Almost half of the 700,000 social workers in the U.S. work in schools supporting the social, emotional & behavioral needs of children. Although school social workers and their allied health professionals are frequently the first to see children who are sick, stressed, traumatized and who may act out, or may hurt themselves, there remains a gap in the support for over 10 million students who attend a school without a school social worker. The Wayne State University School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education is proud to offer a new school social work refresher course to help bridge this gap and get social workers back in Michigan schools.

As part of an interdisciplinary team, school social workers are at the core of helping students achieve academic success. They are a vital part of the success of our Detroit community. - Shantalea Johns, EdD, WSU Social Work Director, Office of Continuing and Interprofessional Education

With 66 years of combined school social work experience, Wayne State School Social Work Temporary Approval Coordinator and Lecturer Karen Weiner, LMSW and Social Work Part-time Faculty Charlene McGunn, PhD, LMSW guide participants through this non-interactive, asynchronous online course comprised of 10 modules. Participants are provided with a review and update of school law issues, home-school-community assessment, intervention strategies, school social work practice skills, and the treatment of a variety of children and family-based special needs throughout the course.

School Social Workers are in a unique position to support children, families and the entire school community. I am grateful that Wayne State is able to offer this opportunity to individuals who wish to do this important work. - Karen Weiner, LMSW, WSU Social Work Lecturer and Temporary Approval Coordinator for School Social Work

Completion of a school social work refresher course is a state requirement for those who would like to return to school social work after a break in the profession. This course is open to any Michigan school social work candidate; specifically, those who have an MSW and received school social work temporary approval (Form 310) with their temporary approval having been issued over 5 years ago but not more than 10 years ago.

The course is offered continuously throughout the year and is self-paced. It takes participants approximately 15 - 20 hours to complete the 10 modules and earn 11.5 continuing education clock hours (CE) for a cost of $175.

Those interested in learning more and enrolling in this non-credit course via our online store and Canvas platform should visit our school social work refresher course website and view the video below. It is highly suggested that those interested in the course check with the Temporary Approval Coordinator of the university from which they earned their MSW before taking this course. It is that university, which will ultimately issue the recommendation for Temporary Approval for school social work. Those interested in learning more about temporary approval for school social workers should visit our School website.