Pathways by Stephanie Ellis-Dearborn https://padlet.com/sdearborn2/pathways Foster Care Transition Group en-us 2023-09-10 23:07:17 UTC 2023-09-16 06:59:59 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f6e3.png About the Group sdearborn2 https://padlet.com/sdearborn2/pathways/wish/2692499309 This is a group designed to help current and former foster children who are now juniors and seniors in high school to navigate the transition to postsecondary life. 

Topics will include foster care paperwork, retrieving high school transcripts, applying for college or trade school, ways to stay organized during your first year out of high school, and the characteristics of healthy relationships and how to build strong connections with the right people, especially helpful adults. 

Since this population’s numbers will vary and fluctuate at the campus, this can be run as a small group of 5-10 students at a time. ]]> 2023-09-10 23:13:29 UTC https://padlet.com/sdearborn2/pathways/wish/2692499309 ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors sdearborn2 https://padlet.com/sdearborn2/pathways/wish/2692500016 ASCA Mindsets that apply:
M 1. Belief in development of whole self, including a healthy balance of mental, social/emotional and physical well-being
M 2. Sense of acceptance, respect, support and inclusion for self and others in the school environment
M 5. Belief in using abilities to their fullest to achieve high-quality results and outcomes
M 6. Understanding that postsecondary education and lifelong learning are necessary for long-term success

ASCA Behaviors that apply:
Learning Strategies
B-LS 7. Long- and short-term academic, career and social/emotional goals
Social Skills
B-SS 3. Positive relationships with adults to support success
B-SS 8. Advocacy skills for self and others and ability to assert self, when necessary

(ASCA, 2021)
 
]]> 2023-09-10 23:15:16 UTC https://padlet.com/sdearborn2/pathways/wish/2692500016 Getting the Word Out sdearborn2 https://padlet.com/sdearborn2/pathways/wish/2692500247
I plan on creating a flyer to inform parents, students, teachers, administrators, and counselors that the families can hang on their fridge, etc. to remind them of the meeting dates. I will also send email reminders the day before meetings.]]> 2023-09-10 23:15:42 UTC https://padlet.com/sdearborn2/pathways/wish/2692500247 Pre-Screening sdearborn2 https://padlet.com/sdearborn2/pathways/wish/2692500530
A report will be pulled from the school's database to determine the number of juniors/seniors who are former or currently in foster care.

From this group, we will determine whether they would be a decent fit for this group by discussing it with their counselors.

Next, we will meet with each student about the group details and communication will be sent home in the form of a letter to be signed for informed consent for those interested.

Since this group is mainly information-based, parent/guardian consent and student assent are the primary screening we will use. Further participation will be based on participation within the group and abiding by the ground rules and expectations. ]]> 2023-09-10 23:16:28 UTC https://padlet.com/sdearborn2/pathways/wish/2692500530 Informed Consent sdearborn2 https://padlet.com/sdearborn2/pathways/wish/2692500653 My campus requires informed consent and has a letter that can be customized and used for use in obtaining informed consent from parents while setting up a counseling group. I would use this form and make proper edits to fit the group.]]> 2023-09-10 23:16:47 UTC https://padlet.com/sdearborn2/pathways/wish/2692500653 Ground Rules & Expectations sdearborn2 https://padlet.com/sdearborn2/pathways/wish/2692500822 This resource is a great start to setting ground rules and expectations within this group because it covers many great areas including how to act and how the group should function. 

For this particular group, I would like to add a ground rule about refraining from asking another student about their foster care history unless they bring it up themselves since this can be a very touchy and sometimes traumatic story to tell. 

I would like to present all of these rules and ask the group if they would like to add any more then we could discuss and agree upon any if we see fit.

(Missouri Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling Program, 2015, pg. 26)
]]> 2023-09-10 23:17:11 UTC https://padlet.com/sdearborn2/pathways/wish/2692500822 Stages of Group sdearborn2 https://padlet.com/sdearborn2/pathways/wish/2692501000
We will open each session with a discussion on the ground rules and expectations. During Stage 1, I hope to put any nerves at ease by ensuring a safe place to discuss things. There will be a few ice breakers and students are free to share about their shared experiences of foster care. The hope is that these shared experiences help create connections that last throughout their high school career and beyond.

As we progress to Stage 2 and discuss items more in-depth, I would like to include some activities that require the students to problem solve together and give each other feedback - especially during relationship discussions but also during the discussions about future plans.
 
The last of the six sessions I have planned ties together perfectly with Stage 3 because it readdresses relationships and we will discuss a follow-up plan so we can reconnect in the future. All members will agree together to keep confidentiality and we will discuss plans for them to stay in contact - even if that means having the exchange contact information while we are together. 

(Missouri Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling Program, 2015, pg. 7)
]]> 2023-09-10 23:17:40 UTC https://padlet.com/sdearborn2/pathways/wish/2692501000 Leadership Style sdearborn2 https://padlet.com/sdearborn2/pathways/wish/2692501206 I believe my leadership style would be more authoritarian than anything else but I would lean more towards participative on some days also. 

I feel like these styles will work best based on the materials we will be covering. During sessions when we discuss foster care paperwork and programs, I will be informing them with little participation. When we discuss relationships, I plan to be more participative in the conversations. 

(Cherry, 2023)]]> 2023-09-10 23:18:10 UTC https://padlet.com/sdearborn2/pathways/wish/2692501206 Yalom's Therapeutic Factors sdearborn2 https://padlet.com/sdearborn2/pathways/wish/2692502389 The factors of Yalom’s Therapeutic Factors I could potentially see during the group sessions are:

  • Instillation of Hope - the fact that these students are learning about paperwork and programs that might otherwise be overwhelming could cause feelings of hope.
  • Universality - these students will meet other current/former foster youth and they can come together on shared experiences.
  • Imparting of Information - the bulk of this group is all about imparting information onto the students.
  • Catharsis - strong feelings could arise while discussing relationships.
  • Direct Advice - students will receive and be encouraged to give advice while working on foster care items and relationships items.
  • Interpersonal learning - hopefully, the students will be receiving feedback from others and experimenting with new ways of relating with each other.

(Yalom's Curative Factors of Group Treatment, 1995) 
]]> 2023-09-10 23:21:08 UTC https://padlet.com/sdearborn2/pathways/wish/2692502389 Legal/Ethical Aspect 1 sdearborn2 https://padlet.com/sdearborn2/pathways/wish/2692502880
Texas Administrative Code
19 Tex Admin Code § 239.15 (2017)
(c)(3) counsel individuals and small groups using appropriate counseling theories and techniques in response to students' needs

Since administrative codes are written by agencies that interpret laws, this code solidifies that counselors must stay up-to-date on relevant counseling theories and techniques in order to utilize them with students in need
]]> 2023-09-10 23:22:13 UTC https://padlet.com/sdearborn2/pathways/wish/2692502880 Legal/Ethical Aspect 2 sdearborn2 https://padlet.com/sdearborn2/pathways/wish/2692502950
American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics

B.4. Groups and Families 
B.4.a. Group Work 
In group work, counselors clearly explain the importance and parameters of confidentiality for the specific group. 
(ACA, 2014)

This code of ethics is established by a governing council and is accepted as approved standards to follow. This code clearly defines the importance of how counselors must set up rules to ensure confidentiality within a group. 
]]> 2023-09-10 23:22:23 UTC https://padlet.com/sdearborn2/pathways/wish/2692502950 References sdearborn2 https://padlet.com/sdearborn2/pathways/wish/2692504055 American Counseling Association (ACA). (2014). American Counseling Association code of ethics.

American School Counselor Association (ASCA). (2021). ASCA Student Standards; Mindsets and Behaviors for Student Success. Alexandria, VA: Author.

Cherry, K. (2023). How to lead: 6 leadership styles and frameworks. VeryWellMind.

Missouri Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling Program. (2015). Responsive services small group counseling module.

19 Tex Admin Code § 239.15 (2017).

Yalom's Curative Factors of Group Treatment. (1995). The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy, 4th Edition, Basic Books. 

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