by Joan Hellyer, Bucks IU Paraeducator.
March is National Social Work Month, a time to highlight the commitment of these professionals working to create a stable and supportive learning environment. The Bucks County Intermediate Unit (Bucks IU) is taking this opportunity to recognize the invaluable contributions of social workers in supporting Bucks IU students and their families.
“Our Bucks IU social workers step up when students and families need support the most, often in ways that are not seen by others,” said Dr. Mark Hoffman, Bucks IU Executive Director. “Their work makes a lasting impact in the lives of others and fills a critical piece of the continuum of supports offered to our students and families.”
School social workers assist students facing social, emotional, and academic challenges, according to the National Association of Social Workers. They connect students with resources both within schools and throughout local communities, helping to remove barriers to academic success.
“Our colleagues bring expertise and compassion to challenges that may not have easy solutions,” said Dr. Hoffman. “I am grateful for all they do.”
According to Amy Snyder-Dietz, Bucks IU’s Lead School Social Worker and IDEA Interagency Coordinator, the organization employs fourteen school social workers. Some work directly with students at Bucks IU learning centers, while others serve students in classrooms across Bucks County.
“We are proactive in identifying what each student may require to best support their growth and development” said Snyder-Dietz.
The role of a school social worker varies based on their assignment, explained veteran Bucks IU Social Worker Chris Killcoyne, who has supported special needs students and their families for 27 years.
Killcoyne provides individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, and referrals for students in multiple Bucks County school districts. She also helps families access community resources, including behavioral health services and in-home care. Additionally, she assists families with medical, child welfare, and socioeconomic issues and guides students 18 and older in securing job-related community resources.
“I am blessed to work in the area that I am passionate about and truly love,” said Killcoyne, who currently serves students in Lower and Middle Bucks County.
Bucks IU school social workers collaborate with other agency staff to achieve the best outcomes for students, said Marci Cianni, a school social worker based at Bucks IU at Samuel Everitt in Levittown.
Cianni, who has been with Bucks IU for 21 years, supports students in the Bucks IU’s Emotional Support and Inspire Partial Hospitalization programs, as well as those in Bucks IU’s Brain Injury classroom.
She finds great fulfillment in seeing her students “succeed and thrive” in school.
“The social worker position at the Bucks IU is meaningful,” said Cianni. “One can make a big difference for a family. The Bucks IU is a collaborative and team-oriented agency, and we, as social workers, facilitate the partnerships between the home, school, and community.”
For those considering a career in social work, Snyder-Dietz highly recommends Bucks IU as a workplace.
“It’s highly challenging, but quite rewarding,” she said.
Throughout March, there are several opportunities to honor Bucks IU school social workers, including National School Social Work Week at the beginning of the month and World Social Work Day on March 19.
“Their dedication to promoting the academic, social, and emotional well-being of students is truly worth celebrating,” said Dr. Lenny Greaney, Assistant to the Bucks IU Executive Director. “School social workers have a unique ability to support our staff in understanding the social-emotional development of our learners, strengthening a positive school climate. Bucks IU school social workers are essential in creating the robust programs we provide throughout Bucks County.”
ABOUT THE BUCKS COUNTY INTERMEDIATE UNIT (Bucks IU):
Celebrating over 50 years of service! The Bucks IU supports improvements and advancements in student learning by providing exceptional educational programs, innovative professional development, and advanced business/technology services. We serve people from ages birth through adults, students in public and private schools along with their staff and administrators, and the community of Bucks County. The Bucks IU is also the liaison between local schools and the Pennsylvania Department of Education. For more information, go to www.BucksIU.org or call 215-348-2940.