No Barriers Brigade Small Group Action Plan by ANTOINETTE HENRY https://padlet.com/antoinettehenry/syjriw1uxkbfynud Establishing the Group Padlet ~ No Barriers Brigade Apolonia Crawford, Antoinette Henry, Zandra Ontiveroz, Ashley Stringfellow, and Shayna Woods Department of Curriculum & Instruction, Angelo State University EDSC 6302 School Counseling Techniques Dr. Audrey Heron April 18, 2021 en-us 2021-04-16 15:43:29 UTC 2023-09-17 21:36:57 UTC hello@padlet.com 2. ASCA Mindsets and Behaviors antoinettehenry https://padlet.com/antoinettehenry/syjriw1uxkbfynud/wish/1426502363 The following ASCA Mindset and Behavior standards (American School Counselor Association, 2014)  will be met through the participation in this group.
Mindset Standards
M 2. Self-confidence in ability to succeed
M 3. Sense of belonging in the school environment
M 6. Positive attitude toward work and learning
Behavior Standards
Learning Strategies:
B-LS 2. Demonstrate Creativity
B-LS 3- Use time-management, organizational and study skills
B-LS 4. Apply self-motivation and self-direction to learning
B-LS 7.- Identify long- and short-term academic, career, and social/emotional goals
Self-Management Skills:
B-SMS 2.- Demonstrate self-discipline and self-control.
B-SMS 5.- Demonstrate perseverance to achieve long- and short-term goals
B-SMS 6.- Demonstrate the ability to overcome barriers to learning
B-SMS 10.- Demonstrate ability to manage transitions and ability to adapt to changing situations and responsibilities.
Social Skills:
B-SS 2.- Create positive and supportive relationships with other students
B-SS 3.- Create relationships with adults that support success
B-SS. 7. Use leadership and teamwork skills to work effectively in diverse teams
B-SS 8.- Demonstrate advocacy skills, an ability to assert self, when necessary]]> 2021-04-16 17:34:29 UTC https://padlet.com/antoinettehenry/syjriw1uxkbfynud/wish/1426502363 No Barriers Brigade acrawford131 https://padlet.com/antoinettehenry/syjriw1uxkbfynud/wish/1428494850 2021-04-17 17:09:06 UTC https://padlet.com/antoinettehenry/syjriw1uxkbfynud/wish/1428494850 5. Informed Consent acrawford131 https://padlet.com/antoinettehenry/syjriw1uxkbfynud/wish/1428497292
The 8th-grade students will be sent home with a consent form, given at the beginning of the school year, to be completed and signed by their parent/guardian and a flyer that describes the group's intentions. This gives the parent(s)/guardian(s) the opportunity to learn about the group sessions, ask questions, and agree or decline their child's participation in the sessions.]]> 2021-04-17 17:10:33 UTC https://padlet.com/antoinettehenry/syjriw1uxkbfynud/wish/1428497292 6. Group Rules and Norms acrawford131 https://padlet.com/antoinettehenry/syjriw1uxkbfynud/wish/1428529265 Here are the group rules and norms established during the first session: 
Rules Include:
1. Being kind and respectful of each other's thoughts and feeling
2. Confidentiality: What happens in a session? Stay in here (unless someone is abusing you, you want to hurt yourself or someone else.
3. You will not be forced to share; however, you must come to each session.
The session's group members will create the remainder of the session rules and norms- this allows for more buy-in to the group.

During the first group session, the students will go over the Participant Guidelines/Group Rules worksheet (MPSCCE, 2015) to determine our group's norms. We will then walk through each example and discuss what each rule means, how it looks, and what it sounds like." Using this worksheet, each member of the group will have the same expectation for each other, which allows them to keep each other accountable.
]]> 2021-04-17 17:33:44 UTC https://padlet.com/antoinettehenry/syjriw1uxkbfynud/wish/1428529265 3. Publicity swoods151 https://padlet.com/antoinettehenry/syjriw1uxkbfynud/wish/1428536193 To get the word out about the group sessions, posters are displayed and displayed around the school, and an announcement will be made the week leading up to the first session. As well as a posted on the student's class page. To inform parents of the groups, a parent all call will take place two weeks before the first session to ensure that all informed consent forms have been turned in. A flyer will be sent home with student paperwork at the beginning of the school year.]]> 2021-04-17 17:39:07 UTC https://padlet.com/antoinettehenry/syjriw1uxkbfynud/wish/1428536193 References swoods151 https://padlet.com/antoinettehenry/syjriw1uxkbfynud/wish/1428544184 American School Counselor Association (2014). Mindsets and Behaviors for Student Success: K-12 College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Every Student. Alexandria, VA: Author.

American Counselor Association. (2014). 2014 ACA code of ethics: As approved by the ACA governing council. 1–24. https://www.counseling.org/resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf

Cherry, K. (2020). Prominent Leadership Styles and Frameworks You Should Know. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/leadership-styles-2795312. 

Crowley Independent School District. (2020). 2019-2020 District improvement plan. Retrieved from
Crowley ISD District Improvement Plan

Missouri Professional School Counselors and Counselor Educators. (2015). Professional school counselor small group counseling guide: A professional school counselor’s guide to planning, implementing, and evaluating school-based counseling groups. Retrieved from https://dese.mo.gov/sites/default/files/guid-respon-serv-small-group-counseling-guide-2015.pdf 

Sanders, C., Welfare, L. E., & Culver, S. (2017). Career counseling in middle Schools: A study of school Counselor Self-Efficacy.
 The Professional Counselor, 7(3), 238–250. https://doi.org/10.15241/cs.7.3.238

Texas Education Code § 33.003, 33.009
https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.33.htm#33.000 

Wood, C. (2009). BUILDING DREAMS AND DEEDS: A pedagogy for preparing practitioners to use career assessments. 
Career Planning & Adult Development Journal, 25(1), 72–81.

Yalom ID. (1995). The theory and practice of group psychotherapy (4th ed.). New York: Basic Books. 



]]> 2021-04-17 17:45:02 UTC https://padlet.com/antoinettehenry/syjriw1uxkbfynud/wish/1428544184 1. No Barriers Brigade acrawford131 https://padlet.com/antoinettehenry/syjriw1uxkbfynud/wish/1428570821 The group's creation is to ease the transition from middle school into high school related to students' long-term goals of completing high school and moving on to post-secondary institutions. This group will provide students with resources and skills that will be useful for them throughout high school and well into their adult lives. "Career development is one of the three primary domains of a comprehensive school counseling program, and school counselors need to create career development opportunities for students" (Saunders et al., 2017, p.245).]]> 2021-04-17 17:54:19 UTC https://padlet.com/antoinettehenry/syjriw1uxkbfynud/wish/1428570821 4. Pre-group interview/screening acrawford131 https://padlet.com/antoinettehenry/syjriw1uxkbfynud/wish/1428581948 School counselors will meet with students in the auditorium during their advisory period to discuss. The transition process from eighth grade into high school highlighting the skills they will need for a successful transition. 
Students will be given a short questionnaire about their interest and willingness to participate in the group sessions. To determine student readiness, counselors will meet with grade-level teachers to examine student readiness. Students will get screened individually to determine which session group will best fit their needs.]]> 2021-04-17 18:02:56 UTC https://padlet.com/antoinettehenry/syjriw1uxkbfynud/wish/1428581948 7. Group Dynamics acrawford131 https://padlet.com/antoinettehenry/syjriw1uxkbfynud/wish/1428584414 The groups are composed of both female and male 8th-grade students. These students are between the ages of 13 and 14.
Stage 1:
Before beginning the small group sessions, the group will establish rules and norms that everyone must follow. The school counselor will state-specific rules for each member. The group will also create a social norm contract that will include every member's input. Each member will sign the contract stating that they agree to the established norms.  A social contract is placed somewhere insight during each session, and we will review the norms before we begin each session. The school counselor will discuss the limitations of confidentially and explain how important keeping things within our group is imperative "Developing a mutual understanding of confidentiality: group members understand that confidentiality cannot be guaranteed, even though it is an expectation" (Missouri Professional School Counselors and Counselor Educators, 2015, p.7).

Stage 2:
We will have an agenda during each session so that we can outline our plan of focus and each member can follow along to each topic. The school counselor will highly encourage member to be actively engage in discussion and pre-planned activities. During the activities the school counselor will speak with each member individually to make sure they are on track to meeting their goal. 

Stage 3:
To close the group, each member will take the post-assessment to see their growth throughout the sessions. The school counselor will explain how much their dedication and hard work throughout this timeframe have been amazing. The students are now ready to implement all provided resources and apply them to their post-secondary goals. The school counselor will also restate the limitations of confidentiality and explain how even though the group is ending, we still have to abide by the criteria we put in place. The school counselor will check in on students throughout the school year to keep them accountable for the goals set for them. 


]]> 2021-04-17 18:04:35 UTC https://padlet.com/antoinettehenry/syjriw1uxkbfynud/wish/1428584414 8. Leadership Style acrawford131 https://padlet.com/antoinettehenry/syjriw1uxkbfynud/wish/1428584961 The group sessions will benefit well from a participative leadership still rather than an authoritative or delegative leadership style. Kendra Cherry (2020) states, " participative leaders encourage group members to participate, but retain the final say in the decision-making process." For this matter, group members feel motivated and engage in the process. ]]> 2021-04-17 18:05:06 UTC https://padlet.com/antoinettehenry/syjriw1uxkbfynud/wish/1428584961 9. Yalom's Therapeutic Factors acrawford131 https://padlet.com/antoinettehenry/syjriw1uxkbfynud/wish/1428585765 There are several of Yalom's Therapeutic Factors that could be present during the group sessions. First, altruism, allowing the student the "opportunity to rise out of oneself and help somebody else" (Yalom, 1995). As we move through the group sessions, students will gain social and communications skills that will allow them to increase their confidence and learn ways to be empathetic to the struggles of others. Another factor is the development of socializing techniques. The techniques enable students to become socially aware and develop interpersonal skills essential to the group dynamic and essential in moving forward towards their long- and short-term goals.]]> 2021-04-17 18:05:50 UTC https://padlet.com/antoinettehenry/syjriw1uxkbfynud/wish/1428585765 10. Legal Requirements acrawford131 https://padlet.com/antoinettehenry/syjriw1uxkbfynud/wish/1428588228 According to Sec. 33.003.  PARENTAL CONSENT.  The board of trustees of each school district shall adopt guidelines to ensure that written consent is obtained from the parent, legal guardian, or person entitled to enroll the student under Section 25.001 (j) for the student to participate in those activities for which the district requires parental consent. 
The Education Code of Ethics, Chapter 33 states in Section 33.009 (1a) POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION AND CAREER COUNSELING ACADEMIES that the course requirements for each endorsement and the post-secondary educational and career opportunities associated with  each endorsement. 

]]> 2021-04-17 18:07:42 UTC https://padlet.com/antoinettehenry/syjriw1uxkbfynud/wish/1428588228 11. Ethical Requirements acrawford131 https://padlet.com/antoinettehenry/syjriw1uxkbfynud/wish/1428588424 According to the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics (2014), clients have the freedom to choose whether to enter into or remain in a counseling relationship and need adequate information about the counseling process and the counselor. Counselors must review in writing and verbally with clients the rights and responsibilities of both counselors and clients. Informed consent is an ongoing part of the counseling process, and counselors appropriately document discussions of informed consent throughout the counseling relationship. 
 The American Counselor Association Code of Ethics (2014) states that when counseling minors, incapacitated adults, or other persons unable to give voluntary consent, counselors seek clients' permission to services and include them in decision-making as appropriate. Counselors recognize the need to balance the ethical rights of clients to make choices, their capacity to give consent or permission to receive services, and parental or familial legal rights and responsibilities to protect these clients and make decisions on their behalf. Lastly, respect for confidentiality counselors means protecting the confidential information of prospective and current clients. Counselors disclose information only with appropriate consent or sound legal or ethical justification (ACA,2014). 

]]> 2021-04-17 18:07:52 UTC https://padlet.com/antoinettehenry/syjriw1uxkbfynud/wish/1428588424 Team Work acrawford131 https://padlet.com/antoinettehenry/syjriw1uxkbfynud/wish/1428596747 2021-04-17 18:14:12 UTC https://padlet.com/antoinettehenry/syjriw1uxkbfynud/wish/1428596747 5. Student Assent acrawford131 https://padlet.com/antoinettehenry/syjriw1uxkbfynud/wish/1428891689 Students should have a say in whether they want to participate in group sessions. Although it is recommended that they participate in group sessions they have the ability to participate in one-on-one sessions with the counselor. All students will need to complete the assent form saying that they are willing to participate in the group sessions.  ]]> 2021-04-17 23:14:16 UTC https://padlet.com/antoinettehenry/syjriw1uxkbfynud/wish/1428891689