DP Home and School Visitor/School Social Worker

Student and teacher

Program Description
Requirements
Course Requirements
Required Field Work
Contact Information
Job Opportunities
Home and School Visitor Program Updates
Professional Organizations
Other Resources

Program Description: Social work in an educational setting

Earn 2 state certificates by enrolling in Pitt’s HSV/SSW program!

The Home & School Visitor and School Social Work (HSV/SSW) program is designed to enhance professional competency in the development and delivery of high quality social work services to diverse student populations in both public  and private elementary and secondary schools. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the HSV/SSW state certificates are recognized and required by school districts.

In the 1930’s, the School of Social Work was the first university to offer a Home and School Visitor certificate. The program was started by Pitt faculty member and social work practitioner Marion Hathway Social Welfare History Project Hathway, Marion (vcu.edu). The HSV/SSW is an interprofessional Educational Specialist certificate, operated jointly with University of Pittsburgh School of Education and by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, intended for students who plan to deliver social work services in elementary or secondary schools.

There are three models for HSV/SSW certification:

  1. Certification earned while earning the MSW
  2. Certification earned post-MSW
  3. Certification earned without an MSW

The certificate program is organized around the Direct Practice specialization and offers students the opportunity to gain advanced knowledge and skills via courses taken in the Schools of Social Work and Education and a field placement in an educational setting.

Click here for details about how students have two options to prepare them to work in a school, either the Home & School Visitor, HSV or the School Social Work, SSW certificate

 

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Requirements

1. Certification earned while gaining the MSW.

MSW students must indicate their interest in obtaining the DP H&SV certificate in their application for admissions to the MSW Program. Advanced Standing students should contact the H&SV Director and complete the Certificate Declaration of Intent Form (see below) during the summer registration period before their first fall semester in the MSW Program. MSW students who do not have advanced standing will complete a Declaration of Intent during their first semester of enrollment.  In order to satisfy the certification requirements of the Pennsylvania Department of Education as well as the Master’s Degree in Social Work, students will have to complete 66 credits which may necessitate registering for courses during the Summer Term. Course of Study Recommendation for DP Home & School Visitor Certificate 

2. Certification earned post-MSW

For those seeking the DP HSV certificate post-MSW, or earned without an MSW, the Home & School Visitor application must be completed & then submitted to the director of HSV to be accepted into the program.

3. Certification earned without an MSW

The course of study for DP HSV certificate for those seeking the Certification earned post-MSW or Certification earned without an MSW.

PA State Credential

After coursework & LSW/LCSW for social workers or the Praxis exam for non-social workers has been successfully completed, the PDE checklist with supporting documents is submitted the HSV Director to receive PA state credential,
View the School of Social Work/Pennsylvania Department of Education Certification Checklist.

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Certificate Declaration Form

Course Requirements

MSW students must complete the courses listed.

Post Graduate students returning with or without an MSW must complete the courses listed here.

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Required Field Work

The student's concentration field placement (12 credit hours - 720 clock hours) must be in an approved school setting.

Read more about field work.

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Contact Information

For further information, please contact:

Deborah Robinson, MSW, LSW
Field Assistant Professor
Director of the Home & School Visitor/School Social Work Program
University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work
​(412) 624- 3844
dcr16@pitt.edu

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Job Opportunities

PA-Educator.net--an online clearinghouse designed to improve the application process and assist in the job search of professional school employees interested in working within Pennsylvania.

Teaching Jobs in PA--Teaching Jobs in PA covers elementary, middle and high school teaching vacancies, as well as admin jobs, for all 500 public school districts in Pennsylvania.

Visit the School of Social Work's Career Services page for current job opportunities and career resources.

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Home and School Visitor/School Social Work Program Updates

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Professional Organizations

School Social Work Association of America 
American Council for School Social Work 
Pennsylvania Association of School Social Work Personnel

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Other Resources

NASW Standards for School Social Work Services

SchoolSocialWork.net

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Interested in learning how to apply for admission to the MSW Program?