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National Certified School Social Worker TM

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National Certified School Social Worker ™ (NCSSW) is awarded through SSWAA to identify school social work professionals who have voluntarily sought and obtained an advanced certification that demonstrates mastery of competencies of the National School Social Work Practice Model.

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Access tools, materials, and evidence-based resources to support your practice.

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Earn CEU's and improve your practice through a variety of professional development opportunities.

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Get involved and share the word about what School Social Workers are doing to help students and families.

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SSWAA Supports School Social Workers

The School Social Work Association of America is a membership organization empowering school social workers and promoting the profession of school social work.

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SSWAA statement regarding daunte wright:

On Sunday afternoon in the suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota, just a few miles from where George Floyd was murdered, a 20 year old Black man was killed at the hands of a police officer. Our hearts mourn with Daunte Wright's family and we offer our deepest condolences as they try to reconcile life without their loved one. As our communities grieve yet another life lost due to police violence, we also have to acknowledge the persistent psychological, spiritual and physical toll of each and every one of these traumatic deaths. We may find our students, families, staff and even ourselves cycling through a variety of feelings such as hopelessness, despair, pain, sadness, angst, fear, etc. The layers and layers of trauma perpetuated by institutional racism harms all of us and requires a holistic healing centered approach. 

School social workers are well positioned to be transformational leaders in promoting equity, inclusivity and supportive school environments. Guiding efforts to heal our communities is fundamental to our practice not only through the direct services provided, but also through advocacy efforts. Despite these unprecedented challenges facing our nation, school social workers’ knowledge and expertise are integral to the health and well-being of the individuals and communities we serve. 

As school social workers, "we need to assess our own spheres of influence and our skill sets, thinking about how we can use our strengths, develop new skills, and be willing to be courageous and take risks in order to enact anti-racist and anti-oppressive practices" in order for collective healing to begin (Villarreal Sosa, L., & McCoy, C., 2020). Before you can provide support or to become an agitator to disrupt the toxic systems continually causing harm, take a moment to pause, breathe and reflect upon where you are. Tap into practices that help you find essential grounding. Then once you have re-centered, please lean into the variety of racial equity and social justice resources listed on our website to support you in this work.

SSWAA Position paper: Supporting Students, Families, and the Educational Community during the Trial of Former Police Officer Derek Chauvin

The eyes of the world are once again focused on Minnesota as the trial begins for the former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin charged in the death of George Floyd. As the first of multiple trials get under way, there will be extensive media coverage and events along the way that may increase the stress and anxiety experienced by students, educators and broader communities. It is important to recognize the additional stressors that come with these trials. Some of these stressors can be related to: jury selection, potential narratives of the trial proceedings questioning the character of law enforcement and/or George Floyd, jury deliberation time contemplating the case, amplification or silencing of Black Lives Matter and other community activist groups, the jury’s determination, and division regarding the outcome of the trials

SSWAA Position paper: statement on support to asian american pacific islanders

SSWAA condemns the recent acts of violence on March 17, 2021 resulting in the deaths of 8 individuals of which 6 were of Asian descent. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, hate crimes and discrimination towards Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders has risen 150%. SSWAA stands in solidarity with our AAPI communities and is dedicated to ensuring inclusion and equity by working to dismantle ongoing injustices, white supremacy and oppression that persists across the nation. Thus, we recognize the need for resources to support our members in the process of addressing the impact of racialized trauma on our students, families and communities we serve. Please refer to the School Social Work Association of America "Guidance for Supporting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI)" position paper as a vital resource to supporting the AAPI communities you serve.

SSWAA resolution statements

For other important resolution statements on important issues and current events, please click the link below.

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