Link:
https://www.hcisd.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1223436&type=d&pREC_ID=1475613

Reference:
Harlingen CISD Policy Admissions. (2019). Students in Foster Care. https://pol.tasb.org/Policy/Download/255?filename=FD(LEGAL).html&title=ADMISSIONS&subtitle=
 Link:
https://pol.tasb.org/Policy/Download/255?filename=FD(LEGAL).html&title=ADMISSIONS&subtitle=

Local Administrative Law:
2 Tex. Educ. Code § 25.001(f). https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.25.htm

Summary:
Harlingen CISD (2019-2020) declares, “In effort to provide educational stability, the district will assist any student who is currently placed in foster care (temporary or permanent) with the enrollment and registration process, as well as the other educational services throughout the student’s enrollment in the district” (p. 70). 

 

For further questions on foster care, HCISD has assigned a director of district’s foster care liaison, Dr. Jose Luis Cavazos. Additionally, all campus counselors advocate as foster care liaisons. All counselors will collaborate with the Parental Involvement Program to support and service the needs of all foster children. 
 

Harlingen Consolidate Independent School District (2019) states, “A child placed in foster care by an agency pf the state or political subdivision shall be permitted to attend schools in the district in which the foster parents reside free of any charge to the foster parents or to the agency. A durational residence requirement may not be used to prohibit that child from fully participating in any activity sponsored by a district” (Texas Education Code §25.001(f)).

 

In my role as a counselor:

My name is Linda Valdez. I have been teaching for ten years as a Kindergarten teacher. I enjoy working in an elementary level, with younger children. Throughout the years, there has been an increase on issues of children placement into the foster. This is one of the reasons why I decided to pursue my career in my Master of Professional School Counseling. My degree will give me the opportunity to advocate and service students who are experiencing challenges, and possible influence their ability to be successful in their education. 

 

 The intended audience for this topic is for professional school counselors, caregivers, and teachers. Learning the legal and ethical guide is crucial for the role of counselors so that they can better serve the child in their academic, career, and social/ emotional needs. It is also important for counselors to collaborate with teachers, so that they can work together to identify the needs of foster children and ensure equity in all areas.

 

 

The topic I chose is working with foster children. I chose this topic because it is an area in my field that I would like to gain more knowledge. I believe that counselors have a unique role that allows them to address the complex needs of students who are in foster care. In the past few years, I have seen an increase in CPS cases involving some form of trauma or child abuse and neglect. Counselors will encounter moments where they have to support foster children, and take into consideration the social and emotional needs of a foster child. Consequently, traumatic events and child abuse can affect the social/emotional needs of a foster child. Additionally, removal of the child into a foster placement can also be detrimental to the child’s social/ emotional needs. It is crucial for foster children to have an advocate, such as counselor, to help them in their academic, social/emotional, and career needs. The professional school counselor should have full knowledge of the child’s background and most importantly the legal and ethical standards that involve foster children. This topic is important for me to gain knowledge to become familiar with the law and to know about foster children’s rights to provide equity and full access in all areas of high need. 

Furthermore, I learned that the counselor does not write or revised policies related to foster children. In the Harlingen CISD district, the Parental Involvement department oversees the campus liaisons and share any new policies and rules. 

Additionally, at the beginning of the school year, campus liaisons meet with the Parental Involvement department and share updates or issues.

In certain instances, court cases and their decision may impact the  work of a counselor. This is regarding custody issues outcomes, which one parent/guardian may not be contacted. Custody issue can intervene with the parent's rights of confidentiality (FERPA). Secondly, student's rights also includes the right for foster students to attend school, and meeting educational needs. Also, providing equity in all areas of need. 

A situation that occurred at Lee Means was foster parent negligence, and Child Protective Service immediately became involved. This situation took years to resolve, therefore; the school staff and school counselor were always in contact with CPS and updating reports because the foster parent had an open case with them.

Harlingen CISD provides training through Region One and HCISD’s Parental Involvement department for campuses with foster students enrolled.  At the beginning of the school year, the district office notifies us if any foster students are enrolled at our campus. Due to the pandemic, Means did not have any foster students this year.  

American School Counselor Association. 2018. The school counselor and supporting students in foster care. https://schoolcounselor.org/Standards-Positions/Position-Statements/ASCA-Position-Statements/The-School-Counselor-and-Supporting-Students-in-Fo

 

 

The American School Counselor Association is reliable resource that gives information relating to my topic on foster children. This association is reliable because it clearly informs the school counselor’s role and policies. ASCA (2018) quotes, “School counselors recognize it is their duty to be knowledgeable about legislation, resources, and needs for students in foster care (p. 1). The American School Counselor Association guides school’s counselor by providing ethical 

Sarisohn, H. (2018). Foster care, prison, homelessness: A harder look at teaching vulnerable students. Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/leadership/foster-care-prison-homelessness-a-hard-look-at-teaching-vulnerable-students/2018/03

 

News Article 1: 

In this news article, there is an issue concerning teaching vulnerable students. This report inspects foster children’s needs, and the challenges they encounter in academic learning (Sarisohn, 2018). There is a concern with foster children on moving around from to home, and the outcomes that affect academic learning. How can counselors or educators provide support and resources to help foster students become successful in their learning? One of the main challenges’ schools are encountering is finding good people to teach foster students. This is an area that needs further discussion to ensure that all student in out vulnerable state, such as foster students, are given equity and access to all resources. 

-- It is a federal law that protects the privacy and disclosure of information on student educational records