Social Work // School Success Initiative

Detroit Achievement Academy is known for teaching the “whole child”, which includes their social and emotional development. In an effort to take this a step beyond the school setting, DAA has partnered with the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN) and its community mental health agencies to better support students’ success both inside and outside the classroom. 

Each student was provided a Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to be completed by their parent(s). The SDQ is a screening tool which includes 25 questions that relate to various behavioral scales such as emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity-inattention, peer problems, and pro-social behavior. Based on the answer to each question, the behavioral scales are totaled and the sum of all scales, with the exception of pro-social, provides the total difficulties score. The total difficulties score ranges from 0 to 40. Scores are organized into three tiers: Tier 1 ranging from 0 to 13 (normal), Tier 2 ranging from 14 to 16(borderline) and Tier 3 being 17-40 (abnormal). Of course all students are provided social and emotional support within the school setting, however those scoring in the Tier 2 and Tier 3 categories may be in need of additional support, outside of school, provided by a mental health professional. 

With the partnership between DAA and DWIHN, as the School Social Worker at DAA, I have the capacity to not only support students and families within the school setting, but also assist them with connecting to Community Mental Health agencies in their area. The agency’s not only service the child but the entire family as a unit.