In which decade did school social workers deal with more diverse populations?

• A. 1970s
• B. 1980s
• C. 1990s
• D. 2000s

Answer: (C)

In school social work, the growth of linguistic and cultural diversity among students creates new demands for practice. The 1990s brought a sharp rise in immigrant and refugee students from Latin America, Asia, Africa, and other regions, leading to more non-English speakers and a wider mix of cultural backgrounds in schools. This shift pushed social workers to focus more on culturally responsive services, language access, and strong family engagement, while coordinating with interpreters, community resources, and inclusive school policies. While earlier decades laid the groundwork and later ones continued the trend, the 1990s is the decade when diverse student populations became noticeably more prominent in school settings, making it the period where this challenge was most evident.