The Nevada Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Respectful Learning Environments, established during last year’s legislative session, is funding the addition of more than 209.5 school social workers.
Amber Reid is the school social work liaison for the office. She says that while this is a great start, there are challenges in finding a qualified workforce.
“When we issue the award, we assume they’re going to be able to utilize the most funding,” Reid says. “In actuality, it’s hard to find clinicians that are willing to work in schools. So they usually hire at the bachelor’s or master’s level, which then I can recapture those funds.”
Reid says it’s important to look long term.
Read more from our media partner, Reno Public Radio: Washoe County Schools Adding 13 Social Workers
