The Role School Social Workers Play in Family Well-being

Alycia Faison is the director of the social work for KIPP Knowledge is Power Programs, a large network of open-enrollment college-preparatory schools in under-resourced communities. Faison started at Richland County Department of Social Services as a foster care social worker, then transitioned to Mecklenburg County DSS, where she worked as an Investigator. When she started at KIPP, she was a school social worker. She's passionate about helping at risk youth and has dedicated her career to addressing racial disparities in foster care. Previously working in child welfare for government agencies, she now leads a team of social workers who support KIPP students and families facing various challenges. Her breadth and depth of experience have allowed her to understand the integral roles social work plays in family success. Alycia's focus is on understanding family needs and ensuring the wellbeing of children. 

This conversation with Alycia Faison highlights the important role school-based social workers play in family well-being, emphasizing the power of relationships, multi-sector collaboration, and generational support for families. 

Rooted in Purpose 

For Alycia Faison, school social work isn’t just a job, it was a calling that was cemented for her in high school:  

“When I did my high school paper on the disproportionate rate of African Americans in foster care,” she says, “one of the solutions I felt could disrupt that cycle was just really asking questions.” 

Her instinct for curiosity over judgment planted the seed for her life’s work. “That was my dream job in social work—to work in schools and be more proactive versus reactive,” Faison explains. “There is a disproportionate rate of African Americans in foster care, as well as received reports for child welfare. My cause, my motivation, was to do more supportive work... to actually support the family through whatever they are going through.” This passion for equity and supportive services led her to a career in social work, eventually landing her as a school-based social worker.  

Breaking Down Stigma 

Faison started the conversation by speaking to the stigma that surrounds her profession, especially among families with past system involvement. 

“The term social work already has a label. Some families fear that term because they think, ‘Oh, you’re going to take my kids.’” 

She works to shift that narrative by showing consistency and care.  

“Being a social worker inside and outside of schools, I’ve learned it’s about building relationships with families and showing them we aren’t there to judge—but to support and see what they need.” 

That consistent relationship, she says, is key to building social capital—the trust, networks, and shared values that help families navigate complex systems and thrive. 

Alycia believes one of the most powerful tools social workers have is the ability to build trust, which starts with empathetically listening. 

“Just ask questions,” she says. “Understand when you are entering into a situation not to have your own story or imagination of what’s going on, but ask questions and let the family form the story for you.” 

This human-centered mindset helps dismantle stereotypes and assumptions that can lead to unnecessary system involvement. It’s also backed by research. The Guardian highlights the concept of relational capability, or the ability to form mutual, meaningful relationships that honor the dignity of those being served. This approach encourages professionals to examine how their own behaviors and beliefs shape outcomes. As Alycia puts it, “Everything comes from building relationships. You go into a situation with a curious mind and let [the family] draw that picture for you.” 

Social Workers as Community Connectors 

Faison sees school social workers as a bridge between schools, families, and the wider community, connecting families to the resources they need before crises escalate. 

“Just seeing community partners come together and different stakeholders to support a family—there are resources available. Sometimes families just need the school’s social worker to point them in the right direction.” 

According to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), school social workers are “an integral link between school, home, and community.” Through collaborating across sectors, they support mental health, shape school policies, respond to crises, and help families access a broader support network. Faison sees this collaboration in action every day: “If I could get all schools to have social workers, that would be amazing. I tell school leaders, the social worker is the heart of your school.” 

A Generational Approach 

Alycia’s long-term work in schools has shown her how family well-being stretches across generations. She’s witnessed the cycle of hardship—and the potential to interrupt it through care and consistency. 

“We have serviced the parents, and now we’re servicing the kids. Some things are generational. One example we’ve seen is a mom who was raised in foster care and did everything she could to keep her kids out of the system. But they still entered care when she was arrested. That’s a cycle we’re seeing.” 

By understanding the history behind each family’s situation, social workers can respond with compassion and strategy, establishing sustainable solutions. 

At the heart of Alycia’s philosophy is the idea that collaborative care leads to generational change. When professionals come together, with families as equal partners, the ripple effect is real. 

“When I was a school social worker, I built a really strong relationship with a grandma who had custody of her two grandchildren. Dad was arrested and mom had passed away. The girls had a history of getting into trouble at their previous school. But after we built that connection and kept checking in, it was amazing to see their growth.” She added, “I really believe it’s because when you come together as a team and a family, they see, ‘Hey, people really love and support me despite the challenges I’ve faced.’” 

Relationships That Last 

Social work has always been more than referrals and reports. It’s about connection, curiosity, and follow-through. 

“When families ask for something, we follow through,” Faison says. “We don’t just leave them in the dark.” 

The Harvard Center on the Developing Child confirms that the success of any support service depends mostly on the quality of the relationship between the provider and the family. In other words: people don’t trust systems, but they trust people. 

Alycia Faison’s consistent commitment to elevating families through multi-sector collaboration and relationship building shows us that trust is built on one question, one visit, and one check-in at a time. When we invest in relationship-centered, community-connected approaches, we’re not just helping one child, we’re supporting whole families, hopefully leading to long-term generational thriving.