--- title: 6 ways social workers can help with your child’s challenges description: If your child struggles with learning or behavior, social workers can be good resources. Find out how social workers can help and how to reach out. slug: how-social-workers-help-struggling-kids author: Tara Drinks reviewer: Bob Cunningham, EdM published: '2020-06-19T16:21:47.086Z' thumbnail: https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/7E7QBjyZw6ufO0qWbypqkw/7da25dfe62258091129d97d830a81b50/G1048193530.jpg source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/how-social-workers-help-struggling-kids lang: en --- # 6 ways social workers can help with your child’s challenges When your child is struggling, it can be hard to know where to go for guidance. Social workers in the community are a good resource. They work in many settings, like mental health clinics, human service agencies, and hospitals, as well as in private practice. Here are six ways social workers can help you support your child. ## 1. Help you make sense of what you’re seeing If you’re noticing your child’s struggles for the first time, you might not be sure *what* exactly you’re seeing. Social workers can help you start to understand by taking a closer look with you. They can also suggest activities, strategies, and changes at home to work on with your child. ## 2. Tell you about resources in your community An important step to helping your child is to find the right support. Social workers can let you know about resources in your community. They may be able to refer you to other professionals or services. And many social workers can recommend afterschool programs that can benefit your child. ## 3. Explain who at school might help and how to connect Different professionals at school can help in different ways. Teachers, guidance counselors, principals, and specialists each play a role in helping struggling students. Social workers can explain who to talk to and ways to connect for the right support. ## 4. Recommend other professionals to talk to There might be other professionals who can help with your child’s challenges. Speech therapists and tutors are just two examples. Social workers can help you sort through who to talk to and refer you to people in your community. ## 5. Help with family relationships Family relationships can be tricky, and you may find it hard to talk about your child’s challenges. Social workers can suggest ways to think through how to handle family relationships and make these conversations easier. ## 6. Provide counseling It’s common for kids who struggle with behavior or school to feel anxious, frustrated, or stressed out. Some social workers are licensed therapists who can help your child or your family cope with emotions and mental health. ## How to engage the social worker Look for a social worker who works mostly with kids and families. (Some specialize even further and work with kids who have learning challenges or are dealing with loss or trauma.) Children’s hospitals or mental health clinics can be good resources for finding one. Your child’s doctor may also be able to refer you to one. Call to make an appointment and explain what you’re concerned about and want help with. (You may be able to do this by email.) At the meeting, share what you’ve been seeing at home. Be sure to give examples. Together, you can talk about the next steps to helping your child thrive. --- ## Explore related topics and articles - [5 ways the principal or school counselor can help with your child’s challenges](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/should-i-go-straight-to-the-principal-to-get-services) - - If you dont feel comfortable engaging the teacher, there are other school staff who can help. - Your childs principal or school counselor can connect you to resources and support at school. - They can help you understand how your childs difficulties affect learning. Your childs teacher is a - [6 places to look for a therapist for your child](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/6-places-to-look-for-a-therapist-for-your-child) - How can you find a good therapist or counselor for your child with learning and thinking differences? We asked the Understood Community where theyve found help. And our experts added their advice, too. Check out our top tips. 1. Hospital or clinic listings Community tip: We live near a major academi - [4 ways youth group and afterschool program leaders can help when your child is struggling](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/youth-group-afterschool-program-leaders-help-child) - Youth groups and afterschool programs are great places for kids to build skills and strengths outside of school. The leaders of these programs can also help you when your child is struggling. Group leaders often work closely with kids. 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