Published Paper Details:

School social workers play a critical role in promoting student well-being, educational equity, and systemic support within school environments. Recent scholarship highlights expanding responsibilities, interprofessional collaboration, workforce challenges, and contextual pressures shaping school social work practice globally. This narrative review synthesizes empirical studies published between 2022 and 2025 to examine (a) the roles and functions of school social workers, (b) interprofessional collaboration and institutional contexts, (c) workforce well-being and professional challenges, (d) implications for policy and practice, and (e) Future Recommendations. Findings indicate that while school social workers contribute significantly to student mental health, equity, and social-emotional learning, their effectiveness is constrained by high caseloads, role ambiguity, resource limitations, and systemic inequities. The review underscores the need for clearer role definitions, improved organizational support, inclusive practice frameworks, and evidence-informed policy reforms to strengthen school social work practice.