University of Memphis School of Social Work School Social Work

University of Memphis School of Social Work School Social Work Certificate Program

Learning Objectives Review the 2 pathways for SSW Certificate Review the Purpose and Use of the SSW Certificate Review information on maintaining the licensure Review information on state requirements

School Social Work Coordinator Dr. Susan Elswick LCSW Associate Professor School Social Work Coordinator University of Memphis School of Social Work Building 29, Rm 116 (Park Campus) Memphis, TN 38152 (901)678-4722 (office) [email protected]

What is a School Social Worker? School social workers work with teachers, other school personnel, parents, and community agencies to overcome barriers to learning. Providing a link between home, school, and community, the school social worker serves as a case manager and as an advocate for the student. The school social worker provides information to facilitate the family’s use of community resources. In addition to completing a program in social work, the school social worker learns the particular knowledge and skills required for effective performance in the school setting. Institutions of higher education will collaborate with community agencies and schools in designing and implementing preparation programs for school social workers.

How do I become a School Social Worker Prospective school social workers will complete studies in school social work. The education and professional development of a school social worker is initiated in undergraduate or graduate level course work, refined in field experiences, and enhanced during professional practice in schools, with families, and in the community. In addition to the knowledge, skills, and values developed in social work programs, a program of study in school social work will provide the prospective school social worker the knowledge and skills to develop the following Standards of Practice

TN State Standards for School Social Work: 1. Understanding of social, emotional, cultural, and economic issues affecting students and schools and ability to assist students and families in overcoming barriers to learning. 2. Understanding of the needs of students at risk due to disability, economic conditions, family disruption, or other environmental factors and ability to work with teachers, school counselors, school psychologists, and family resource center staff in addressing student needs. 3. Ability to serve as liaison between home and school, assist parents in understanding their children’s educational needs, interpret student assessments to parents, and work with parents in 4. Ability to perform case management functions, facilitating the coordination and integration of community services to benefit students and their families. 5. Ability to support students with special needs by preparing social histories, contributing to the development and implementation of individualized education programs (IEPs) and helping ensure the participation of parents. 6. Understanding of federal, state, and local laws and policies affecting students including issues such as services for disadvantaged students, services required by students with disabilities, due process rights of students and families, child abuse and neglect, HIV and AIDS, confidentiality, attendance, suspension, and expulsion.

What is the School Social Work Certificate Program? The Graduate Certificate in School Social Work may be used by current MSW students or MSW graduates (Post-MSW) to obtain licensure as a School Social Worker. The School Social Work Certificate will prepare you for directly working in school-based practice in the state of TN. The School Social Work Certificate includes the TN State Department of Education Standards of Practice within the coursework and requirements. By the end of the program students will be knowledgeable in the following areas:

School Social Work Cert OR Licensure? ****By completing the School Social Work Certificate you are ALSO working towards the completion of the TN State Department of Education (DOE) School Social Work Licensure****

How is the School Social Work Licensure Different than my LMSW/ LCSW? The School Social Work Licensure is a license through the TN State Department of Education- “like a teaching license” The State TN DOE School Social Work Licensure (also known as the Professional School Services Personnel License in TN) The School Social Work Licensure has no professional exam requirement at this time in the State The Licensure in School Social Work ONLY allows you to work in a school setting under the supervision of the School Board/ supervising social worker/ psychologist The LMSW/ LCSW allow you to work in general clinical programming, requires a licensure exam, and is run through the State of TN Health Related Boards

Two pathways to Certificatio n 1) Current MSW Students at U of M School of Social Work 2) Post-MSW Students at U of M School of Social Work

Pathway #1 Current MSW Students Admission Requirements The certificate program in School Social Work can be pursued concurrently with the Master of Social Work program or after completion of the Master of Social Work. Concurrent or prior enrollment in an accredited Master of Social Work program is required. Students may fulfill admissions requirements by doing the following:

Process of the Current MSW Student SSW Certificate Admission into the Master of Social Work at the University of Memphis is required. Must be a Current MSW Student in good standing in the program Must be prepared to take additional coursework (used as MSW electives) towards the school social work licensure. A total of 12 hours required for the School Social Work Certificate program. Must apply to Uofm Graduate School as a Certificate seeking student (choose School Social Work Certificate). Once you are admitted into the University of Memphis as a certificate seeking student, email the School Social Work Certificate Coordinator, Dr. Susan Elswick ([email protected] ) with your UID and your U of M email address. She will supply you with a permit for the School Social Work Class and enroll you in a course for submitting your required School Social Work Certificate documentation. The documentation that will be requested will include letters of recommendation, application materials, and information/ SSW application about state standards in practice.

Process of the Current MSW Student SSW Cert- REQUIRED Coursework Must complete one of your two required field experiences (SWRK 7051/52 OR SWRK 7053/54) in a school setting (typically completed in your second year MSW programming, and once you have identified as a student seeking school social work licensure). Complete SWRK 6937 with a (B) or higher. School Social Work (SWRK 6937) course is currently offered in Summer and Fall semesters. Complete SWRK 7016: Advanced Individual Child/Youth(3) OR SWRK 7017: Advanced Family Child Youth(3) for their MSW programming in addition to the School Social Work Certificate requirements. SPED 6112: Func Anlys/Treat Prob Behv Online (3) (Now only offered in Spring) OR SPED 7000 - Intro Excptional Learnr (3) (usually offered every semester)

Current MSW Student Process Complete the TEP application on U of M website: https://www.memphis.edu/tep/admission/tep-admissions.php The TEP application is a requirement for your licensure. Once you complete the TEP you may be asked to submit your GRE scores or take the Praxis Exam IF your undergraduate or graduate GPA does not meet the TEP requirements. Once all course work is completed, and all grades for all classes are finalized, the student must complete the School Social Work application found on the School Social Work Certificate website: https://www.memphis.edu/socialwork/programs/certificate.php and also found within the School Social Work certificate eCourseware program. The student must complete a graduate certificate candidacy form prior to the semester they plan to graduate from the program. Deadlines for candidacy forms for graduation are found here: https://www.memphis.edu/gradschool/current students/graduatio n information/graduation deadlines.php (students are responsible for completing these forms by the required deadlines). The graduate certificate candidacy form can be found here: https://www.memphis.edu/gradschool/pdfs/forms/graduate certifi cate candidacy form2.pdf Once the School Social Work application is submitted, The School Social Work Program Coordinator will write a letter of support for your successful completion of all licensure and certification requirements. This formal letter will be submitted to the office of TEP at the University of Memphis. Once the TEP reviews the letter of support, they submit your licensure documents to the TN State Department of Education (DOE) for review, approval, and completion. The TN State DOE will email you the official licensure within 6-8 weeks of U of M’s submission. If you need your licensure expedited for purposes of employment in a local district, you can request a letter from the School Social Work Certificate Program Coordinator, Dr. Susan Elswick ( [email protected] ) that can be used by your school districts superintendent to expedite the licensure process.***This is not a guaranteed process but has assisted students in the past***

Pathway #2 Post-MSW Students Admission Requirements The certificate program in School Social Work can be pursued after completion of the Master of Social Work. Prior enrollment in an accredited Master of Social Work program is required.

Process of the Post-MSW Student SSW Certificate Admission into the U of M Graduate School in Graduate Certificate in School Social Work at the University of Memphis is required. Must be hold an MSW degree from an accredited school, have a good GPA from that MSW program, and must have one-year POST MSW experience in the field working with children and families OR in a school setting (***This can be waived if your field experience during your MSW was in a school setting) Must be prepared to take a total of 12 hours required for the School Social Work Certificate program. Must apply to Uofm Graduate School as a Certificate seeking student (choose School Social Work Certificate). Once you are admitted into the University of Memphis as a certificate seeking student, email the School Social Work Certificate Coordinator, Dr. Susan Elswick ([email protected] ) with your UID and your U of M email address. She will supply you with a permit for the School Social Work Class and enroll you in a course for submitting your required School Social Work Certificate documentation. The documentation that will be requested will include letters of recommendation, application materials, and information/ SSW application about state standards in practice.

Process of the POST-MSW Student SSW Cert- REQUIRED Coursework Complete SWRK 6937 (3) with a (B) or higher. School Social Work (SWRK 6937) course is currently offered in Summer and Fall semesters. SPED 6112: Func Anlys/Treat Prob Behv Online (3) (Now only offered in Spring) OR SPED 7000 - Intro Excptional Learnr (3) (usually offered every semester) ELC 7115 - Experiential Learning Credit (up to 6 hours) ***NOTE: The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) stipulates that students in the Master of Social Work program may not receive credit for work or life experience. Due to this policy, ELC 7115 may not be completed by students currently enrolled in the MSW program. Under no circumstances may students attempt to substitute ELC 7115 for SWRK 7051, SWRK 7052, SWRK 7053 , or SWRK 7054 or any other course in the MSW degree program. ELC 7115 may only be used by certificate students who have completed the MSW degree***

Requirements ***Students who graduated from an accredited MSW program 5 years ago or longer from the date of admission to the school social work certificate program will be required to complete a portfolio process by enrolling in ELC 7115 - Experiential Learning Credit ( for up to 6 hours of credit towards the 12 hour certificate) to verify their experience in the field and/ or previous field work***

POST-MSW Student Process Complete the TEP application on U of M website: https://www.memphis.edu/tep/admission/tep-admissions.php The TEP application is a requirement for your licensure. Once you complete the TEP you may be asked to submit your GRE scores or take the Praxis Exam IF your undergraduate or graduate GPA does not meet the TEP requirements. Once all course work is completed, and all grades for all classes are finalized, the student must complete the School Social Work application found on the School Social Work Certificate website: https://www.memphis.edu/socialwork/programs/certificate.php and also found within the School Social Work certificate eCourseware program. Post-MSW Students must secure three letters of recommendation from previous employers, colleagues or supervisors that can speak to your abilities to perform school social work standards of practice. The student must complete a graduate certificate candidacy form prior to the semester they plan to graduate from the program. Deadlines for candidacy forms for graduation are found here: https://www.memphis.edu/gradschool/current students/gradua tion information/graduation deadlines.php (students are responsible for completing these forms by the required deadlines). The graduate certificate candidacy form can be found here: https://www.memphis.edu/gradschool/pdfs/forms/graduate cer tificate candidacy form2.pdf Once the School Social Work application is submitted, The School Social Work Program Coordinator will write a letter of support for your successful completion of all licensure and certification requirements. This formal letter will be submitted to the office of TEP at the University of Memphis. Once the TEP reviews the letter of support, they submit your licensure documents to the TN State Department of Education (DOE) for review, approval, and completion. The TN State DOE will email you the official licensure within 6-8 weeks of U of M’s submission. If you need your licensure expedited for purposes of employment in a local district, you can request a letter from the School Social Work Certificate Program Coordinator, Dr. Susan Elswick ( [email protected] ) that can be used by your school districts superintendent to expedite the licensure process.***This is not a guaranteed process but has assisted students in the past***

Retention and Graduation Requirements Retention Requirements Retention requirements are the same as those in the Master of Social Work Program. Graduation Requirements Students must complete all four required courses with an average grade of B (3.0) or higher for a total of 12 credit hours. Additionally, the student must get a B (3.0) or higher in the School Social Work class, SWRK 6937, in order to be eligible for the state licensure. Students may earn no more than 3 credit hours of C , C, or C- grades.

Once I am Licensed, How do I maintain my License in TN? The State TN DOE School Social Work Licensure (also known as the Professional School Services Personnel License in TN) is good for 6 years after you receive your initial license. Your first three years of work in schools your License will indicate Professional School Services Personnel License “Apprentice Special Groups” You must be employed by a school district during for 3 years at the “Apprentice Level” and be supervised in your work during those 3 years. After your third year you submit documentation to the State DOE from your school district indicating the completion of your three years of employment and supervision, and your “Apprentice Special Groups” Licensure moves to a Professional School Services Personnel License “488 School Social Worker K-12 “ licensure. Your licensure will need to be renewed every 6 years. You are required to maintain yearly CEUs (known as Professional Development Points (PDPs) in education) applicable to the field of school social work practice. The TN State DOE requires you to complete and submit 60 professional development points (PDPs). These 60 hours of PDPs must be accrued during the validity period of the license which for the school social workers is 6 years. Six months before your 6 year renewal period is up, you must submit documentation of all 60 of your PDP hours within the TN DOE online management system: TNCompasshttps://tncompass.org/Account/Login?ReturnUrl %2f .

Can I transfer my TN State School Social Work Licensure? We are not able to determine if your licensure in school social work in TN will be reciprocal in another state. You will need to call the state Department of Education (DOE) of the state in which you are planning to transfer and inquire about their state specific licensure requirements for school social work. Currently, only 35 of the 50 states in the nation have a school social work license through their state Departments of Education. It is the student’s responsibility to inquire about school social work licensure options outside of TN.

What are my next steps in starting the School Social Work Certificate? Apply to the Graduate School for MSW program (IF NOT ALREADY ADMITTED) Apply to the Graduate School for Graduate Certificate in School Social Work

References and Resources TN Association for School Social Work: https://tassw.wildapricot.org/ NASW Standards in School Social Work Practice: https://www.socialworkers.org/Practice/School-Social-Work American Council for School Social Work (ACSSW): https://www.acssw.org/ Social Work Association of America (SSWAA): https://www.sswaa.org/ TN State DOE Licensure requirements: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/stateboardofeducation/documents/massivemeetings folder/meetingfiles3/4-15-16 V J Educator Licensure Policy 5 502 Attachment.pdf

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