2016 -- S 2339

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LC004197

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS

     

     Introduced By: Senators Satchell, Lombardi, Conley, Gallo, and Goldin

     Date Introduced: February 10, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. This act shall be entitled the "Rhode Island School Social Workers Quality

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Assessment Act of 2016".

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     SECTION 2. The general assembly adopts the following findings:

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     (1) The Rhode Island general assembly finds school social workers an essential

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component of the school's educational team with specific expertise in the domains of mental

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health, social/emotional learning and social services.

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     (2) School Social Workers are professionals who are employed by school districts to

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enhance the academic mission by providing services that strengthen home/school/community

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partnerships.

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     (3) Their expertise is working with students and families from a family-strength,

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empowerment model.

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     (4) They bridge systems by locating and mobilizing community resources that may serve

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a student and/or family facing challenges.

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     (5) Research indicates that when families' basic needs are met, there is a higher likelihood

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that the students' will succeed in school (G-14-3.3, Basic Education Plan, 2009, Rhode Island

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Department of Education).

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     (6) "Mental and social/emotional health issues directly impede students' abilities to learn.

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Such issues include, but are not limited to, psychiatric disorders, domestic violence, alcohol and

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drug abuse, child abuse and neglect, as well as various forms of bullying" (G-14-3.2, BEP).

 

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     (7) The role of the school social worker continues to evolve as it confronts the ever-

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changing complex needs of schools and the students they serve.

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     (8) The scope of responsibilities and involvement of the practitioner is broad and may

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vary not only from one district to another but also within each district.

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     SECTION 3. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended

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by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 73.1

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SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS QUALITY ASSESSMENT ACT OF 2016

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     16-73.1-1. Compilation of data – School social worker duties and responsibilities. --

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(a) Accumulated data is needed to identify and assess the workload, duties and responsibilities of

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school social workers. The 2009 basic education plan drafted by the state department of

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education:

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     (1) Delegates to the local education agency to ultimate responsibility for the operation of

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a system of education and support services that is reasonably designed and adequately resourced

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to achieve compliance with all aspects of the basic education plan;

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     (2) Requires that the local education agency provide a supportive and nurturing school

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community; and

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     (3) Provide adequate psychological, mental health and social services.

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     (b) The state department of education shall develop a stand and measure which will

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identify the number of school social workers in the state and the actual nature and scope of work

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and services that they provide. Specifically, it shall solicit information concerning: prevention and

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intervention services; compelling services assessments; consultation; parent and community

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liaison; attempts to reduce violence; referrals and collaborative; promoting adherence to federal

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mandatory, in which school activities and training. School department shall ascertain and forward

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to the state department of education the following information:

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     (i) Number of social assessments completed;

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     (ii) Number of family contacts;

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     (iii) Number of staff meetings attended;

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     (iv) Number of community contacts;

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     (v) Number of teacher consultation contacts;

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     (vi) Number of function behavioral assessment's completed;

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     (vii) Number of individual educational plans meetings attended;

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     (viii) Number of individual counseling sessions; and

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     (ix) Number of group counseling sessions.

 

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     (c) Every school worker shall complete this standard measure for one complete school

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year.

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     16-73.1-2. Report. -- The state department of education shall gather all the information

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concerning the duties and responsibility of school social workers provided to it by local school

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departments. It shall summarize the information in a report which shall be delivered to the

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chairpersons of the house of representatives, health education and welfare committee and the

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senate committee on education in January of 2018.

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     SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS

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     This act would create a process for the department of education collection and

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organization of information concerning the workload and scope of the duties and responsibility

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performed by school social workers.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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