1. KINGS CANYON UNIFIED
SCHOOL DISTRICT
Sarah Faria
California State University, Fresno
Swrk 180 Tuesday Thursday 2:00-3:15,
Espinosa
Reedley High School and Citrus Middle
School

2. Social justice
 Social workers at KCUSD…
 Demonstrate advocacy for students K-12
 Challenge inequities within schools and communities
 Are committed to closing gaps in opportunity,
achievement, and funding
 Ensure that ALL students have an equal chance at a
higher education and career
 Are concerned with the academic, educational,
personal, social, and developmental needs of each
student
 Promote access, equity, and participation to eliminate
injustice

3. Organizational structure…
 K-12 public school system
 District employs approximately 1,500 staff
members
 Serves a diverse population of nearly 10,000
students
 Kings Canyon Unified is comprised of 19
school campuses
 Serves one of the largest geographic area
districts in California

4. Community context
 KCUSD serves the cities of Reedley, Orange
Cove, Navalencia, Squaw Valley, Dunlap, and
Miramonte.
 Reedley has a population of approximately
24,000 people, 76.3% of which are Hispanic,
58.3% white, 32.4% from other races, 3.3%
Asian, 0.7% African American (United States
Census Bureau).
 Orange Cove has a population of
approximately 10,000 people, 97.2% of which
are Hispanic, 60.2% white, 1.6% African
American, and 38.4% some other race (United

5. Populations at risk whose needs
the agency addresses
 Students who…
 Have physical, mental, or learning disabilities.
 Do not live with both parents.
 Are children of immigrants or immigrants themselves.
 Are below poverty line.
 Have English as a second language.
 Have been held back a grade.
 Are minorities.
 Have problems with drugs and alcohol.
 Have a history of behavioral issues.
 Are teen parents.
 Have been victims of abuse.

6. Agency mission and aims
 KCUSD Mission Statement: "KCUSD's
mission is to provide a broad spectrum of
educational programs and co-curricular
activities for all students so that they may
attain their highest potential.”

7. Agency mission and aims (from a
school social work perspective)
 Provide link among school, home, and
community
 Enhance district’s ability to meet academic
mission
 Advocate care and support for all students
 Remove barriers to academic success
 Decrease the number of dropouts
 Coordinate agency services
 Help students develop social, coping, and
decision-making skills

8. Agency practices
 Develop and implement prevention programs
and policies that address:
-Bullying
-Attendance
-Violence
-School safety
-Child abuse & neglect

9. Agency practices cont.
 Facilitate education by:
-Identifying barriers to learning
-Understanding cultural, familial, and community
factors that affect students
-Assisting with special education needs
-Designing and implementing behavioral
interventions
-Collaborating with & making referrals to outside
agencies
-Engaging families in student’s life and education

10. Social justice, social work values
and human rights
 Goal is to pursue social change for vulnerable
and oppressed
 Social change aims to promote student
success and wellbeing through focusing on
discrimination and other forms of social
injustice
 Social workers within KCUSD endeavor to
provide access to resources and information,
equality in opportunity, and empowerment