The Social Work component of the TC EdZone Partnership is an important aspect of our collaborative & holistic approach. Each SWI has a case load of between 8-10 children at each school, and is supervised by a clinical supervisor and a “task” supervisor. The “task” supervision is an in-school responsibility, which facilitates implementation and offers administrative support to the project.

In our four partner schools, the task supervision has been assumed by either the principal or an assistant principal. The SWI’s are viewed as an integral part of the school’s Pupil Personnel Team (PPT), which includes the referring classroom teacher, the school’s guidance counselor and/or psychologist and is chaired by the principal. Teachers refer children for PPT review where they determine that additional emotional and behavioral support structures are needed. This is where the SWI’s provide additional help in the classroom to the individual child in need.

This Pre-Referral Process occurs prior to any formal special education process to guard against inappropriate referral of linguistic and other minority children into Special Education Programs. Parents and families also receive support from the SWI’s with this model.

There are a number of Social Work agencies in the TC EdZone region all of whom are actively involved with neighboring Harlem schools and with whom we are collaborating. These include, Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ), Harlem Dowling, Children’s Village, and Northern/Mid Manhattan Perinatal.

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