Legal and Ethical Principles by Rebekah Wiebersch https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf en-us 2022-08-24 20:30:07 UTC 2022-10-02 23:36:36 UTC hello@padlet.com My perspective rwiebersch https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2318737821 School counselors are in an ever changing playing field. Whether it is school shootings, the pandemic, or financial strains on families, our students are feeling more anxiety and depression than previous generations. The school counselor is being asked to provide resources that they may not have to give.]]> 2022-09-29 05:05:03 UTC https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2318737821 Topic rwiebersch https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2318738468 The legal and ethical guidance for school counselors addressing the mental health crisis of our youth. ]]> 2022-09-29 05:05:42 UTC https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2318738468 Audience rwiebersch https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2318739280 This guide is for other school counselors, parents, teachers, and administrators who may not understand the implications of the widespread crises for the school counselor.]]> 2022-09-29 05:06:26 UTC https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2318739280 I chose this because... rwiebersch https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2318739667 the school shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas has had a sobering and heartbreaking effect on me. How does a school counselor navigate that type of crisis? How can school counselors stem the tide of depression and anxiety in our students? I want to know what guides the school counselor through those events.]]> 2022-09-29 05:06:50 UTC https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2318739667 Topic is important because... rwiebersch https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2318741102 No one is ready for a crisis, it just happens, and then we deal with it. The best we can do is know what resources we have at our disposal and know when to use them. Having a group of colleagues to call when things get rough is my biggest asset. Our students may have friendship problems or a school shooting could take place; we have to be prepared for either as best we can. (A. Harris, personal communication, September 24, 2022)]]> 2022-09-29 05:08:05 UTC https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2318741102 Best Practices rwiebersch https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2318741743 - Be active on the crisis management team, and consider yourself the expert on how to best maintain the students' mental health. Remember you are their advocate.
- Keep a binder of community and district contacts for various cases of crisis. I use mine like a bible.
- Check-in with students often, so that if a crisis is occurring in that student's life you can be aware of it sooner.
(A. Harris, personal communication, September 24, 2022)]]> 2022-09-29 05:08:42 UTC https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2318741743 Emerging Issue rwiebersch https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2318742364 We need to keep a watch on how the legislature is going to handle LGBTQ+ students. Right now in Texas it feels like there is a backlash against our supporting them and it could get hard to do very soon. (A. Harris, personal communication, September 24, 2022)]]> 2022-09-29 05:09:14 UTC https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2318742364 Interviewee rwiebersch https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2318742842 I interviewed April Harris at O'Banion Middle School in Garland, Texas. She is the lead counselor and responsible for counseling the 8th grade. She has been a school counselor for the past 12 years and before that was a social worker with DFPS for 10 years. ]]> 2022-09-29 05:09:41 UTC https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2318742842 Recommendations rwiebersch https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2318746013
  • Actively engage in the campus or district crisis prevention and preparedness committee
  • Seek out any and all professional development for crisis and trauma counseling for schools
  • Create a crisis binder with resources of who to call in the district and community to help 
  • Give staff developments on trauma first aid and psychological first aid to those staff members who wish to be more effective
    • ]]>     2022-09-29 05:12:46 UTC https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2318746013     American School Counselor Association rwiebersch https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2322290636 The ASCA has a position statement for school counselors and safe schools and crisis response.
    The summary states:
    "School counselors are leaders in safe school initiatives and actively engage themselves in fostering safety and in responding to critical response situations in schools. School counselors are a vital resource in preventing, intervening, and responding to crisis situations."

    This statement gives a clear directive as to what school counselors should be striving for. When students exhibit a mental health crisis school counselors are guided by the ASCA to lead. They provide a comprehensive list of activities school counselors should engage in for crisis prevention and response preparedness.

    Position statements. ASCA Position Statements - American School Counselor Association (ASCA). (2019). 
    https://www.schoolcounselor.org/Standards-Positions/Position-Statements/ASCA-Position-Statements/The-School-Counselor-and-Safe-Schools-and-Crisis-R 

    ]]>     2022-10-01 22:26:34 UTC https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2322290636     America's School Counselors Talk Trauma of Mass Shootings rwiebersch https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2322309879 This past summer the American School Counselor Association had its annual conference in Austin, Texas. School counselors from around the country came. One session was packed; Lessons From a School Shooting presented by Michelle Clarke from Indiana. She was the school counselor at a school where a 13-year-old shot a teacher and student. 
    After Uvalde, many counselors are questioning:
    • what they would do in the event of a shooting
    • what they could do to prevent a student from going down that path
    • and if they are willing to stay in a profession that feels unsafe
    Some advice from Ms. Clarke:
    • Develop a crisis plan
    • Create a reunification plan
    • Know how to evaluate psychological trauma

    Link: https://www.texastribune.org/2022/07/12/mass-shootings-school-counselors/

    Edison, J. (2022, July 12). After Uvalde, America’s school counselors talk trauma of mass shootings. The Texas Tribune. https://www.texastribune.org/2022/07/12/mass-shootings-school-counselors/ 
    ]]>     2022-10-01 23:38:13 UTC https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2322309879     School Counselors Call For More Support rwiebersch https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2322320676 The pandemic was more than people feeling lonely at home or disconnected from the world; it changed how a generation of students was educated (or not educated) for two years. Students in pre-K-12 suddenly had no structure or support. In this article Mogos (2022) discussed:
    • the mental health crisis stemming from the pandemic
    • the need for more school counselors in every school
    • the need for diversified school counseling personnel, mainly men and those of color
    • enforcement of the school counselor-to-student ratio of 1:250 as prescribed by the ASCA

    Link: https://news.wttw.com/2022/02/13/pandemic-takes-toll-students-mental-health-school-counselors-call-more-support

    Mogos, A. (2022, February 14). As Pandemic Takes Toll on Students’ Mental Health, School Counselors Call For More Support. WTTW News. Retrieved October 1, 2022, from https://news.wttw.com/2022/02/13/pandemic-takes-toll-students-mental-health-school-counselors-call-more-support 
    ]]>     2022-10-02 00:20:17 UTC https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2322320676     Federal Statutory Law rwiebersch https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2322330035 (Increasing Access to Mental Health in Schools Act of 2021-2022, H.R. 3572, 117th Cong.). (2021-2022).

    A Grant to:
    • increase the hiring and retaining of mental health providers (school counselors) in low-income districts
    • recruit, hire, and retain culturally or linguistically underrepresented graduate students 
    • recruit, hire, and pay faculty in low-income districts to work toward mental health provider-to-student ratios

    https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3572/text 
    ]]>     2022-10-02 00:56:24 UTC https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2322330035     State Statutory Law rwiebersch https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2322391819 Comprehensive School Counseling Programs – (Tex. Education Code. §33.002 – 006). (2019). 

    This law spells out exactly what a school counselor in the state of Texas is required to do.

    • Create a comprehensive school counseling program
    • Work with at-risk students
    • Care for students' academic as well as emotional wellbeing

    https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/docs/ED/htm/ED.33.htm
    ]]>     2022-10-02 04:33:40 UTC https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2322391819     Federal Constitutional Law rwiebersch https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2322394739 Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution (U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 1.) 

    The 14th amendment protects the right to public education for all students.

    https://www.senate.gov/civics/constitution_item/constitution.htm#amdt_14_(1868)]]>     2022-10-02 04:44:49 UTC https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2322394739     State Constitutional Law rwiebersch https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2322396632 Article 7: Education, of the Texas Constitution (Tex. Const. art. 7, § 1.) 

    Article 7 of the Texas Constitution provides free public education to all Texas students.

    https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CN/htm/CN.7.htm#:~:text=A%20general%20diffusion%20of%20knowledge,system%20of%20public%20free%20schools.]]>     2022-10-02 04:51:22 UTC https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2322396632     Federal Supreme Court Ruling rwiebersch https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2322418372 New York State Rifle & Pistol Assn., INC. v. BRUEN
    818 Fed. Appx. 99, reversed and remanded.

    Just weeks after the Uvalde school massacre the Supreme Court ruled in favor of expanding gun rights making it harder for states to tighten gun laws.

    https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/20-843.html]]>     2022-10-02 06:13:23 UTC https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2322418372     Federal rwiebersch https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2322888659 Joint United States Departments of Health and Human and Education. (2022, June). Dear colleague letter on social-emotional development and mental health. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ecd/policy-guidance/dear-colleague-social-emotional-development-and-mental-health

    In this letter, it is recommended that there be an emphasis on social-emotional learning and mental health for school-aged children. To prioritize this effort through funding and implementation.


    Health and Human Services & Department of Education. (2022, June 14). Social-Emotional Development and Mental Health. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ecd/policy-guidance/dear-colleague-social-emotional-development-and-mental-health ]]>     2022-10-02 20:38:06 UTC https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2322888659     State rwiebersch https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2322896636 Active Threat Exercises - (19 Tex. Admin. Code § 103.1211) 

    This Texas Administrative Code describes how and when an active threat exercise can take place. Keeping in mind the mental and emotional health of all participants.

    https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=R&app=9&p_dir=&p_rloc=&p_tloc=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=19&pt=2&ch=103&rl=1211 ]]>     2022-10-02 20:52:41 UTC https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2322896636     Garland ISD Board Policy rwiebersch https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2322908329 District employees can carry a firearm with board approval. This allows teachers and school personnel, who have had appropriate training, to keep in their possession a handgun in case of emergencies.

    Garland ISD. (2019, October 29). CKC - Safety Program/Risk Management: Emergency Plans. In Policy Online. https://pol.tasb.org/PolicyOnline/PolicyDetails?key=364&code=CKC


    ]]>     2022-10-02 21:16:28 UTC https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2322908329     ASCA Ethical Standards rwiebersch https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2322916635 The preamble of the Ethical Standards guide describes what all students are entitled to. 
    "A physically and emotionally safe, inclusive and healthy school environment, both in-person and through digital platforms, free from abuse, bullying, harassment, discrimination and any other forms of violence." (ASCA, 2022)

    With this in mind, I wonder how school violence is not addressed in a more urgent manner. A physically and emotionally safe environment is not what we can honestly predict for all students.  


    ASCA. (2022). ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors. In American School Counselor Association. https://www.schoolcounselor.org/About-School-Counseling/Ethical-Legal-Responsibilities/ASCA-Ethical-Standards-for-School-Counselors-(1)
    ]]>     2022-10-02 21:35:17 UTC https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2322916635     rwiebersch https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2322965140 In order for me to reconcile the death of so many innocent and young lives, I have to look to the future. After reading many articles, laws, and best practice guides, I find that no one has the answer I am looking for. I want to know what exactly I can or should do in order to keep the kids safe, maintain the atmosphere of learning first, and not go crazy from worry. There are no answers right now, what about in a year or five? Will we be in a better place or worse off than we are now? There is a conflict between laws giving everyone access to weapons, lack of mental health care, and schools remaining a hub of the community. Something has to give eventually. We can either run our free public schools as prisons or we can, as a society, chose to put our youth ahead of the selfish and entitled nature of some. 

    We have laws that contradict other laws in practice. Public education and guns for all; then we create roles that are impossible to support. I want to be a school counselor to help students get through those hard parts of growing up not to hold a child riddled with bullets as they die. ]]>     2022-10-02 23:34:14 UTC https://padlet.com/rwiebersch/qp5fplzd9qn5n5cf/wish/2322965140