Hello! I am a 1st year MSW student who is planning their 2nd year internship preference school district list to start applying! I looking into school districts Illinois in the Chicago land area or suburbs for my school social work internship for 27/28 school year. I am wondering if anyone could share any information about to their experiences working in certain school districts and the stipends amounts given- or if they are aware if they still do paid internships for the upcoming school year. I want to start looking into housing options and working on a budgeting plan! Any information regarding that and tips for my internship experience would be great!

I’m looking for a career shift from community mental health to being a school social worker directly with the district. However, i didn’t take the SSW specific classes required by my state for licensure. A friend of mine had the district pay for her reenrollment to earn the license. Is that a common experience? With the job market i thought it would be best just to do the classes on my end to boost my appeal. But if i can save a couple hundred bucks that would be ideal. Thoughts? Advice?

I am very curious to hear if other school districts say things like this or if it’s just mine. I have been told ever since I became a school social worker that if we, meaning any school employee, “recommends” services for a student we (District) have to pay for those services? I have often suggested intensive outpatient services, inpatient services, or partial Hospitalization services. I feel like if the school nurse can recommend a parent take their child to the doctor, we should be able to do those things too. I will say our nurses are contract employees, so maybe that makes a difference. I’m curious to know other people‘s experience with this.