ABSTRACT
Teachers play an important role in identifying children requiring specialized services who might not be identified otherwise and by referring those children to the social worker. The welfare of those children is critical if teachers don't recognize the behavioral and family problems or symptoms that may exist, including identifying situations of abuse and neglect that children are experiencing. The major microsystems for the child continue to be the school and the home environments, and given that children spend most of their time in the home, a parent's participation becomes more crucial to support the student's emotional, social, and academic growth. The social worker also acts as an educator as she helps the family and/ or teachers understand the student's disability , needs, and how to navigate through community resources. The student's teacher should also be viewed as an integral source of information on the child's needs, behaviors, and aptitude in the classroom.
