School Social Work (SSW) Services

School Social Worker - School Social Worker (ages 0-21) - 7.07 (PDF)

School Social Workers are one of the few resources in schools for addressing personal and social problems that potentially inhibit a student’s ability to learn. There are nearly 10,000 school social workers in the United States today, and approximately 400 in Colorado, who realize that students who are hungry, sick, or worried about their families cannot achieve as well in school as students who do not have these concerns. School social workers, like many Americans, are concerned about the growing social problems affecting our youth – including substance abuse, teen pregnancy, HIV infection, suicide, abuse and neglect, and family violence. As a critical link between the school, the family, and the community, school social workers help make these environments more beneficial to students.

School social workers provide a range of services including:

Assessment and diagnosis of students for special education services;
Individual and/or group counseling with students experiencing mental health or social difficulties;
Setting up student assistance programs and providing supports for all students;
Crisis intervention;
Encouraging parent participation through phone contacts and home visits with parents who are overburdened;
Navigation of systems and accessing resources for students and their families; and,
Collaborating with teachers.

Office Hours

Krista Klabo will host a six-part webinar series on foundational concepts of special education evaluation! This series will be held monthly series will be held on Tuesdays from 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM.

Learn more about the monthly series.

IRIS Center On Demand Professional Development

The IRIS Center is a national center dedicated to improving education outcomes for all children, especially those with disabilities birth through age twenty-one, through the use of effective evidence-based practices and interventions.

Visit the IRIS Center

The School Psychology & Special Education Evaluation Specialist focuses their work on supporting school psychologists and school social workers in schools in Colorado. They can provide support in the areas of special education evaluation and eligibility, Response to Intervention/Multi-Tiered System of Supports, and mental health for students with disabilities. If you have questions regarding licensing, please contact the Colorado Department of Education Licensing Team directly (information below under "Resources"). If you have questions relating to private practice, please contact the Department of Regulatory Agencies (information below under "Resources").

Colorado School Psychology and Social Worker Positions

Unofficial List of Available School-Based Mental Health Practitioner Positions Matrix for the 2023-2024 School Year (Google Sheet)
Please note that this may not include all of the jobs open in Colorado. Visit individual district websites for a complete list of job opportunities. All applications should be submitted directly to the district in which you are applying.

Office Hours - Special Education Evaluation Webinar Series

Krista Klabo will host a six-part monthly webinar series on foundational concepts of special education evaluation! Throughout the series, we will cover essential topics, including comprehensiveness in evaluations, meaningful family participation and collaboration, cultural considerations, building a thoughtful body of evidence beyond standardized measures, and assessment interpretation and communication. These topics are crucial for ensuring thorough evaluations, fostering strong partnerships with families, addressing cultural diversity, utilizing alternative assessment methods, and effectively communicating assessment findings.

This monthly series will be held on Tuesdays from 8:00 – 9:30 am. Registration is required to attend.

Dates and Topics:

September 19, 2023 - Comprehensiveness in Special Education Evaluation
- Importance of comprehensive evaluations
- Different assessment tools and strategies
- Significance of considering multiple domain
October 24, 2023 - Meaningful Family Participation and Collaboration
- Involving families in the evaluation process
- Strategies for collaborative relationships
- Incorporating family perspectives in decision-making
- informed consent, confidentiality, and the rights of students and their families.
November 28, 2023 - Cultural Considerations in Special Education Evaluation
- Importance of cultural competence
- Impact of cultural factors on assessment outcomes
- Strategies for culturally sensitive assessments

January 30, 2024 - Assessment Interpretation and Communication
- Effective interpretation of assessment results
- Clear communication with team members and families
- Understanding score types and assessment types
- Analyzing assessment data and making informed decisions
February 27, 2024- Basics of Building a Thoughtful Body of Evidence
- Going beyond standardized measures
- Influence of informal data on formal assessment interpretation
- Introduction to alternative assessment methods
- Covering topics such as assistive technology, flexible testing formats, and individualized supports
April 16, 2024 - Convergence of Data to Build a Stronger Body of Evidence
- Appropriate use of assessment data
- How different assessment data informs decision-making.
- Reinforcing the decision-making process

Resources and Information

Licensing Information

Licensing Standards
Colorado Teacher Endorsement Requirements
School Social Work - Special Services License Requirements
Department of Education Licensing Office
- Send an Email to CDE Licensing.
- Phone: 303-866-6628
Please note, this position is not an expert in licensing and if you have specific questions, it is best to contact licensing office.

Department of Regulatory Agencies

Department of Regulatory Agencies
- Email the Department of Regulatory Agencies.
- Phone: 303-894-7855 or 1-800-886-7675 (Toll Free outside the Denver metro area)
Please note, this position does not support school psychologists or social workers in private practice.

School Mental Health and Behavior Listserv

The School Mental Health and Behavior Listserv is a great way to receive information through periodic emails on statewide training(s), job opportunities, and mental health and/or behavior related events. If you would like to sign up for the listserv, please send your request to Holly Jackson, Program Support, email Holly Jackson.

State and National Partners

Professional Organizations

Colorado Society of School Psychologists
National Association of School Psychologists
Colorado School Social Work Association
University Training Programs in Colorado:
Colorado Bilingual School Mental Health Network

For more information, please contact:

Krista Klabo, Ed.S NCSP
School Psychology and Special Education Evaluation Specialist
Email Krista
(720) 284–2524

Having trouble with this webpage?

If you have problems with broken links or accessing the content on this page, please contact the Exceptional Student Services Unit at ESSU@cde.state.co.us. Please copy the URL link for this page into the email when referencing the problem you are experiencing.

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School Social Work (SSW) Services

Office Hours

IRIS Center On Demand Professional Development

Colorado School Psychology and Social Worker Positions