What is Micro-Level

This chapter discusses injustices surrounding school social workers (SSW), specifically in schools with high rates of poverty, majority-minority populations, in rural settings, and/or concentrations of high-risk students. The education system is a substantial source of socialization for children, influencing opinions, worldviews, behaviors, and coping skills. Schools with an accumulation of poverty-based social problems commonly struggle with hiring SSWs due to budget deficits and suffer in comparison to richer school districts. Additionally, schools are providing more social services to students and families as a means of increasing educational outcomes; however, schools with the greatest demonstrated needs are less likely to have access to SSWs at the prescribed student ratio to provide services at an optimal level. This chapter discusses the benefits SSWs bring to the educational community, ongoing inequalities due to tax revenue-based budgets, and innovative ideas that can increase SSWs in schools with limited resources.