An Ecological and Developmental Perspective on Dropout Risk Factors in Early Adolescence: Role of School Social Workers in Dropout Prevention Efforts

The role school social workers play within schools, the training they receive, and whether they are present in junior high schools are all factors that pose barriers and opportunities for school social workers' involvement in dropout prevention efforts during the middle school years. Such efforts are necessary because the unique challenges of early adolescence can bring about increased academic and behavioral problems and can eventually lead to school dropout. Unfortunately, few studies have examined dropout prevention in middle schools or junior high schools, and there has been little discussion of the role school social workers can play in dropout prevention efforts during this time of life. To highlight the ways that school social workers are needed and can be involved in dropout prevention in the middle schools, this article examines student and ecological risk factors associated with school dropout, the early adolescent life stage, dropout prevention approaches, and the role school social workers can play in multilevel dropout prevention efforts aimed at the middle school years.