The Art of Becoming Indispensable: What School Social Workers Need to Know in Their First Three Years of Practice

Despite their institutional preparation and lived experiences, new school social workers encounter numerous practices, political considerations, community engagement strategies, and seemingly fundamental elements involved in the learning curve needed to move from entry-level to proficiency. The Art of Being Indispensable What School Social Workers Need to Know in Their First Three Years of Practice contains content specific to what they will need in their first three years of practice, bridging the learning gap from their academic preparation to early employment in P-12 settings. Organized into four sections - The Host Environment, The Macro School Social Worker, Integration and Intervention, and School Social Worker Sustainability - the content of the book is framed by a mixed-methods study on the needs of new practitioners. It is an indispensable guide that new school social workers can consult to effectively execute their roles and responsibilities.


About the Author
Tory Cox EdD, LCSW, is Assistant CalSWEC Project Coordinator at the California State University, Long Beach School of Social Work

Terence Fitzgerald PhD, MED, MSW, is Assistant Professor at University of Southern California, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work

Michelle Alvarez, MSW, EdD, is Former President of the School Social Work Association of America; Director of Academic Strategy, Southern New Hampshire University