Your Voice MattersWelcome to KSSWA's advocacy page! Here you can make a difference, because your voice matters for your students, for your school, and for your profession. Below you will find resources to help in your advocacy efforts. However the most impact we can have is if all School Social Workers join together with a unifying voice across the state. School Social Workers need to be the ones dictating what the profession is and can be. As School Social Workers we know and see the influence we can have on a student, family, and educational system. It is only with your support that we can advocate and grow this profession at the state level. Collectively our voice is powerful and can make change happen. So please join with us to create one collective voice for School Social Workers across the State of Kansas. |
2024 KSSWA Legislative Focus1. Strengthen the Profession of School Social Work 2. Promote Student Growth and the Wellbeing of Families and Staff 3. Advocate for Sufficient Funding and Support for Educational Growth in Kansas |
March 2024 Legislative UpdatesHello all, Happy Almost School Social Work week! Attached to this email you will find the .jpeg attachment for our School Social Work week Proclamation! Be on the lookout from KSSWA for additional resources to use for School Social Workers week. The legislative session has began and there are multiple bills in the House and Senate that are school related. Below you will find a quick snapshot of educated focused bills. KSSWA Legislative Committee Education Related bills (not an exhaustive list):
Helpful legislative tracking websites: KNEA Under the Dome: Legislative and Political Advocacy KSDE Legislative Bill Tracker School Social Work Association of America Advocacy Page (National Bill Information) School Social Work Week - SSWAA #PearlsOfWisdom |
We are now on the KSDE website! Please copy and paste the link below into your browser to see our section under School Mental Health.
Please see the .pdf below for guidance from KSDE about HB2567 that was passed in May 2022.
To find further information about who represents your district please visit Openstates website. You can enter your address here to find who it is that represents your district. Legislators usually welcome any contact with constituents, so please email, call or even invite them to your school to further that relationship.
This is a letter to help you communicate with your legislator about social workers and the importance of our presence in schools | |
This is a letter to let a school administrator about school social worker and how we can benefit students, staff and our communities | |
KSDE School Mental Health (School Social Work) | Information posted on the KSDE website regarding School Social Work and School Mental Health. |
Surgeon General Youth Mental Health Advisory | Information regarding youth mental health and creating a responsive systematic support for todays youth. |
School Mental Health Teaming Statement | National Associations statement indicating effectiveness of teaming strategies to address school mental health concerns |
Kansas Legislature Video | This is a video put together to assist with the navigation the Kansas Legislature Website |
School Social Work Association of America - News & Advocacy | This portion of the SSWAA website includes advocacy resources, legislative updates, and guidance regarding how to contact legislators on various levels. |
School Social Workers - A Necessity in the Fight Against Youth Mental Health .pdf | Provided is a policy brief from a member of KSSWA, Sara Nowak. This brief discusses School Social Workers and the importance of our positions to help support our students mental health needs. |
Social-Emotional Growth and the Kansans Can Vision for Education | KSDE information about Social Emotional Growth. Provided on this site are: SECD Standards, Resources, and Measuring Documentation in addition to other resources. |