“We Want to be There to Support … Do We Have the Capacity to Do That?” Current Priorities and Challenges in School Social Work
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21354094 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Jennifer L Murphy (0000-0003-3101-8951, School of Social Work University of Texas at Arlington, 501 W. Mitchell Street Arlington TX 76010, corresponding author), Katherine A Borge (School of Social Work University of Texas at Arlington, 501 W. Mitchell Street Arlington TX 76010), Danielle R Eugene (0000-0001-8686-0615, School of Social Work University of Texas at Arlington, 501 W. Mitchell Street Arlington TX 76010), Alex Javna (School of Education Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond VA), Kaija Craft (School of Social Work Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond VA) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 95 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 219-226 |
| Publication date | 2025-03-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of School Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0022-4391 • E-ISSN: 1746-1561 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/josh.13507 |
| PMID | 39429226 |
| OpenAlex | W4403612159 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 22 |
BACKGROUND: While adolescent mental health needs have continued to rise, schools have become a central location for adolescents seeking support for mental health needs, and approximately 96% of public schools in the United States report providing some form of mental health care to students. This study aims to explore school social workers' current challenges and priorities in their roles. METHODS: Qualitative focus groups with current school social workers in Virginia (N = 16) were conducted for this study. Participants worked in middle and high schools for a minimum of 3 years across the state. Braun and Clarke's steps for thematic analysis were used to guide coding and themes. RESULTS: The current study found 3 primary themes: (1) role confusion due to vast scope of responsibilities within their schools; (2) a disconnect between desired roles and assigned roles and responsibilities; and (3) lack of formal model of service provision. IMPLICATIONS FOR SCHOOL HEALTH POLICY, PRACTICE, AND EQUITY: Focus should be placed on the integration of current models of school social work practice to ensure the effective utilization of their services. CONCLUSIONS: The study reveals important information regarding the current and future state of school social work practice.
Equity (law) · Focus group · Medical education · Mental health · Political science · Psychiatry · Public relations · Qualitative research · Sociology · Thematic analysis · Work (physics) · Child Abuse and Trauma · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Education Discipline and Inequality · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · Social Work
Social work, stress and burnout
Burnout and Turnover Intention Among Social Workers
Mental Health Surveillance Among Children — United States, 2013–2019
“Why wasn’t I doing this before?”
Thematic Analysis
Social Workers’ Perceived Barriers and Facilitators to Social Work Practice in Schools
School social workers’ experiences delivering mental health supports amid Covid-19 school reopening
Role Strain and Burnout in Child-Protective Service Workers
| Citations per year | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2025 - 2026 (2) |
| Highly cited | No |