Gurrie Middle School

• GMS Social Work

  1. What is School Social Work

  School Social Work addresses many needs of students and their families. Sometimes children don’t feel successful at school because they are having trouble making friends, they are struggling with schoolwork, or because of stress within their family. The School Social Worker can serve as a support person to the child and family as they work together with the school team to help the child become more successful.
   

  2. What does the School Social Worker Do?

  1. Works with Teachers to design behavior plans and classroom management strategies.
  2. Works with families on behavior interventions that can support the child’s school performance.
  3. Helps families find support and resources in the community.
  4. Works with children individually or in groups on all kinds of issues from anxiety and bullying to self-esteem and social skills.
  5. Goes into classrooms to do character education lessons on empathy, problem-solving, anger management and bullying.
  6. Works with the other special educators in the building to develop plans that will help children succeed in school.
   

  3. How to Access the School Social Worker

  1. You can talk with your student’s teacher about your concerns and she/he will contact the school social worker
  2. You can call the school social worker directly and discuss your concerns, questions or needs .
  3. The school social worker may contact you if they are made aware of or have observed something that concerns them.
  
  **The Illinois Association for School Social Work and the Illinois Board of Mental Health have determined that a School Social Worker can meet with a student up to 5 times without requiring parent permission. I make every effort to speak with parents and gain their permission prior to meeting with their child. There are times however when there is an emergency situation and my interventions are necessary to help the Teacher, the student or other students involved. If that is the case, I then contact the parents as soon as possible after the situation has been diffused. An example of this might be a child crying in the hallway, or a fight at recess.

Como Obtener Servicios de Consejeria

Si Usted piensa que su hijo/a necescita hablar con alguien sobre de los sentimientos, por favor de comunicarse conmigo.  Tambien, si los maestros piensan que hay una razon que los ninos necesitan hablar con una consejera, pueden recomendar este servicio.  Los ninos puedan pedir tiempo para hablar conmigo tambien.  Si es algo que esta afectando su aprendizaje, los motivo a hablar con la maestra y con sus papas.

Tenemos material para los padres tambien.  Son hacerca de como podemos ayudar a los ninos para lograr sus metas.

Gracias por su interes

• SOS/Suicide Prevention and Support
• Anxiety/Depression Coping Skills
• Mindfulness for Teens
• Crisis/Suicide Lifeline
• Adolescent Development
• Mental Health Support
• Counseling/Grief Support
• Ryan's Story
• The Dougy Center for Grieving Families and Children
• CHADD Website (information on ADHD)
• Childnet International (Internet Safety Resource)
• Cyberbullying(Information and Safety Tips)
• District 105 website
• LADSE (Lagrange Area Department of Special Education)
• National Institute on Drug Abuse
• PBIS website
• Parents-The Anti-Drug
• Raising Drug Free Children(www.drugfree.org)
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
• Suicide Prevention
• Suicide Loss resources
• Yes You Can (Lloyd Bachrach)
• Pacer's National Bullying Prevention Center
• Understood

FOCUS groups will begin in September and continue throughout the year! All students at Gurrie Middle School have an opportunity to meet with Mrs. Burger and/or Ms. Palabrica throughout the year for FOCUS discussion groups.  These groups are scheduled to meet monthly to every other month during FLEX time.  The FOCUS group model is designed to have Mrs. Burger and Ms. Palabrica, the school social workers, meet with all students to target some of the Social Emotional Learning standards and teach lessons that benefit the whole child.  Some of the topics covered in FOCUS groups are:  Bullying Prevention,  Cyberbullying,  Drug and Alcohol Information and Education, School Safety,  Stress Management, Healthy Choices, Problem Solving, and Decision Making.   Discussion on many of these topics is continued in advisory.