicide prevention & intervention
Board in Action
CURRENT ISSUES
Priorities we are addressing now:
- See NYSSSWA In Action page
- See New York State Legislative News
- Collaborating with NY Specialized Instructional Support Personnel
- Identifying mental health as a critical part of a Safe Schools Plan in NYS
- NYSUT adoption of policies that support School Social Work
- Solidarity Statement Black Lives Matter 6/1/2020 (NYSSSWA Signed on)
- School Social Work Bill
- School Safety Task Force Report–NYSED 7/30/2021
Events
CALENDAR
September 24, 2021
NYSSSWA Board Meeting
October 4 & 5, 2021
SSWAA Northeast Region Workshops
Baltimore, MD
October 28 & 29, 2021
56th NYSSSWA State Conference
Buffalo, NY
COVID-19 Response Resources 
- General Info
- Ethics/Legal Information
- Grief Response
- For Latino & Undocumented Families
- Mental Health During COVID
- New York Specific
- For Parents & Special Ed. Resources
- Re-Opening Schools Fall 2021
- For School Social Work Practice
- Social Emotional Learning Resources
- Telemental Health SSW Services
National School Social Work News
- School Social Workers Provide “Reason for Hope” 3/7/2021
- What do Professional Ethics say about Racial Justice… 3/2/2021
- SSW “More Important Now Than Ever Before” 11/19/2020
- Solidarity Statement Black Lives Matter 6/1/2020 (NYSSSWA Signed on)
- SSWAA FAQ from COVID-19 Webinar 19 pages
- Read More Articles by SSWs & SSWAA.
Articles/Resources of Interest
- SSWs: Schools racing to respond to mental health crisis 8/20/2021 Chalkbeat Newark
- NYC to Require Vaccines for Education Employees 8/23/2021 NY Chalkbeat
- Delta Variant in Schools: What to Know 8/3/2021 NY Times
- Queens SSW… What our Schoolkids Need Now 7/27/2021 NY Daily News
- New York Project Hope Free Resources
- Nobody Knows What a SSW Does…. 2/15/2021 NY Chalkbeat
- Racism & Social Justice Resources See webpage of resources