School social workers are important professionals who support student development, particularly for students facing social challenges and academic delays. School social workers assist students and families of students who are referred to them due to problems like frequent absences, bullying, significant drops in academic performance, mental health issues and aggressive behavior.

Child, family and school social workers make up the most prevalent category of social workers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Out of 810,900 social worker jobs in 2024, there were 399,900 child, family and school social workers. The BLS reports 44,700 new social worker jobs are expected to be added between 2024 and 2034. That’s a 6% growth rate, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.

Social workers impact students at all educational levels. At any age, the school social worker’s role is to provide crisis intervention and assist students and their families by connecting them with appropriate resources and strategies. 

For preschoolers and elementary school students, social workers help at-risk children and families get the help they need. Social workers also help children develop social and emotional skills. In elementary school, middle school and high school, social workers help students improve academic success. Social workers also provide conflict-resolution and anger-management techniques to students. 

Early intervention can help a child stay on track with expected social, emotional and academic development as they age. In middle and high school, a social worker can help students develop the skills they need to become capable adults.

As technology improves and research evolves, school social worker resources are improving as well. That’s why continued education is required for social workers to retain licensure, credentials and certifications. Keeping up-to-date on school social worker resources can help students who are learning how to become a social worker in master of social work programs, like online MSW programs. School social work resources may help social workers currently working and seeking to advance their practice.

These social work resources, including school social work organizations and books, can help soon-to-be and current social workers stay up to date on the latest developments in school social work.

In addition to continued learning requirements, self-study of school social worker resources can benefit both current school social workers and those who want to become a school social worker. 

Joining school social work organizations can provide networking opportunities and access to recent research and tools that support social workers in schools. Books and academic articles on school social work can inform intervention strategies and help more social workers achieve better outcomes with the students they serve.

Information on this page was last retrieved in February 2026.