Preventing Gun Violence in Schools: Perspectives of SWs

In response to mass gun shooting incidents in schools, some school districts have been hiring additional social workers to help prevent further incidents.

This qualitative study explores the potential roles that school social workers may play, including early identification and intervention, screening, risk assessment, crisis intervention, referral, and ongoing support.

Broward County Public Schools (n.d.-a). Behavioral and academic support information system (BASIS). Retrieved May 14, 2019 from https://www.browardschools.com/Page/32943

Broward County Public Schools (n.d.-b). Promise program. Retrieved May 27, 2019 from https://www.browardschools.com/Page/19571

Delaney, K. K. (2017). Playing at violence: Lock-down drills, ‘bad guys’ and the construction of ‘acceptable’ play in early childhood. Early Child Development and Care, 187(5-6), 878-895.

Examining school safety and gun violence in America. [no author] (2014). Curriculum Review, 54(4), 8-9.

Flick, U. (2018). Doing grounded theory(2nded.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. 

Gereluck, D., Donlevvy, K., & Thompson, M. (2015). Normative considerations in the aftermath of gun violence in schools. Educational Theory, 65(4), 459-474.

Girard, S. (2019). One year after Parkland massacre, SWFL students get candid about mental health. Retrieved from https://www.winknews.com/2019/02/14/one-year-after-parkland-massacre-swfl-students-get-candid-about-mental-health/

Grinnell, R. M., Williams, M., & Unrau, Y. A. (2018). Research methods for social workers: An introduction (12th ed.). Kalamazoo, MI: Pair Bond.

Hepworth, D. H., Rooney, R. H., Rooney, G. D., & Strom-Gottfried, K. (2017). Direct social work practice: Theory and skills(10thed.). Belmont, CA: Cengage.

McLeigh, J. D. (2015). The new normal? Addressing gun violence in America. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 85(3), 201-202.

National Association of Social Workers. (2018).Code of ethics. Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved from https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English

National School Climate Center. (n.d.). What is school climate? Retrieved from http://www.schoolclimate.org/climate/

Office of School Performance and Accountability (Broward County Public Schools). (n.d.). Best practice #2: Response to intervention. Retrieved May 23, 2019 from http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/ospa/best_blueprints.asp?best_blueprint_id=6

Riedman, D., & O’Neill, D. (2019). CHDS – K-12 school shooting database. Center for Homeland Defense and Security Retrieved May 8, 2019 from www.chds.us/ssdb

School Board of Broward County (Psychological Services). (2017). Threat assessment procedures manual. Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Retrieved from http://www.bcps-mentalhealth.com/downloads/Threat_Assessment_Manual_Update_2017.pdf

SPARK Curriculum. (n.d.). Group program options for schools and organizations. Retrieved May 27, 2019 from https://sparkcurriculum.org/schools-group-training/

Travis, S. (2018, October 8). Mental health improvements would cost schools $202 million. Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved fromhttps://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/parkland/florida-school-shooting/fl-ne-broward-school-board-mental-health-20181008-story.html

Warnick, B. R., Kim, S. H., & Shannon, R. (2015). Gun violence and the meaning of American schools. Educational Theory, 65(4), 371-386.