Mission Statement

Hawthorne Avenue School Social Work Services actively supports in educating students to their full potential. The School Social Worker partners with the family and community in responding to the needs of students so that students can meet their individual goals for academic success.

Overview of Services

The School Social Worker of Hawthorne Avenue is Dr. V. Ijoma-Tamin. She provides a variety of unique, professional services to all the stakeholders of Hawthorne Avenue School. She utilizes collaboration and consultation with students, parents, school administrators, faculty, and the community in the identification of family and student concerns. Dr. Tamin assess the needs of students and provide supportive services to help them overcome barriers that enable them to achieve educational and academic success. Not only is Dr. Tamin knowledgeable in her field she networks with many community agencies to obtain services for students and their families. Consequently, students, families and staff members experiencing challenges may be linked to various community organizations such as: public/private health care and mental health care providers, non profit social and economic agencies, civic organizations, the Division of Youth and Family Services, shelters, law enforcement, and the court system.

Dr. V. Ijoma-Tamin is also the coordinator of Hawthorne Avenue School Intervention Program (I&RS/504). She provides interventions and services that help children and families that are at risk for educational failure in the following manner:

• Maximize educational opportunities
• Improve interpersonal relationships
• Cope with crisis situations
• Develop self-discipline
• Learn problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Resolve conflicts without violence
• Improve school attendance
• Build self-esteem

Students may be referred for a myriad of problems and concerns that may significantly interfere with their academic achievement and/or social adjustment. Those challenges and concerns that include, but are not limited to, the following reasons: Academic, Behavior and Health issues. Once a referral is made, she will work with the identified student, teacher and parent to get a better understanding of the child's issues and then develop a plan of action to get the student back on the right track toward success. Furthermore, she might counsel teachers regarding children who exhibit troublesome behaviors in the classroom. She also prepares reports for school district records.