Social Workers Developing Relationships and Linking Students, Families, and Teachers to Local Resources¹

This chapter discusses the breaking down of silos between a local college social work program and the public schools. Given the previous La Zona De Promesa (ZdP) findings about the extent of stressors and the need for linking students and families with local resources in a timely manner led to this integration with social work students (at the bachelors and masters-level). The practice of social work actively engages individuals, families, and communities in promoting and improving quality of life through social welfare, social change, and social justice. The goal of social work practice is to empower people and to promote their capacity for finding solutions in creating a safe and responsive community. To help meet the needs of the community of the City of South Tucson, social work faculty and students from Arizona State University worked with the two elementary schools: Ochoa and Mission View, and local agencies to assist Latina/o students and their family members access resources and navigate complex systems. This chapter offers a retrospective qualitative review of the pivotal role social workers played in supporting students and teachers in La Zona de Promesa.