[Doe_school_social_workers] School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA) Membership and National Certification Scholarships

[Rautiola, Kenneth A]

Good morning. I wanted to send out the SSWAA membership and SSWAA national certification scholarship links that were mentioned in the recent DOE newsroom release.  For those who have not seen the newsroom release, it has been included:

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) recognizes the importance of supporting student mental health. Data from the U.S Center for Disease Control and the Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey reflect increased student mental health needs.
In 2023, Maine DOE received a five-year Expanding Access in School Environments (EASE) grant to increase school-based mental health staff and services in Maine schools. The Maine DOE will spend the next year providing opportunities to the current workforce of school counselors and school social workers to build upon their expertise and to promote evidence-based practices in Maine schools. This emphasis on school-based mental health workforce development strengthens the quality of mental health services in schools.
The following scholarship opportunities are being presented to school social workers working in Maine schools:
*        With the goal of increasing the number of school social workers benefiting from access to their professional communities, Maine school social workers (up to 31) will be given scholarship opportunities to obtain full membership in the School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA). This membership opportunity will connect Maine school social workers with their professional community, providing access to additional professional networking, training, evidence-based practice resources, and research. Eligible members will also be able to pursue advanced national certification through the SSWAA National Certified School Social Work process. Once the application is created, it will be distributed through a Maine DOE school-based mental health listserv.
*        With the goal of increasing the number of nationally certified school social workers (SSWAA) supporting Maine schools, the Maine DOE will provide scholarships to qualified school social workers (up to 10) to participate in the SSWAA National Certified School Social Work process. This advanced national certification process requires applicants to link their school practices with the national school social work practice model. This funding support may result in a 1000% increase in National Certified School Social Workers in Maine schools and place Maine among the national leaders in national school social work certification. Once the application is created, it will be distributed through a Maine DOE school-based mental health listserv.
To be eligible for these opportunities, school social workers must meet the eligibility requirements for each individual activity, be employed as a school social worker in a Maine school and hold a valid social work license from the Maine Social Work Licensing Board.
The link for the SSWAA membership application is:
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=q6g_QX0gYkubzeoajy-GTtb2bwdvwgJNg_AMNBrts39UNDZGRFdSSFlHNDRLSDk1M05QVDRKVUdWVC4u
To be eligible for the SSWAA national certification process, an applicant must meet the following requirements:
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The link for SSWAA national certification is here:
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=q6g_QX0gYkubzeoajy-GTtb2bwdvwgJNg_AMNBrts39UMlhSUzBKSkxDQlc5Ulc2WE9QN1hLQ1MwSC4u


Ken Rautiola, LCSW, NCSSW (he/him)
Mental Health Distinguished Educator
Office of School and Student Supports
Maine Department of Education
23 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0023
Email: kenneth.a.rautiola at maine.gov<mailto:kenneth.a.rautiola at maine.gov>
Phone: (207)441-4754
Maine DOE<http://www.maine.gov/doe> | Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/MaineDepartmentofEducation1/> | Twitter<https://twitter.com/mdoenews> | Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/mainedepted/?hl=en> | Maine DOE Newsroom<https://mainedoenews.net/> | School Health Services<https://www.maine.gov/doe/schools/safeschools/healthed/nurseresources/guidelines>

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