Distance Learning Availabiliy: Please contact your Social Worker by text or phone to their Google Voice numbers and/or email:  

• Salma Hussein: 612.405.8471; salma.hussein@mpls.k12.mn.us
• Becky Wood: 612.314.9566; becky.wood@mpls.k12.mn.us
• Katie Fritz: 612.466.0468; katie.fritz@mpls.k12.mn.us
• Sheri Harris, Lead: 612.405.8321; sheri.harris@mpls.k12.mn.us

Social workers at South are here to help students and families overcome challenges beyond the classroom.

● We empower students and families with information.

● We eliminate or alleviate barriers to achievement.

● Know someone who needs help? We accept referrals from everyone--students, familiy, teachers and staff.

● Students are assigned to social workers according to student last name, grade level, and in some cases, their program.

We address issues related to:

• Basic needs of clothing, food, shelter.
• Social challenges.
• Emotional and behavioral issues.
• Mental health concerns.
• Attendance and truancy concerns.
• Crisis support.
• Resources. 

We support students by:

• Advocating for them when their families are in crisis.
• Guiding them to a variety of community resources. 
• Communicating, on their behalf, with school staff and community providers.
• Finding appropriate support groups.
• Supporting homeless and highly mobile students and families.
• Supporting Special Education students.
• Supporting pregnant and parenting students.
• Providing resources:
  • Mental Health Services Providers 
  • Help Lines 
  • Healthy Choices Presentations

We advise support groups:

• LGBTQA+ - Students, identifying or exploring identifies as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Allied+ youth.
• Healthy Choices - Students identified with concerns about substance use at school and a desire to explore better, healthier choices.
• CBITS - For students specifically identified by Social Worker.
• Silver Ribbon Campaign - Students, affected directly and indirectly by mental illness.

Glossary:
ASD - Autism Spectrum Disorder
DCD - Developmental Coordination Disorder
LS - Life Skills
CBITS - Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools
LGBTQA - Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Questioning Allies+