What is a Home & School Visitor (HSV)?
Community Resources & Social Work Services
OVERVIEW
Home and School Visitors (HSV) are licensed and certified professionals who provide a variety of services to students, families, schools, and the community. Working with other school staff and outside agencies, the HSV intervenes to identify and eliminate barriers to students’ academic achievement and their healthy social-emotional development. Home and school visitors provide both direct and indirect services to help students achieve maximum benefit from educational experiences. In other school districts, the HSV may be called the school social worker.
HOME & SCHOOL VISITOR (HSV) CREDENTIALS
School districts have different requirements for individuals working as home and school visitors or school social workers. The HSV in the Rose Tree School District has a master’s degrees in social work. She is licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a social worker and is a certified Home & School Visitor. As part of maintaining a license and certification, an HSV receives ongoing specialized training and continuing education to ensure that students, families, and school staff receive the highest level of professional services.
Summary of HSV Responsibilities
School district liaison to homeless students and their families
Provide support to families experiencing difficulty with student school attendance
Enforce the attendance laws of the Commonwealth of PA
Link families to community agencies and social service providers
School district liaison to Child Protective Services concerning reports of suspected child abuse and neglect
Provide support to students, families and the schools in crisis situations
Conduct investigations to ensure that students reside within the Rose Tree Media School District boundaries
HOW THE HSV HELPS STUDENTS
Academic Support:
Enhance communication among students, families, and schools
Work with students to improve their attendance and performance
Complete psychosocial assessments to determine students’ needs for support
Provide advocacy for children and their families
Identify and connect students to tutorial, enrichment, and after-school programs
Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Support:
Provide individual student and family interventions including home visits
Teach conflict resolution, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
Provide training to help students develop self-esteem and self-control
Provide crisis intervention support
Community Outreach and Resource Development:
Locate mentoring and recreational resources for students
Consult with other interagency partners to determine ways to help meet students’ needs
HOW THE HSV HELPS FAMILIES
Academic Support:
Assist parents/guardians in their role as partners in their children’s education
Promote positive working relationships between parents/guardians and the school staff
Provide assistance to improve their child’s school attendance including home visits
Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Support:
Provide information on local family, group, and individual counseling providers
Connect families with support groups
Assist with crisis management
Community Outreach and Resource Development:
Links families with available community resources:
HOW THE HSV HELPS SCHOOL STAFF
Academic Support:
Assist parents/guardians with understanding expectations for behavior and leaning in the educational setting
Make home visits to establish or expand home/school connection
Monitor student attendance
Attend IEP team meetings to participate in the development of social-emotional goals and identify potential community supports
Provide staff development around issues of social-emotional learning, mandating reporting and community supports
Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Support:
Consult with faculty/staff/families regarding behavioral/emotional concerns
Participate on the Student Assistance Program (SAP) team at each school
Facilitate psycho-educational training for students
Community Outreach and Resource Development:
Identify community resources for families
Coordinate support for students participating in programs with community agencies
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Bernadette Dacanay, LSW
610-627-6197
308 N. Olive Street, Media, PA 19063