Kayla Galebach, LSW
K-12 School Social Worker
Homeless and Foster Care Liaison
814-886-4785 ext. 1302
galebaka@pcam.org
Introduction: Hello, and thank you for being here! My name is Kayla Galebach, and I am the K-12 School Social Worker at Penn Cambria. I am also a Penn Cambria alumni (Go Panthers!). I received my bachelors of science in social work from Saint Francis University and my masters of social work (MSW) from the University of Pittsburgh with a concentration and certification in mental health. I also hold a PA state licensure in social work (LSW) and a PA School Social Worker Certification. In my free time, I enjoy spending time on our land with my husband, two children, two dogs, one cat, and multiple chickens. 🙂 Side by side riding, flowers, thrifting, reading, and coffee are some of my other favorite things.
What is a social worker: Social workers hold ethics at a very high standard and abide by the NASW Code of Ethics. Social workers work from a strengths-based, systems approach. This means that social workers believe that every person has strengths that should be worked off of and that systems (family, school, and community) impact individuals as a whole. Advocacy, autonomy, competency, and confidentiality are some of the main values of social work. Social workers can work in a variety of different settings including hospitals, schools, crisis centers, and mental health private practice settings.
What I do as a school social worker: School social workers are licensed mental health professionals who hold a master’s degree in social work. The goal of school social work is to link home, school, and community together through direct and indirect services. My job as the K-12 social worker at Penn Cambria can be broken down into three categories: student sessions, family support and case management, and indirect services through school intervention teams.
-Student social work sessions can range from mental health therapeutic sessions to quick check-ins with students. The students who I see for sessions are normally referred to me through our SAP team or MTSS team, and have already had support from the school guidance counselor.
-In addition to sessions, a large part of my job is family support and case management. My hope is that families feel empowered and supported after working with me. Some families I work with for a long period of time and some families I speak to here and there when resources are needed. Here is a link that includes community resources and mental health information: weblink. I serve as the district’s foster and homeless liaison as well. Please read more about homeless and foster care in schools here: weblink.
-I serve on multiple teams at school that provide interventions and support to students. These include SAP and MTSS. Please read more about these teams here: weblink.