North Carolina Public Schools - School Social Work December Update

North Carolina Public Schools sent this bulletin at 12/11/2025 12:03 PM EST

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SSW Happy Holidays

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou

 

Thank you for making our students feel safe, supported, and connected.

Enjoy your break!

 

 

Reminder: Specialized Instructional Support Annual Report

In accordance with the revised School Mental Health (SMH) Policy, beginning with the 2025-2026 school mental health plan reporting, all Public School Units (PSUs) are required to submit data for the Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (SISP) Annual Report. While last school year was a practice collection, this is now a reporting requirement and is critical to supporting student mental health and overall wellness across North Carolina.

Key Reporting Requirements

Effective with the 2025–2026 school year, each PSU must report the following (in addition to the previous SMH plan requirements)  to the Department of Public Instruction by September 15 of each year:

Quantitative Data on Student Contacts

  • Instances of student contacts for referrals, interventions, and services provided by SISP.
  • This data will be quantitative only and will not include any personally identifiable student information.

Staffing Data

  • Numbers and vacancies of school counselors, nurses, social workers, psychologists, clinicians, and other personnel related to mental health and student wellness.

Data Collection Timeline & Methods

  • Start Date for Data Recording:  Annually on July 1st
  • End Date for Data Recording: Annually on June 30th 
  • Data will NOT be collected in Infinite Campus at this time.  Please use a method that is most efficient for you and your SISP team.  

All PSUs are required to report this information as part of their 2025-2026 School Mental Health Plan.

 

Tools: Prepare for an Extended Holiday Break

Free mental health support for teens in North Carolina

Somethings has partnered with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) to provide any teen across the state with free mental health services.

Any teen across NC can download and use the Somethings App for free, regardless of insurance coverage.

https://www.somethings.com/northcarolina

 

 

Are you a Director of Student Services? 

There is a job-alike group for directors of student services and equivalent titles.  This is a field-led and organized group that allows for networking, information sharing, and troubleshooting.  They meet once a month.  This group is not open to lead positions or SISP. While this is not a DPI-led group, DPI representatives typically attend meetings to share important updates.   

 

Please email Maria Ballard at Maria_Ballard@catawbaschools.net or Sandy Hamrick at smhamrick@clevelandcountyschools.org if someone needs to be added or removed from the group.  You will receive a meeting invitation upon review and verification of the request.

 

 

Legislative Updates

Legislative Update

View the K-12 Education Office of Government and Community Affairs Update from Friday, December 5, 2025. 

View here.

December SBOE Meeting Related Articles:

Raleigh News & Observer: There’s a plan to increase pay for NC school social workers. Will state fund it?

 

EdNC: Update from Whole Child NC: SSW recommendation. 

 

 

Webinar: Bringing Everyday Kindness to Classrooms & Communities

Join us as we launch February’s Character Challenge 

February 2, 2026  | 3:00-4:00 PM EST 

#KindnessMattersNC — a month-long celebration dedicated to spreading kindness, compassion, and positivity across North Carolina schools and communities. Inspired by the uplifting stories of Steve Hartman, this initiative helps teachers, leaders, students, and families weave kindness into everyday life. Learn how to:

  • Integrate daily acts of kindness into morning meetings and content-area classes
  • Use daily videos and journal prompts for reflection and writing activities
  • Encourage students to create and share kindness stories of their own
 


 

 

New Program (UNC-CH School of Social Work)

The Public Service Leadership Program at the UNC–Chapel Hill School of Social Work is an initiative that aims to strengthen the workforce pipeline by introducing students to the field of social work through awareness programs and a PSLP certificate for high schoolers. It also focuses on creating learning communities with CEU opportunities and varied learning experiences, enhancing the student experience, and supporting the existing workforce.

The new team is currently seeking volunteers working in child and family services/well-being; mental and behavioral health; health, aging, and caregiving; intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD); and services that work with justice system-involved individuals to help move this work forward. Requests for more information about the focus groups can be sent to kday@live.unc.edu.

You can sign up here to participate in a key informant interview or focus group.

Also, if you’re interested in serving on a committee to help guide the development of the program, please reach out to nmuller@unc.edu.

 

 

Mandatory Reporting Reminders

Summary for School Staff

1. Reports to DSS (Child Abuse, Neglect, Dependency)

  • Law: N.C.G.S. § 7B-301
  • Who Reports? Any person (including all school staff).
  • What? Suspected abuse, neglect, or dependency of a juvenile (<18).
  • Where? County DSS where child resides or is found. *May require LE report*
  • Key Points:
    • No privilege exceptions (except attorney-client).
    • Failure to report = Class 1 misdemeanor.
    • DSS must assess immediately (§ 7B-302).
    • DSS refers criminal cases to law enforcement (§ 7B-307).

2. Reports to Law Enforcement (Crimes Against Juveniles)

  • Law: N.C.G.S. § 14-318.6
  • Who Reports? Any adult (18+).
  • What? If you know or should know a juvenile is victim of:
    • Violent offense, sexual offense, or misdemeanor child abuse.
  • Where? Local law enforcement immediately.  *May require DSS report*
  • Penalty: Failure to report = Class 1 misdemeanor.

3. School-Specific Duties

  • Law: N.C.G.S. § 143B-146.15
  • Who Reports? Principals (or designee).
  • What? Crimes on school property:
    • Rape, sexual offense, sexual assault, assault with serious injury, kidnapping, indecent liberties, assaults with weapons.
  • Where? Law enforcement immediately.
  • Penalty: Failure to report = Class 3 misdemeanor.

4. Additional Requirements

  • School Guidance (SB 693 / S.L. 2021-132):
    • Schools must provide grades 6–12:
      • Annual document on abuse/neglect & sexual abuse reporting.
      • Posted display in common areas.
      • Annual video on reporting pathways.

Tips for Staff:

  • When in doubt, report immediately.
  • Reports can be made by phone, orally, or in writing.
  • Include as much detail as possible (child’s name, location, nature of harm).
  • Good faith reporters are immune from liability.

 

 

 

NCDHHS Receives Low-Income Home and Energy Assistance Program Funds

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has received funding for the 2026 Low Income Home and Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) from federal partners. While the funding was delayed following the federal government shutdown, NCDHHS and county staff have been preparing so they would be ready to open for new Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) applications once federal funds were received. LIEAP and the Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) are two programs supported by LIHEAP block grant funding. North Carolinians who are eligible for LIEAP assistance and did not receive an auto-renewal or notice of automated payment can apply for benefits starting on December 10, 2025.  MORE HERE

 

 

 SHAC Learning Collaborative

NC Healthy Schools hosts monthly opportunities for a SHAC Learning Collaborative.  These monthly meetings are the last Monday of each month at 3:00pm (unless scheduled otherwise, due to holidays, etc.) and are open to all SHAC representatives (or those considering joining a SHAC) to come learn more about what other PSUs are doing, hear about various resources, and share about your activities.

These meetings will primarily focus on SHACs and the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model. There will be opportunities to discuss general questions, e.g., building the team, partnerships, use of data, action planning, and questions relevant to your WSCC efforts.  

Meeting link for monthly meetings.

 

 

Adolescent Gambling and Gaming Series

New Online Course Helps Professionals Address Youth Gambling, Gaming, and Digital Media Risks 

The Adolescent Gambling and Gaming Series is a new online course designed to help behavioral health professionals and youth-serving organizations respond to the growing risks of adolescent gambling, gaming, and digital media use. 

Developed by UNC Behavioral Health Springboard (UNC-BHS) in collaboration with Alison Wood of the NC Problem Gambling Program and subject matter experts, the course offers a practical, evidence-based approach to prevention, screening, and treatment. 

Research shows: 

  • 15–20% of youth gamble regularly  
  • 2–8% show signs of problematic gambling  
  • Online gambling and sports betting are rapidly expanding  
  • Gamified and Gamblified platforms reinforce risky behaviors through dopamine-triggering mechanics  

These trends are linked to rising rates of anxiety, depression, substance use, family instability, and suicide ideation among youth. 

This is the first course to connect gambling, gaming, and digital media use as overlapping high-risk behaviors. It’s interactive, engaging, and accessible to professionals in schools, juvenile justice, and community organizations.  

Register for the course: Adolescent Gambling and Gaming Series | Behavioral Health Springboard

Registration Flyer

 

RISE 2026 Registration

Registration is now open for the 2026 RISE Back to School Safety Summit! The Center for Safer Schools' largest event will be held from Tuesday, August 4 to Thursday, August 6 at the Greenville Convention Center in Greenville, N.C.

Join us for sessions including bullying prevention, suicide prevention, critical incidents and threat assessment. We will use the Whova app for scheduling and to engage with attendees leading up to RISE.

Check the Center for Safer Schools newsletter and social media for more details over the coming months. If you have questions, send an email to CFSS@cfssnc.gov.

See you at #RISE2026 in Greenville!

 

 

 

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