City Schools is proud to celebrate Social Work Month and the essential role of School Social Workers, who connect home, school, and community in support of student well‑being. Their work includes crisis intervention and trauma response, individual and group counseling, family support and case management, mental health services, special education and IEP collaboration, advocacy for students with disabilities, and coordination with community agencies. Compared with other Maryland school districts, City School has the largest number of school social workers and every school has access to a social worker.
School social work in Maryland dates back to the early 1930s, when Dr. Harry S. Latshaw, Director of Special Education for Baltimore City Public Schools, hired Helen Louise Armstrong as one of the first “visiting teachers,” focusing on student adjustment, attendance, and early intervention for behavioral or emotional concerns. Today, School Social Work is a fully licensed profession, requiring LMSW or LCSW‑C credentials and specialized training.
Social Work Month was established to recognize the contributions and impact of social workers across the United States. It began in 1984, when the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) designated March as a time to highlight the profession’s commitment to social justice, human rights, and the well‑being of individuals, families, and communities. Each year, Social Work Month focuses on a specific theme that reflects current social issues or the evolving role of social work. Serving as a celebration of the profession, the month is also an opportunity to raise public awareness about the critical services social workers provide, from mental health support to advocacy and policy development. Over the decades, Social Work Month has grown into a national observance, engaging schools, agencies, and communities in recognizing the profession’s essential contributions.
In the 1970s, City Schools reorganized into nine regions and officially recognized School Social Workers as part of the Baltimore Teachers Union. By 1975, the State of Maryland introduced formal licensure for social workers, boosting the profession’s credibility and professional standards.