The personnel most needed and appropriate on school campuses are not law enforcement officers, but rather school social workers. As such, we supported legislation which would provide $2 million in funding for the hiring of more school social workers in the State of Rhode Island. School social workers possess a professional understanding of the unique social-emotional needs of students and adolescents, and are present to provide support and counseling in schools.
The training that social workers have is much more suited to the vulnerabilities of students than law enforcement. Social workers also possess a more robust understanding of age-appropriate behaviors and actions. Especially for students of color, students with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ students, whose populations are disproportionately affected by disciplinary and enforcement protocol, an increased social service oriented staff will ensure that behavioral issues rooted in social, psychological, or academic problems are not inappropriately redefined as issues of criminal justice in the manner that the presence of a school resource officer may prescribe.
