2024
NYSSSWA participates in “Advocacy Day” with the Collective Care Team
On May 7, 2024 our Collective Care Team, consisting of School Social Workers, School Counselors, School Psychologists and School Nurses attended an Advocacy Day hosted by NYSUT to meet with Senators and Assembly staff to advocate for (4) bills currently in the legislature. Peg Barrett, Past President attended with Wendy Castiglia our President and Dr. Robin Deluca-Aconni, our legislative chair. We met as teams with various legislators regarding:
1. S4953: A bill advocating to mandate a school nurse in every school in New York State,
2. S1577,A902: A bill to require the Department of Education to report information as to the number of Counselors, School Social Workers and Psychologists in New York State.
3. S7558,A7743 which amends the Education Law to require the Department of Education to develop school health and mental health professionals to student ratios in public schools.
4. S1875,A7668 A bill to amend the social services law in relation to reimbursement for early and periodic screening, diagnosis and treatment. This bill would allow the Department of Health to access Medicaid reimbursement for school health services for all students enrolled in medicaid.
NYSSSWA attends Press Event on Lockdown Drill Reform
On May 14, NYSSSWA board member, Jody Rumfola attended a press event in Albany to support Lockdown Drill Reform. The bill (SENATE BILL #: S6537 ASSEMBLY BILL #: A6665) aims to reduce the number of mandated lock-down drills in public and private schools and ensure a trauma-informed approach to such drills.
2023
On August 3, 2023, Governor Hochul announced $108 million is available for school districts to support student well-being through expanding mental health supports.
“We need to invest more money. Allow for more hiring. Bring in these professionals. Help them [students] on site. Don’t send them home and tell them to ‘go see a therapist someday’. That’s probably not going to happen.”
Click Here for full report.
Photo Credit: Flickr-Governor Hochul’s Office
Governor Kathy Hochul Meets with NYSSSWA School Social Worker
As part of Governor Hochul’s outreach to schools, on September 5, 2023 she visited Washington Irving School in Tarrytown N.Y where she met with School Social Worker, Jacqueline Sanchez-Young (NYSSSWA Westchester Regional Representative) .
Click Here for Jacqueline’s report.
Photo Credit: Pieced from video by “Sam” with Governor Hochul’s office.
SB 54
On January 4, 2023 SB 54 was introduced by Sens. GOUNARDES, BRISPORT, PARKER, SALAZAR stating: “every public school district in the state shall on and after July first, two thousand twenty-three employ and provide access to at least one licensed or certified school social worker in each of the schools under their jurisdiction”…
We were pleased that we gained several new sponsors in the House and the Senate. Our work continues!
Archives
For Legislative Information on earlier years and past bills:
Social Justice and Racial Equity
Senate Bill S2987A (2021-22) Legislative Session: Declares racism a public health crisis and establishes a working group to promote racial equity throughout the state. Signed into law by the Governor.
Social Workers Cannot Be Silent: Statement & Call to Action Against Racism & Race-Based Violence Source: Arendt. V. 6/1/2020. NASW-North Carolina Chapter
Over 750 Social Workers Unite at the Capitol to Demand Racial Equity in New York State Laws Source: Ponto, K. 3/5/2019. NASW-NYS
School Counseling Amendments:
Do Schools Have to Hire More School Counselors? “NO!”
There have been many inquiries from members regarding the school counselor amendments. School Social Workers are expressing concerns that their districts may feel compelled to hire more school counselors as a result of these regulations. That is not the intent of the regulations. Please familiarize yourself with the regulations and details so that you can use your expertise to discuss the interpretation of the regulations with your district.
Click Here for Important Details
School Superintendents Recognize the Need to Support Mental Health Services (October, 2017)
This Fall, the Council of School Superintendents reported that in response to asking superintendents what some of the biggest problems are that they are facing, the superintendents’ most widely cited significant problem was the “ ‘Capacity to help students in meeting non-academic needs including, for example, health and mental health issues,’ cited by 45 percent of superintendents”. See Superintendent’s Biggest Problems.
The Council also reported that according to their financial survey increases to “mental health, social work, counseling and similar services supplanted extra academic help for struggling students as the most widely selected priority”. See Funding Priorities. The survey results are welcome news for School Social Worker’s who are licensed and provide emotional and behavioral support to students in schools across the state.
We are excited that a greater awareness of the prevention, early intervention, Tier II, Tier III, and post-intervention mental health needs of students and school communities, PreK-16, is swiftly emerging. Certified School social workers are licensed mental health professionals grounded in school regulation and culture. Their service provides the appropriate balance of expertise to meet the climate, cultural, crisis and mental health needs of schools, yet, absent district mandate, there remain many districts void of this critical support.
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