What does a School Social Worker do?

A School Social Worker improves a communities’ vulnerable members and those living in poverty. The day in the life of a School Social Worker can include meeting with students, responding to emergencies, and connecting people with services.

School Social Work involves counseling and psychology while focusing on client case management. School Social Work promotes social change, evolution, coherence, and empowering communities and people. School Social Work is the understanding of human development, behavior, and the social, economic, and cultural institutions and interactions.

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Michigan School Social Workers explain the passion of their profession.

School Social Worker Jobs

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How to Start Your School Social Work Journey

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree in any of the following:

  • Social Work
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Counseling

Step 2: Earn a Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW)

Step 3: There is a detailed specific process for becoming approved as a school social worker in the state of Michigan. Candidates must meet the requirements set forth by Michigan State University as per the Michigan Department of Education (MDE). The three steps to becoming a fully approved school social worker can be found here

Begin Your Journey Sooner

Associations to Support You

Michigan Association of School Social Workers logo
National Association of Social Workers Logo
Seal of Michigan Secretary of State

Scholarships & Grants

Michigan Reconnect Program

Michigan Reconnect is a scholarship program that pays you to attend your in-district community college tuition free or pays up to the in-district rate if you attend a community college where you’re considered out-of-district. Applicants must be 25 years old to apply.

Detroit Promise Scholarship

Ensures all eligible Detroit residents have a tuition-free path to a degree. The student should check with the school to ensure their degree is pell-eligible. This scholarship cannot cover programs that are not Pell-eligible. Detroit Promise funding is not competitive; every student who registers and meets the requirements will receive funding if their college determines they have an eligible funding gap.

Student Loans:

Need help paying for college? Fill out the FAFSA – Federal Student Aid – form each year in October, and you may qualify for loans to help cover college tuition.

Graduate Assistantships

Participating in a Graduate Assistantship is a great way to cover the financial costs of graduate school while gaining valuable experience in your field of education.

Michigan State University 

Andrews University 

Eastern Michigan University 

Grand Valley State University 

Northern Michigan University 

University of Michigan 

Wayne State University 

Western Michigan University 

Oakland University 

Saginaw Valley State University 

Free College Opportunities

Dual Enrollment & Early Middle College Options for High School Students

Dual Enrollment

Dual Enrollment – Allows students to earn college credit (up to 10 courses) while in High School at no cost between 9th-12th grade. The classes that students are eligible for must not be offered by the high school or PSA and must lead towards postsecondary credit, accreditation, certification, and/or licensing. 

How to apply – Students are to talk with their high school advisor on eligibility, application, deadlines, and college course options.

Early Middle College

Early Middle College (EMC) is a Michigan Department of Education approved five-year program of study.

EMCs work closely with certain colleges to provide students with an opportunity earn a high school diploma and one or more of the following:

  • 60 transferable college credits
  • An associate degree
  • A professional certification
  • The Michigan Early Middle College Association (MEMCA) technical certificate
  • Participation in a registered apprenticeship

Michigan List of EMC’s

Volunteer to Gain More Experience!

Get hands-on experience and find a classroom near you that is in need of a volunteer!

Find a Class

Job Shadowing

To participate in a job shadow, reach out to a school district and request to job shadow a School Social Worker for a day.

Each school district has their own policy when it comes to job shadowing, but you may need a State ID or a driver’s license to participate.

College Program Information

Click a point on the map to find degree programs, scholarships, grants, and organizations to join!

“School Social work is one of the fastest growing careers in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics.”

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School Social Worker Story Tellers

Below are videos highlighting School Social Worker throughout Michigan.
Find out why they love the profession.

MASSW School Social Worker’s First Career Step

Lansing, MI

MASSW will move your school social worker career forward.

A School Social Worker’s Amazing Career Path

Detroit Public Schools, MI

This rewarding career helps make the world a better place.

Michigan Social Worker of the Year

Southgate Community Schools, MI

A leading Michigan School Social Worker shows how improving others lives fulfills her life.

A School Social Workers Purpose

Michigan State University

Her childhood life in foster care was so positive it put her on the School Social Worker career path. It’s an exciting career.

join the success

Don’t just take our word for it, hear from Michigan School Social Workers

A middle aged white woman with short gray hair sits in a blue hotel lobby. She wears a large pendant necklace and a black blouse. In the bottom left corner is a blue box with white text in it that reads "Stephene Diepstra"
A middle aged African American woman sits in the lobby of a hotel. She wears black glasses, a blue tee shirt, a jean jacket, and a pearl necklace. She holds a blue planner, and smiles while speaking. In the bottom left corner is a blue box with white text in it that reads "Angela Gardner".
A middle aged white woman with long blonde hair sits in a conference hall. She wears a pink blazer on top of a black blouse. She is smiling. In the bottom left corner is a blue box with white text in it that reads "Karen Dunholter".
“Individuals thinking about a career in School Social Work will be really interested and challenged by the many opportunities the occupation brings.“
Stephene DiepstraMSU School Social Work Professor
“As a college student, my desire was to become a School Social Worker and help make the world a better place, promote equity, and see the results of children thriving.”
Angela Gardner,MASSW President & School Social Worker at Detroit public Schools, MI
“What I love about being a school social worker is the variety of settings we can work in, and the different levels of School Social Work we can choose from.”
Karen DunholterSchool Social Worker at Southgate Schools & MASSW School Social Worker of the Year

join the success

Don’t just take our word for it, hear from Michigan School Social Workers

A middle aged white woman with short gray hair sits in a blue hotel lobby. She wears a large pendant necklace and a black blouse. In the bottom left corner is a blue box with white text in it that reads "Stephene Diepstra"
A middle aged African American woman sits in the lobby of a hotel. She wears black glasses, a blue tee shirt, a jean jacket, and a pearl necklace. She holds a blue planner, and smiles while speaking. In the bottom left corner is a blue box with white text in it that reads "Angela Gardner".
A middle aged white woman with long blonde hair sits in a conference hall. She wears a pink blazer on top of a black blouse. She is smiling. In the bottom left corner is a blue box with white text in it that reads "Karen Dunholter".
“Individuals thinking about a career in School Social Work will be really interested and challenged by the many opportunities the occupation brings.“
Stephene DiepstraMSU School Social Work Professor
“As a college student, my desire was to become a School Social Worker and help make the world a better place, promote equity, and see the results of children thriving.”
Angela Gardner,MASSW President & School Social Worker at Detroit public Schools, MI
“What I love about being a school social worker is the variety of settings we can work in, and the different levels of School Social Work we can choose from.”
Karen DunholterSchool Social Worker at Southgate Schools & MASSW School Social Worker of the Year

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