Meet Mrs. Utz, Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Mrs. Devin Utz is the School Licensed Clinical Social Worker for the Mid-Buchanan RV Elementary, Junior High and High School. She will be working to address mental health concerns, behavioral concerns, positive behavioral support and classroom support, consultation with teachers, parents and administrators as well as provide individual and group therapy to the students. School Social Workers are instrumental in furthering the mission of the schools which is to provide a setting for teaching, learning, and for the attainment of competence and confidence. School Social workers enhance the district's ability to meet its academic mission, especially where home, school, and community collaboration is the key to achieving student success.

Mrs. Devin Utz received her Bachelors of Science from Missouri State University with a degree in Psychology and an emphasis on Child and Family Studies and Criminal Justice. After several years in the field of child abuse and neglect and trauma work, she went back to graduate school and received her Masters of Social Work from University of Missouri-Columbia with a certification in military social work. She has since received her Licensed Master of Social Work and multiple hours in clinical experience and theory. She is now licensed in the State of Missouri as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She is a certified Trauma and Resilience Practitioner. She is a member of the National Association of Social Work as well as the Missouri Association of School Social Workers where she serves as a regional representative.

Vision of School Social Work

My mission is provide a secure school where all students feel safe to learn at their greatest potential. My mission is promote mental health awareness by providing education and statistics for continued improvement within the school. I plan to educate on trauma informed school practices and enhance social emotional learning so all teachers are providing an atmosphere that is healthy for both the students and the teachers. I plan to implement ways to identify the concerns within the school, identify individual student needs and address them, improve behavioral concerns and classroom management, and research and implement programs that can improve overall well being of students and staff members.

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. It can affect how we perform and succeed in school. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.