Social Work
Lisa. Pirrello, M.S.W., L.C.S.W. Lead Social Worker PAEC #803
Email: lpirrello@paec803.org
Ms. Pirrello has been a school social worker for the last 30 years, serving, for the
past 27 years, as the Lead School Social Worker for the PAEC Special Education Cooperative. Ms. Pirrello
holds various Teaching, Type 73 and Type 75 Illinois Professional Education Licenses and is a registered
Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the States of Illinois and Florida. Her education includes receiving her
BA in Elementary/Secondary and Special Education from Northeastern Illinois University, and receiving
her MSW, as well as her Type 75 Illinois License in Leadership and Administration from Loyola University
of Chicago. Prior to her experience in the field of education as a teacher and school social worker, Ms.
Pirrello has, also, worked in hospital and law enforcement settings. Currently, as the Lead School Social
Worker, she provides ongoing clinical direction, supervision and consultative services to the PAEC School
Social Work team, various school personnel, as well as member districts. Additionally, Ms. Pirrello
provides direct social work services to students who attend PAEC Therapeutic Day High School. Ms.
Pirrello is an active member of the NASW (National Association of Social Workers), SSWA (School Social
Work Association of America), IASSW (Illinois Association of School Social Workers), the PAEC
Cooperative’s Leadership Team, the PAEC Cooperative’s Safety Committee, the West Suburban Juvenile
Officer’s Association, the LAN 60 Coalition, and is the acting President of the Illinois School Social Work
Supervisors and Coordinators Council.
Services Offered to PAEC Students
The P.A.E.C. school social work department’s mission is to provide a continuum of consistent support, guidance, quality counseling, as well as a multitude of other services to students, and their families, in an attempt to help promote adaptation, adjustment and growth in areas of interpersonal relationships, self-awareness/self-esteem development, communication skills, emotional development, problem solving skills, and coping skills.
The P.A.E.C. school social workers collaborate with parents, teachers, community agency providers, administrators, and other faculty/staff as a means to enhance and increase the effectiveness of the P.A.E.C. Cooperative and/or district schools in meeting the academic needs of their students.
The P.A.E.C. School social workers provide direct social work services to students and their families who are struggling with emotional and/or social issues that may be interfering with educational progress and success. Such direct social work counseling and services offered by the P.A.E.C. School social work department includes:
*Individual and/or group counseling
*Short-term Family Therapy
*Coordination and Facilitation of monthly Student-Family Wrap Cases
*Crisis Intervention and Response Teaming
*Coordination and Facilitation of Specialized Parent Groups
*Participation in Child Study Team/Screening Team; Eligibility Conferences
and/or Annual Reviews
*Conducting and completing social developmental studies for initial placement in special education and/or re-evaluation purposes
*Designing and implementing IEP social work goals/objectives to meet special student needs
*Facilitating Referrals of student and/or family to community service agencies
*Serving as liaisons between school & home, school & social agencies, and/or other professionals advocating the best interests of the student (i.e., Department of Rehabilitation, Mental Health Agencies, Local Police and Juvenile Officers, Psychiatric Facilities, Medical Facilities, etc.)
*Serving as mental health consultants to parents, teachers, administrators, principals, supervisors, and other faculty/staff working with students and/or families in crisis and/or in need of therapeutic counseling services.
*Providing substance abuse prevention counseling and/or referral to community substance abuse agency.
*Providing Transitional and support planning
*Planning, coordinating, and developing yearly in-service training
*Organizing and collaborating with community agencies in developing and implementing in-school prevention programs (i.e., PLCCA’S If I Can You Can Program; YOS’s Life Skills Program; School-Wide Daily Social Skills Program; PBIS Program; 1stStep to Success Program, etc.)
*Offering and providing internships for two graduate and/or post-masters level students enrolled in a North-Central University school social work program.
*Maintaining active memberships in school committees, school advisory teams, pupil personnel services teams, mental health associations (IASSW, NASW, SSWAA, etc.) and/or various other clubs and organizations (i.e., WSJOA, NOVA, American Red Cross, etc).
The social work services provided to the students and their families address many needs and difficulties which include, but are not limited to:
*Family stresses (i.e., divorce, loss, drug addiction, etc.
*Various psychiatric Disorders (i.e., mood disorders, adjustment disorders,
cognitive disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, eating disorders, etc.)
*Peer and/or familial relationship issues
*Self-esteem concerns
*Behavioral problems
*Motivational problems
*Childhood/Adolescence Disorders (i.e., Attention Deficit & Disruptive Disorders, Learning Disorders, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Substance Abuse Related Disorders, Communication Disorders, etc.)
*Medical Concerns
The P.A.E.C. School social workers are bound by a professional code of ethics that protects the confidential nature of the counseling relationship. Confidentiality is maintained in all instances, except in cases of abuse, neglect, or when students are in danger of harming themselves and/or others.
All members of the P.A.E.C. School Social Work Department hold a masters degree in social work, have a Type 73 State of Illinois Certificate, and most are registered by the State of Illinois as Licensed Clinical Social Workers.
Mental Health Resources:
CARES Hotline for Psychiatric Hospitalizations Assistance: (800) 345-9049
Pillars Community Health: 708-485-5254-24 hr. Domestic Abuse Hotline/708-482-9600 24 hr. Sexual
Assault Hotline
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or Text 988 or chat: 988lifeline.org
Buddy’s Place: 708-745-5277 – Grief & Bereavement Support for Children/Teens
Proviso Public Partnership: 708-240-4435-Assistance with Mental Health Needs
Oakbrook Behavioral Health: 630-424-9204-Psychiatric Care, Evaluations and Medication Management
Thrive Counseling: 708-383-7500-Psychiatric Care and Medication Management
Proviso Township Mental Health Commission: 708-449-5508
Leyden Family Services: 847-451-0330/24 hr. Adults Only Crisis Line: 847-451-1100-Therapy &
Psychiatric Care
Riveredge Hospital: 708-771-7000 – Variety of Mental Health Services
Loyola University of Chicago Hospital: 888-584-7888-Psychiatric and/or Medical Emergencies
Youth Outreach Services: 773-777-7112-Family Counseling; Juvenile Justice Programs; Child Welfare;
Homeless Youth Programs; After School Programs; Outreach Mentoring and 24/7 Crisis Intervention
Housing Forward: 708-338-1724: Housing Assistance
New Mom’s: 773-252-3253: Teen Mother Support
Firman Community Services: 773-373-3400-Maternal Health/Teen Mother Services