School Social Workers

Vision

Springdale Public Schools social workers C.A.R.E. about our students and their families!

CONNECT, ADVOCATE, RESOLVE, and EMPOWER!

Mission

Our mission is to provide services to students, families, and district staff to support and promote each student’s academic and social success.

What do social workers do in our schools?

School social workers are licensed professionals who play a pivotal role within our schools, offering invaluable support and services to students, families, and school staff. Their responsibilities encompass a wide array of tasks, including:

Resource Referral: At Springdale Public Schools, we understand how difficult times affect us all. We want to create a culture of lifting up our families and provide a safe space to access support when needed. In light of this, social workers connect students and families with community resources and support services, including mental health agencies, housing assistance programs, healthcare providers, and other social services. Kindly explore our Community Connection Center for quick access to community resources that may benefit your family.

Emotional & Behavioral Support: Springdale school social workers offer support in a safe and confidential space for students to express themselves, explore their emotions, and develop coping strategies. Social workers also assist students during immediate crises related to mental health and wellbeing. Additionally, social workers can educate and provide intervention and support regarding substance use.

Assistance with Housing Insecurity: Springdale school social workers intervene with our families experiencing homelessness through our Families in Transition (FIT) program, which you can read more about below and on our FIT page.

Academic Support: Springdale school social workers can provide academic support by assisting students with goal setting to improve grades and engagement, as well as connecting them with tutoring opportunities and resources when needed.

Meet Our Social Workers
Community Connection Center
Families In Transition
Free and Reduced Lunch

Overall, school social workers play a vital role in fostering a positive school climate, nurturing social-emotional learning, and ensuring that every student has the opportunity to flourish academically, socially, and emotionally.

Summer EBT

Summer EBT provides grocery-buying benefits to low-income families with school-aged children when schools are closed for the summer. Summer EBT benefits will come in the form of pre-loaded cards that families can use to purchase groceries.

Starting in the summer of 2024, families will receive $120 per eligible child. These benefits work together with other available FNS nutrition assistance programs, such as summer meal sites, SNAP, and WIC, to help ensure kids have consistent access to critical nutrition when school is out.

You may automatically qualify for Summer EBT without the need to apply. Use the tool on this webpage to determine if you automatically qualify, need to apply, or do not qualify. If you do not automatically qualify and need to apply, you can fill out the application form here and bring it to your local DHS office or email it to summerEBT@dhs.arkansas.gov. If you have questions about Summer EBT, check out these FAQs or reach out to your school's social worker. Additionally, feel free to use the informational links below.

Summer EBT Info

Double Your Dollars (DYD) Program

The Double Your Dollars (DYD) Program is a farmers market incentive program for SNAP, WIC, and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program recipients. DYD partners with 8 farmers markets in Benton and Washington counties, mainly targeting low-income families, Marshallese and Hispanic communities. Those who receive SNAP/Summer EBT benefits can shop at the participating farmers' markets to get double the fruits and veggies. The process is as follows: individuals must bring their physical EBT Card, find the manager's "booth," tell them how much they would like to use of their preloaded benefits from the state (example: $5), then they will receive $10 in "DYD Coins" and can use these at any of the participating farmers' markets. The coins do not expire and can be used throughout farmer's market season (through October). The coins cannot be refunded but can be rolled over to the next season as long as the program continues to exist. You can access fliers, posters, and site locations here.

Families in Transition

School social workers help students and their families who are experiencing homelessness through our Families in Transition program, also known as "FIT". The FIT program was born from the McKinney Vento Act, which serves to provide youth experiencing homelessness with the necessary support and resources to ensure their access to a stable and quality education, regardless of their housing situation, by addressing barriers such as enrollment, transportation, and school stability.

To learn more about the FIT program, click here.

Hearts for Homelessness

On April 2nd, 2024, students from the Springdale School District led the 1st Annual Hearts for Homelessness Awareness Campaign / Fundraiser!  During this event, students stepped outside the comfort of their homes and into tents to support their fellow students who are currently facing homelessness.  We are so grateful to all of our #SpringdaleFamily and community partners who came out to support these students and families in need!

During this event, students accepted in person donations, but we are still accepting donations! If you would like to make an electronic donation, please visit https://bit.ly/3SAmBDB and type “Hearts for Homelessness” in the description box.  Donations can also be mailed to ATTENTION: Hearts for Homelessness Springdale Public Schools, 804 West Johnson Avenue, Springdale, AR, 72765.

Additionally, a huge thanks to Sam’s Furniture who graciously donated $5,000 during the event!  All donations will be used to support the 850 Springdale students experiencing homelessness in the Families in Transition Program.

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Free and Reduced Lunch

Complete the school meal form today to determine if your students are eligible for free meals at school! By filling out this form, you not only support our district in numerous ways, including employing social workers, but also unlock potential benefits for your family beyond school meals. Qualifying families may access additional advantages, such as scholarship opportunities and discounted internet services. Click here to apply! If you need assistance, contact the social worker at your child's school building.