This paper analyzes the increasing problems faced by children and youth in Croatian schools, as well as the entire educational system, including peer violence, alcohol consumption, poverty, divorced marriages and various family and social challenges. Given the growing number of children with mental health problems and developmental difficulties, as well as the rise in family issues such as violence, poverty and divorce, there is a need to introduce additional professional assistance in schools to provide a holistic approach to addressing these problems. Social workers, as experts trained to recognize social risks and work with families in difficulty, can play a crucial role in preventing the negative consequences of these issues. Although social workers were once part of school professional teams in Croatia, they were excluded from those teams in 2008. Considering the current challenges at schools, this paper advocates for their reintroduction into the Croatian educational system to ensure better support for students and families and to improve educational and social outcomes for all students. The methodology of the paper includes a literature review, analysis of legal regulations, comparison of practices in other countries, and development of recommendations for integrating social workers into Croatian schools. Ultimately, the urgency and importance of collaboration and integration of social workers into school teams are emphasized to ensure adequate support for students and communities and to improve the educational system in Croatia.