DeKalb GA News

School social workers in DeKalb County play a crucial role in connecting home, school, and community to enhance students' educational experiences. These professionals offer support through assessments, collaboration with school staff and community providers, and direct services. Any student enrolled in a DeKalb County school can access these services through a written referral from teachers or school administrators.

The DCSD McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth program addresses the challenges homeless students face in enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school. The program ensures educational stability for children residing in temporary housing by removing barriers to education. "Under the McKinney-Vento Act, the term 'homeless children and youths' means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence," as stated by the DCSD Homeless Education Liaisons.

Several programs support students facing various challenges. The Growing Responsibly: Increasing Possibilities (GRIP) program intervenes for students violating certain drug-related policies. Students are referred by local administrators or Student Relations to attend scheduled Saturday classes with a parent or guardian.

The Sources of Strength initiative promotes mental health and resilience among young people through peer leadership, strength-based approaches, protective factors training, workshops, and community involvement.

Student and Family Engagement Centers (SAFE Centers) collaborate with schools and community partners to provide wraparound services that address students' academic, behavioral, social, emotional needs. These centers focus on future planning success, social-emotional wellness, and family support services.

For more information about these programs or to contact specific SAFE Center liaisons such as Yazmin Acevedo-Mendez at Cross Keys HS or Naomi Hemphill at Martin Luther King Jr. HS among others mentioned above.

Shelly K. Bishop serves as the Coordinator of these initiatives while Denise Revels is the Director of Wrap Around Support Services.

The School Social Work Department provides links for informational purposes but does not endorse any external sites or their content related to clothing employment food medical mental health rent utilities shelters transitional housing transportation human trafficking frequently used resource guides.