School social workers also:

- Assist schools in reducing

student truancy

- Serve as mediators and

advocates for students during school meetings and disciplinary proceedings

- Educate parents about

their rights in their child's education

- Protect students by

reporting child abuse and neglect

- Counsel students by

starting various groups and after-school activities

- Serve as liaisons between

the school and home by making sure that parents receive urgent information

in a timely manner

- Serve as facilitators

on attendance policies and procedures

In addition to those initiatives,

each year Fulton's school social workers hit the streets to activate

"Project First Day," a campaign to educate students and parents

about the importance of attendance on the first day of school. Nearly

40 school social workers serve Fulton County's 73,000 students.