·     Are School Psychological Services Provided in Every School?

School Psychologists are assigned to every public school in Anne Arundel County.  School Social Workers are assigned to specific schools that have programs and services for students with more intensive needs.  Both school psychologists and school social workers are trained to work with students from early childhood through the age of 21.

·     Who Benefits from Psychological Services?

Most children and teenagers face problems from time to time.  Some issues that school psychologists or school social workers may assist with include: 

Excessive worry or anxiety about school
Struggling with learning or organizational problems
Children with a suspected or an identified disability
Feeling sad, lonely, angry or rejected
Drug or Alcohol Abuse
Difficulty managing behavior or managing emotions                
Thoughts of suicide        
Self-injurious behavior                                                                                                   
Problems with family or friends

·     What Services Are Provided?

Consultation

School psychologists and school social workers work with parents, teachers and school personnel to:

Provide insight and understanding of an individual student’s unique needs•Provide knowledge of diverse learners and effective strategies  

Provide suggestions for helping your child academically, socially or emotionally at home

Improve the working relationships among parents, teachers, and administrators 

Access available community resources to assist the student and family

Coordinate with private mental health providers when appropriate

School psychologists and school social workers are also instrumental to the success of the Collaborative Decision Making consultation model; serving as county-wide coaches or school team members.  

Assessment

When appropriate, school psychologists are qualified to conduct individual student assessments to measure:

Cognitive ability, including strengths and weaknesses   

Adaptive behavior, including self -help and social skills

Emotional and behavioral development

Direct Intervention

The school psychologist and school social workers work directly with individual students and or families to resolve problems. Depending on the situation and needs the following may be provided within the school setting to support students in accessing their education or meeting established educational goals.

Individual Counseling

Behavior Management

Crisis Intervention

Support groups with a specific focus such as grief, social skills development, managing anger or community building

Members of the county-wide crisis team (activated when needed)

Prevention

Provide training for staff to ensure the safety and well -being of all students, including suicide prevention training.

Training and support to staff to promote cultural proficiency and acceptance of all student groups

Participate in school-wide initiatives to address bullying and improve the use of Positive Behavior Intervention supports (PBIS).