Your School Social Worker
Who is your school social worker?
Ms. Fatato
How can you see the school social worker?
Ask your teacher, and they can call or email me. If your teacher says it is okay, you can also fill out the referral form outside my room and put it in the social worker's mailbox. You can also ask to see me when you see me in the hallway.
How often can I see my school social worker for help?
However often you need it if you are in crisis, but..... scholars are not allowed to use seeing Ms. Fatato as an excuse to get out of class time.
Most scholars see me 1 time a week either in a counseling group or individually if they need my support on a regular basis.
If someone needs more support outside of school, I may collaborate with you and your family to find ways to help you outside of school too.
School social workers teach students skills to help them make positive _________.
Choices/decisions.
True or False? What is said to Ms. Fatato, stays with Ms. Fatato!
True!
This is called confidentiality.
I will always keep things private UNLESS:
1) Someone is hurting you
2) You want to hurt yourself
3) You want to hurt someone else
4) Or, you tell me I can share!
How long has Ms. Fatato worked at Destine Prep?
This is my first year!
True or False? Scholars are in trouble if they go to see Ms. Fatato
False! Scholars come to see me for many different reasons and are never in trouble. My room is a safe space to come and sit, talk, or build skills.
How often will the school social worker come to my classroom?
Ms. Fatato will visit your classroom periodically to speak to your teacher or to a scholar.
I may also come into your classroom to teach some skills throughout the year, as long as there are no emergencies around the school that need my attention.
In what ways do school social workers help students?
Social workers help scholars when they are in crisis. I talk to scholars individually, in small groups, and in the classrooms. School social workers also talk with teachers, families, and other school staff to support scholars.
True or False: Social Workers are good listeners.
True - I will sit with you and listen to everything you have to say, without judgement.
True or false: Ms. Fatato is the only school social worker at Destine prep.
True! We have other adults who help around the school, but Ms. Fatato is the only social worker at Destine Prep.
What are at least two things that a scholar might talk with Ms. Fatato about?
Challenges at home, with friends, schoolwork.
Social workers can help with all types of uncomfortable or big feelings, like anger, fear, sadness and anxiety.
Ms. Fatato also helps kids with family changes, the loss of a loved one, building self-esteem, making friends, problem solving and conflict resolution, learning coping skills, and so much more.
How should scholars behave in a class that Ms. Fatato is teaching?
Ms. Fatato has the same expectations that all your teachers have-- Be respectful, be responsible, be safe, and be kind. Most of all be real! Be honest with the social worker and yourself.
Are school social workers in charge of discipline?
No. You will never be in trouble when you come to see me. But, I do work closely with all the adults at school to help scholars stay safe and successful.
Where is my office located?
Room 209. I am on the second floor and my door has my name on it.
True or false: Ms. Fatato worked as a teacher before becoming a school social worker.
True! I used to be a substitute teacher while I was in college.
True or False? Everyone will know why I'm going to see Ms. Fatato if I ask to see her.
False! Scholars come to see me for many different reasons and your privacy is important! The self-referral form outside my room or asking your teacher is an easy and private way to see me. When you meet with me, the things we talk about are private unless you are hurting yourself, someone else, or someone is hurting you.
True or false - It is ok to be mad or have other strong emotions about a problem at school.
True! All feelings are ok to have. It is how we handle our feelings that matters most.
When you are in the social work office, what are things that Ms. Fatato can do to help you feel better?
I can support you by listening to your thoughts and feelings, and by teaching you different coping skills.
But - Listening is where I start, not where I stop. When you come to talk with me, I want to understand what is happening before we decide what kind of help might be useful.
Sometimes that means talking, practicing a coping skill, working through a problem together, coloring or using the calm corner, or talking through other people who can help with the problem.
Sometimes it might even mean that we just celebrate something really exciting that happened!
True or False: Social workers fix all your problems.
False! Social workers listen and help the scholars to discover different ways to manage/resolve their own problems.
Name at least one thing Ms. Fatato likes to do for fun.
How quickly will I get to see the social worker if I need to see her?
It depends on how big of challenge you are having. Sometimes it may be immediately and sometimes it may be in the next few days. Ms. Fatato see a lot of scholars, so it can be hard to see everyone who asks to see me right away, however, I will do my best to see you as soon as possible every time!
Who can a school social worker work with besides scholars?
Teachers, families, other school staff, and sometimes people in the community!
How many scholars do I work with at once in my office?
It depends on the situation. Sometimes I will have just 1 scholar, but other times I might have between 2 and 5 scholars.
True of False: Ms. Fatato cares about and will help all scholars at Destine Prep.
True. I will always help all of you! You are all very important to me!!!