Social workers; provide in schools having high incidences of crime and via video conferencing means.

HB 370 allocates state funds to Mississippi school districts with the highest crime, violence, SNAP participation, and unemployment rates to hire licensed social workers. It requires the State Department of Education to identify qualifying districts and mandates that social workers spend at least 75% of their time directly supporting students. The bill also creates a video conferencing program where 10 state-employed social workers will provide services to schools without their own staff, accessible through school counselors. School districts must use funds for full-time social workers meeting specific licensing and time requirements, with the program operational starting July 2025.