For the first time in modern times, the Bulletins of the National Association of School Social Workers (formerly the American Association of School Social Workers; American Association of Visiting Teachers and the National Association of Visiting Teachers) are found in one easily accessible place. The bulletins run from 1924-1955.

 

In the Early Era section, there are also newsletters going back to the 1930’s from the NASSW as well as other assorted publications.  The bulletins and the newsletters give the opportunity to explore the early history of visiting teacher – school social work in local school districts and individual states.

 

The New Skills Era begins with the formation of N.A.S.W. and ends with the birth of the School Social Work Association of America. Milestones in this 40 year period include the growth of new models of school social work from primarily a casework model to include group work and system interventions. And in the middle of the 40 years, P.L. 94-142 (The Education for All Handicapped Children Act) became law and working with special needs students became another significant role for school social workers. During this era, the number of school social work positions grew tremendously.  

 

The Current Era includes newsletters from SSWAA and from the International Network for School Social Work. It also lists current journals, school social work textbooks, and other resources for school social workers in print. One trend is the use of the evidence-based practice. Specific journal articles and books are not linked because of copyright restrictions.

 

This rich history of school social work is now available electronically for the practitioners, students, professors, historians and associations in the school social work community.

 

It also gives state, regional and national school social work associations a place to store and share their publications. This is a non-profit site with no charges or fees for access to this treasure trove of documents.  This site is not affiliated with any association, university or publisher.

 

Many, many thanks to Randy Fisher for compiling, organizing and making available these historic documents contributed by school social work leaders over time. 

 

 

Graphics discovered and contributed  by Dr. Gary Lee Shaffer.