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 and much more…
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 & Security Task Force–NYSSSWA Testimony 11/3/2022
National School Social Work News

- SSW Census. Register TODAY! 5/2023
- School Social Work Week 2023
- Response to LGBTQIA Legislation… 3/20/2022
- SSW Role in Violence Prevention 2/10/2022
- Do SSWs Provide Clinical Mental Health Services? 11/9/2021
- Ethics & Racial Justice… 3/2/2021
- More Resolution Statements & Articles
Articles/Resources of Interest
What is a School Social Worker?
- Resources Addressing Racism and Social Justice NYSSSWA
- New York Project Hope Free Resources
- Nobody Knows What a SSW Does…. 2/15/2021 NY Chalkbeat