Sandra Wilcher is the special education social worker and the lead school social worker for Lowndes County schools. She was selected by other School Social Workers in South Georgia as the School Social Worker of the Year for the School Social Work Association of Georgia District 11.
There are over 700 certified school social workers across the state. Wilcher was one of six school social workers from across the state who were recognized for contributions to school social work at the Spring Conference this week in St. Simons. Wilcher was chosen by the SSWAG Executive Board as School Social Worker of the Year. Wilcher is a nationally certified school social worker and has been with the Lowndes County School System since 1999. Prior to this, she worked in Child Protective Services for the Department of Family and Children Services for five years.
“Mrs. Wilcher has been an integral part of LCS since her employment began in August of 1999. Ms. Wilcher is a tireless advocate for children. She has never refused to help a child, regardless of the time of day or night when called upon,” said Mindell Downing, director of special education for Lowndes County Schools.
Wilcher’s accomplishments include creating a Special Assistance Fund for Children, spearheading Child Abuse Prevention efforts, developing a Suicide Intervention protocol, involvement in creating the truancy reduction program, and development of a special education social work position for Lowndes County Schools. She has created resource information for student support staff and hosted an event with Georgia’s First Lady Mary Perdue. Wilcher has developed a leadership role in crisis and mental health response within the Lowndes County School System.
Wilcher has provided supervision for multiple social work interns for the school system and other agencies. Valdosta State University recognized these accomplishments when she received the Alumni of the Year Award in May 2005. The Lowndes/Valdosta Mental Health Association also recognized her contributions to the community as she was selected the Mental Health Professional of the Year in October 2004.
Wilcher has been at the forefront of child abuse prevention, and children’s issues in Lowndes County. Her collaborative partnerships include the Children’s Advocacy Center Board of Directors, Prevent Child Abuse Lowndes County Advisory Council, the Attendance Protocol Committee, Lowndes Valdosta Mental Health Association Board Member and Choices for Life of Georgia Therapeutic Foster Care Board of Directors.
Wilcher believes school social workers are key components to meeting a child’s educational needs. “School social workers are often the first to identify and work with at-risk youth and then refer them to other available resources. It is essential that all child-serving professionals and the school social worker collaborate in order to best serve the students if we want a child to be successful in school. Only then will a child be able to focus in class and get the academic components of an education.”
