| Sumario: | Student mental health has been in steady decline for the past decade, and many school personnel believe they cannot adequately support student mental health needs. While professional school social workers (SSWs) are recognized as critical school-based mental health professionals in many states, 14 states do not yet offer a path for SSWs to become certified through the state department of education. The purpose of this article is to present a case study for how the National School Social Work Practice Model 2.0 can be used to advocate for greater recognition of school social work services at the state level. The current study was a randomized survey of schools located in a midwestern, largely rural state. Findings suggest that SSW-to-student ratios varied greatly based on the number of students served in the district, the majority of professionals who engaged in social work services were called "social workers," and fewer than half of the SSWs in the state met federal education policy guidelines as qualified school-based mental health professionals. The National School Social Work Model 2.0 is invoked in each of the recommendations that seek to expand credentialing and statewide support for school social work services.
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