Does School Social Work Work? The Impact of School Social Workers on Youth Crime and Education

The study examines the impact of school social workers on youth crime and educational outcomes. Following a school rampage, a large German state introduced funding for school social workers as a political response, leading to a substantial increase in their numbers. Exploiting spatial and temporal variation in the program’s implementation and using unique administrative crime data, the study finds that school social workers reduce youth crime by 17% per year, decrease victimisation from violent crimes, and contribute to the detection of sexual offences. In addition, they improve educational outcomes by reducing grade retention. Overall, the findings highlight the important role of school personnel beyond teachers in shaping youth development.

Read more