named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Parent and Family Resource Hub
Provides curated resources for parents on topics including bullying, mental health, suicide prevention, substance abuse, special needs, and online safety. Includes multilingual materials and guidance on accessing school and community supports.
Ruth Schwartz School Social Worker of the Year Award
Annual award recognizing exceptional school social workers in New York State who demonstrate dedication to students, families, and the profession. Recipients are current NYSSSWA members nominated for their outstanding contributions.
School Social Work Advocacy and Policy Initiative
Advocates for increased visibility and support of school social workers, promotes recommended student-to-social-worker ratios, and engages in policy discussions around mental health, school safety, and special education.
activities · 10 groups
What they do
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Community Capacity Building & Leadership Networks 2 activities
- Build professional networks and online communities for school social workersFosters a statewide network of school social workers through regional support, networking events, and an online community platform to facilitate resource sharing, collaboration, and peer support.
- Facilitate interagency collaboration to coordinate family servicesCollaborates with food banks, social service agencies, and other community organizations through interagency teams to improve coordination and delivery of services to students and families.
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School-Based Mental Health and Family Support 2 activities
- Deliver direct student and family support servicesProvides individual, group, and family counseling; crisis intervention; conflict resolution; anger management; child abuse reporting; and case management to students and families. Also includes connecting families with community resources and coordinating services across home, school, and community systems.
- Enable Medicaid billing for school-based mental health servicesServes as part of school districts' health services teams to support Medicaid billing eligibility for mental health services provided by school social workers.
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Training and Capacity Building for Trauma-Informed Student Support 2 activities
- Promote trauma-informed and multi-tiered support systems in schoolsAssists school districts in developing trauma-informed schools and implementing universal, data-driven programs within a multi-tiered system of support, including school climate initiatives, social-emotional learning, violence prevention, and substance abuse prevention.
- Support school districts in hiring and evaluating school social workersProvides resources such as job descriptions, interview questions, evaluation tools, and guidance to assist school district administrators in hiring and assessing school social workers effectively.
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Education Policy Advocacy & Reform 1 activity
- Advocate for school-based mental health services and personnelEngages in advocacy efforts to promote the hiring of school social workers and specialized instructional support personnel, particularly during the pandemic, and advocates for improved school-based mental health services through participation in state-level committees and lobby days such as the Collective Care Team Lobby Day on May 5, 2026.
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Organizational Governance & Leadership Development 1 activity
- Conduct annual board meetingsHolds an annual in-person summer board meeting, such as the one conducted on July 13–14, 2026, to conduct organizational governance and planning.
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Professional Field Knowledge Development 1 activity
- Encourage research in school social workPromotes and supports research in the field of school social work and facilitates the sharing of research findings and resources among professionals.
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Educator Conferences & Professional Development Events 1 activity
- Host annual statewide conference for school social workersOrganizes and hosts the annual NYSSSWA State School Social Work Conference, such as the 61st conference held on November 12–13, 2026, in Ithaca, NY, with public registration available to non-members. Conference materials and results are made available for download by members.
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Behavioral Health and Human Services Training 1 activity
- Provide professional development and continuing education programsOffers in-service training, workshops, and professional development opportunities for school social workers, including programs approved by the New York State Office of Professions for continuing education credit, focused on mental health, trauma-informed practices, restorative behavior management, and evidence-based interventions.
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Recognition and Awards Programs 1 activity
- Recognize excellence in school social work practiceAnnually honors outstanding school social workers through the Ruth Schwartz School Social Worker of the Year Award, promoting visibility and professional recognition.
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Special Education Support Services 1 activity
- Support special education and legal compliance processesParticipates in special education assessments and individualized education program (IEP) meetings, prepares developmental histories for children with disabilities, and provides consultation on school law and policy, including compliance with IDEA and Section 504.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$134K
Contributions & grants——
Program service revenue$111K83%
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$92K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$40K
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$88K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$86K
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +19.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 11
- CARMEN VILLAVICENCIO-HEIN — BOARD MEMBER
- CARRIE FROST — BOARD MEMBER
- JACQUELINE GAFFNEY — BOARD MEMBER
- JACQUELINE SANCHEZ-YOUNG — BOARD MEMBER
- JAMES GARNER — BOARD MEMBER
- JODY RUMFOLA — BOARD MEMBER
- KRYSTAL FOLK-NAGUA — BOARD MEMBER
- MARA KASDEN — BOARD MEMBER
- MARILYN SOLANO — BOARD MEMBER
- MOLIE JENNE-PHALEN — BOARD MEMBER
- ROBIN DELUCA-ACCONI — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 66
Who they work with
- Addiction Resource.net Partner — Source of information on drug and alcohol rehab centers, used by NYSSSWA to support families.
- Alexander Central School District Partner — School district where 2024 awardee Jenna Poinan provides school social work services.
- Autism Society Partner — Provider of autism-related resources referenced by NYSSSWA for parents of children with special needs.
- Brigham Young University Partner — Provider of translated suicide prevention materials through its Trauma & Crisis Project, shared by NYSSSWA.
- Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts Partner — School where 2023 awardee Kim Jones serves as a school social worker.
- Buffalo Public Schools PS 192 Partner — School district employing 2023 awardee Kim Jones.
- Camden Central School District Partner — School district where 2025 awardee Michelle Mellon has served for over 20 years.
- Carmen Aponte-Hall Partner — Regional representative for the Mohawk Valley Region
- Carmen Villavicencio-Hein Partner — Board member serving as Vice President and regional representative for the New York City Region
- Carrie Frost Partner — Regional representative for the Mid-Hudson Region
- Child Mind Institute Partner — Source of mental health guides, symptom checkers, and resources for parents concerned about child behavior and mood.
- ConnectSafely.org Partner — Provider of internet safety resources for families and educators, referenced by NYSSSWA.
- Division On Addictions Partner — Provider of a national database for locating addiction treatment centers, referenced by NYSSSWA for families.
- Dot Kontak Partner — Director of Communications & Member Services, responsible for general information, membership, website, and professional development
- Drug Rehab USA Partner — Provider of information on locating rehabilitation and treatment centers, referenced by NYSSSWA.
- Family Voices Partner — Source of resources on special health care needs for children, referenced by NYSSSWA.
- Jackie Gaffney Partner — Regional representative for the Capitol Region
- Jackie Jones Partner — Regional representative for the New York City Region
- Jacqueline Sanchez-Young Partner — Regional representative for the Westchester Region
- Krystal Folk-Nagua Partner — Regional representative for the New York City Region
- Learning Disabilities Association of America Partner — Source of guidance and resources for parents, students, and educators related to learning disabilities.
- Mara Kasden Partner — Board member serving as Secretary, regional representative for the Nassau Region, and Membership Chair
- Marilyn Solano Partner — Regional representative for the Suffolk Region
- Michelle Williams Partner — Board member serving as State Conference Chairperson
- Mollie Jenne-Phalen Partner — Regional representative for the Northern/Central Region
- Monique Johnson Partner — Regional representative for the Westchester Region
- NY Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (The Collective Care Team) Partner — Collaborates with The Collective Care Team on advocacy initiatives, including joint participation in the May 5, 2026 Lobby Day.
- NYSED-Office of Professions Government — Recognizes and regulates the social work profession in New York State
- NYSUT Partner — Works with NYSUT to influence policy adoption that supports the school social work profession in New York State.
- National Association of Social Workers Network — Offers a national perspective on the role of school social workers in supporting student success
+ 36 more
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Family-Centered Practicemethodology: family-centered practiceBy collaborating with families to identify and address stressors, student outcomes improve because family engagement enables earlier intervention and better access to needed resources.
- Mental Health Integration in Schoolsmethodology: mental-health-integrationBy embedding mental health services within school safety and academic frameworks, student well-being and learning outcomes improve because emotional and psychological needs are treated as integral to educational success.
- On-Site Clinical Intervention Modelmethodology: on-site_clinical_interventionBy providing real-time, on-site clinical support, student and staff mental health needs are addressed promptly because immediate access to licensed social workers reduces escalation and supports continuity of care.
- Professional Advocacy for School Social Workmethodology: professional-advocacyBy advocating for certification, representation, and role clarity, the profession gains visibility and sustainability because institutional recognition strengthens workforce stability and policy influence.
- Systems Approach to Student Supportmethodology: collaborative_systems_approachBy connecting home, school, and community systems, student academic and social success is improved because challenges are addressed in a holistic, coordinated manner across the environments that influence a child’s development.