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SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK

 
 

Post Graduate Licensure in School Social Work

Who May Apply?
How do I Apply?
Application Process
Course Work Required
    

Course Registration
Financial Aid
Completion of Coursework
Application Checklist

 

 


Professional social workers play a vital role in helping school children of all ages.  Traditionally, school social workers serve as liaisons between the home, the school, and the community.  Since 1907, school social workers have collaborated with teachers and other school personnel in advancing the purposes of education.

School social workers are an important part of the school team, possessing unique interdisciplinary knowledge.  School social workers contribute to programs designed for students at-risk due to a variety of factors, including:

  •     emotional problems,
  •     poor self-esteem,
  •     child abuse and domestic violence,
  •     poverty and unemployment,
  •    suicidal behavior, drug and alcohol abuse,
  •     teen pregnancy and parenting,
  •     discrimination, and
  •    attendance related issues.

The School Social Work Program is designed to train school social workers and provide them with the competencies to practice in a variety of traditional and non-traditional primary and secondary education settings.  Such competencies include assessing the needs of school children, designing and implementing interventions, and making referrals to other professionals and agencies as needed.

The Division of Education at B-W will certify successful graduates as school social workers according to state regulations, after completion of the course and field requirements.  The school social work license is granted by the Ohio Department of Education (ODE).  Requests for licensure may only come from a school or department of education at a college or university.
 
The Ohio Department of Education’s regulations concerning school social work certification are quite specific regarding course and field work requirements for licensure as a school social worker.

Effective January of 1998 the following requirements are in effect.

The professional pupil services licensure, valid for five years for working with learners at all levels, shall be issued to an individual deemed to be of good moral character who has successfully completed the following:

An approved program of preparation and who is recommended by the dean or head of teacher education, who has completed an examination prescribed by the State Board of Education, and who has evidenced the education and experience requirements specified below:

 
(a)    School Social Worker

(i)    Master’s degree in social work, and

(ii)    One year of successful experience in a chartered school or school district under a professional license; or one year of social work experience under a current license issued by the Ohio Counselor and Social Worker Board; or a graduate level social work practicum of at least ten weeks in a chartered school or school district; and

(iii)    Current license to practice social work issued by the Ohio Counselor and Social Worker Board (Administrative Code Chapter 3301–24).


[-- Sepperator --] Who May Apply for Post-Graduate Certification Process?

  •     The applicant must have graduated within the past five years from MSASS, holding an MSSA degree, or from a CSWE accredited graduate social work program.
  •     The applicant must have completed at minimum required course work for the Children, Youth and Family (CYF) concentration or the MSASS School Social Work specialization.  Non-MSASS social work graduates must provide evidence of successful completion (a grade of B or better) of coursework equivalent to that required for school social work in the master degree program.
  •     The applicant must have completed a supervised field placement in a school setting or must have current work experience in a school setting (current is defined as “presently employed” or work experience no more than 1 year old from the time of application).


[-- Sepperator --] How is application made?

Use the self-application form Licensure Application Checklist. Include the following:

  •     a brief statement indicating the reason for consideration for the Post-Graduate School Social Work Program;
  •     the most recent transcript of graduate social work program (a copy is sufficient);
  •     evidence of completion of a field placement in a school setting (e.g., field learning evaluations, letter from field instructor or field education director) and/or work (e.g., job description, contract) experience in a school;
  •     evidence of any course work completed post-Master’s;
  •     evidence of social work licensure status;
  •     check for $75.00 made payable to CWRU (may be waived under special circumstances)



[-- Sepperator --] What is the Application Process?


After initial screening of the application, the school social work faculty director and director of Field Education will review the material submitted and make a decision as to additional MSASS courses that will be required.

The faculty director will consult with B-W Program regarding needed education courses and/or prior education courses completed.  B-W College makes all decisions regarding transfer of credit for previous education courses completed.

Applicant will receive a written list of course work needing successful completion in order to qualify for licensure.  Students must apply for admission to Baldwin-Wallace College, using the B-W Graduate Education School Social Work Application and be admitted to B-W prior to enrollment in graduate education courses.  The B-W Graduate Education School Social Work Application will be sent to you along with decisions on coursework needed.

Return the completed B-W School Social Work application to MSASS Student Services for signature approval from MSASS. Note that the application form must be signed by Elizabeth Tracy or the MSASS registrar. Baldwin-Wallace College will accept a faxed copy of the application only when it is faxed from the MSASS registrar.

Once you have received a letter of admission from Baldwin-Wallace College, you are generally able to register for B-W courses over the phone by calling Cathy Cross (440.826.8582).

[-- Sepperator --]  What Course Work is Required?


While each applicant’s file is reviewed individually, in general, those individuals completing course work toward SSW licensure will need to enroll in and successfully complete (earn credits) the following courses:

 
(1)    SSW Seminar SSWM 519 (offered Fall Semester at MSASS) (3)
(2)    EDU 510 Educational Studies (offered Fall and Summer Semesters at B-W) (3)
(3)    EDU 573 Education of Children with Special Needs (offered Fall and Spring Semesters at B-W) (2)
(4)    EDU 584 Pupil Services & Community Resources (offered Summer Semester at B-W) (3)

Note:  Exact start and end dates for each academic year are available from B-W College (www.bw.edu).



[-- Sepperator --] How is Course Registration Completed ?

  For MSASS course registration, contact Debra Fields at 216.368.2101 for the current MSASS tuition (per credit hour) and the date when non-degree students may register for MSASS courses.  The average course is three (3) credit hours.  You must present payment in full (payable to CWRU) and your undergraduate degree from an accredited university or an official unopened transcript at the time of registration.  Registration for non-degree students at MSASS generally takes place the day before classes start each semester.

Once you have received a letter of admission from Baldwin-Wallace College to the School Social Work Program, you are generally able to register for B-W courses over the phone by calling Cathy Cross in the Education Division (440.826.8582).


[-- Sepperator --] Is Financial Aid Available ?


No MSASS grant assistance is available for this program.  Participants are registered as non-degree students at MSASS, and are not MSASS graduates upon completion of courses.

[-- Sepperator --] What is the Final Step After Completion of Coursework?


When all required courses are completed, application may be sought by the student for the pupil personnel licensure through Ohio Department of Education.

Application for Licensure

At the completion of the program, the following should be sent to:

    Dr. Karen Kaye, Chairperson
    Division of Education
    Baldwin-Wallace College
    275 Eastland Road
    Berea, OH 44017

A.    Letter from MSASS (signed by Elizabeth Tracy and Zoe Breen Wood) verifying that you completed all of the field experience requirements.  This is sent from MSASS Office of Field Education.  The MSASS registrar authorizes this letter only after all B-W college course credits have been transferred to MSASS.  Upon completion of all B-W courses, students must request transcripts to be sent to the MSASS Registrar.  Credits are not automatically transferred.  Ordinarily, MSASS will send an ODE application to you along with this letter.  Please make sure we have your current address.

B.    Application Form: Fill out an ODE application form (available from MSASS Student Services or B-W Division of Education 440.826.2168) and return it to B-W  Division of Education.  You must have a $200.00 money order or check (no cash) made out to Ohio T.E.C.

C. Fingerprinting:         Corporate Screening Services
                                           16530 Commerce Court
                                           Middleburg Heights, OH 44130
                                           1-800-229-8606 Ext. 310

            For residents (at least five years) of Ohio the cost is $27.00
            Outside Ohio   & FBI                                                 $34.00

D.    Official Transcript.  Transcript Request Forms can be obtained at MSASS Student Services and B-W Office of Registration & Records (440.826.2126). You will need to have official transcripts of all of your college work taken for the School Social Work Program (both B-W and MSASS courses) sent with the application for licensure.

E.    A copy of your Final Field Education Experience Evaluation from MSASS.

F.    You will need to have completed the licensing exam for a social work license and have your license in order to apply for the pupil personnel license in social work from ODE.




[-- Sepperator --] Licensure Application Checklist

Post Graduate School Social Work Licensure Application Checklist
http://msass.case.edu/downloads/ssw/pstgrdlcn.pdf

Return this form and supporting documents to:

Student Services
Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences
10900 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44106-7164