A study of the need for social workers in the schools in Newfoundland

Johnson, Ruth Jerrett (1980) A study of the need for social workers in the schools in Newfoundland. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a need for social work services in the schools in this Province. -- A review of the literature showed that school social work began in the United States as an answer to the unmet needs of school children when social and economic changes were taking place in the United States in the early part of the twentieth century. Since that time it has continued to develop along these lines and has constantly expanded its scope. -- The focus of school services has been on the identification of patterns of underachievement among students; deficiencies in the school facilities; and, on designing and implementing specialized programs for helping children in distress. Success has been evident in such areas as group work with students and parents, home-school based education programs and involvement in community boards and associations. The latter has been undertaken in order to change some of the policies which are standing in the way of furthering progressive services to children. -- In order to test out the findings in these reports from the literature the author spent three months carrying out social work activities in an elementary school in St. John's. The purpose of this project was to demonstrate that there is a need for social workers in Newfoundland schools. -- To further verify this need and to show the feasibility of this proposition, a report on one of the casestudies from the project is outlined in Chapter Four. This study, using single-subject design, was completed to test the efficacy of behaviour therapy as a method of treatment for a hyperactive child who had been the source of many problems in school. -- The general findings regarding school social work suggest that teachers and other school personnel are very aware of the personal and family problems with which children must live. They are also aware that the needs of these students for specialized counselling are not being met. Consequently, school officials are very receptive to the idea of having social workers available in the schools. -- The results of the programs implemented with the individual child, as reported in Chapter Four, were positive and showed a significant change in his behaviour during the treatment period. -- Since the overall findings of the study are relevant to a considerable proportion of the school population, it was recommended that a program of school social work services should be developed for all schools – a program that would use all available resources to help school children solve problems which might prevent their achieving, either academically or socially.

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