School Social Work/Counseling

Abigail Arii MSW, PPSC
Social Emotional Manager II
Student Support Services
Department of Prevention and Intervention
Email: Abigail.Arii@fresnounified.org​

School Social Workers (SSW) and Social Emotional Support Specialists (SESS) work with students and families to address barriers to learning such as challenges with academics, attendance, behavior, mental health, and the home/environment.

SSW and SESS provide the following services:

Evidence-based education, behavior and mental health services

• School wide Interventions
• Group Counseling
• Individual Counseling
• Case Management
• Crisis Intervention
• Supportive Counseling

Promote a school climate conducive for student learning and teaching excellence

• Participation on school climate and culture Teams
• Provide professional learning and consultation
• Develop and coordinate prevention and intervention strategies
• Serve as part of a multidisciplinary team in addressing concerns presented in the school setting
• Collaborate with school personnel regarding social and emotional concerns impacting student success
• Complete home visits/meet families to understand and address barriers to learning

Maximize access to school- based and community-based resources

• Assist families in understanding school policies, services, and programs
• Link students and families with school and community resources
• Partner with community agencies to increase student supports

Student Support Services staffs 28 full time, site-based School Social Workers and Social Emotional Support Specialists who are PPS credentialed Masters of Social Work (MSW) and Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) assigned to the following sites:

Elementary School Social Workers

• MAYFAIR
• WILSON
• HIDLAGO

School Social Workers- Comprehensive High Schools

School Social Workers- Alternative Education Sites

• CAMBRIDGE
• DEWOLF
• DESIGN SCIENCE/PATINO
• JE YOUNG
• PHOENIX ELEMENTARY

Social Emotional Support Specialists (SESS) – Comprehensive Middle Schools

Social Emotional Support Specialists (SESS) provide additional administrative support to Site-Based Child Welfare and Attendance Specialists and Resource Counseling Assistants.

Child Welfare and Attendance Specialists (CWAS)

CWAS provide evidence-based interventions from a multi-tiered perspective to impact student success by reducing chronic absenteeism including but not limited to:

Tier One

• Attendance Awareness
• School wide messaging
• School wide incentives

Tier Two

• Attendance Groups
• Mentoring Groups
• Family Engagement
• Case Management
• Parent Education

Tier Three

• Community Linkages
• Case Management
• Parent Meetings

Site-Based Child Welfare and Attendance Specialists

Resource Counseling Assistants (RCA)

Resource Counseling Assistants provide support to designated comprehensive middle school sites through the case management of students with social and emotional concerns as well as working with teachers, parents and school staff to ensure high quality learning options and activities to achieve student’s personal best.

• AWAHNEE
• FORT MILLER
• GASTON
• SEQUOIA
• TEHIPITE
• YOSEMITE

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

Fresno Unified School District contracts and partners with community agencies in providing mental health services. Eminence Healthcare, Inc.  provides site based substance abuse services to the following school sites:

• BULLARD
• DUNCAN
• EDISON
• FRESNO
• HOOVER
• ​MCLANE
• ROOSEVELT
• SUNNYSIDE
• CAMBRIDGE
• DEWOLF​

Quick Links

Social Emotional Wellness and Support

Social Workers

School Social Work Association of America