-
About School Counseling
-
-
West Ada School District Counseling Services
School counselors are vital members of the education team found in each West Ada school building. Through the implementation of a comprehensive school counseling program, school counselors assist all students in the areas of academic achievement, personal/social development and career development, to ensure that today's students become the productive, well-adjusted adults of tomorrow. School counselors provide short-term individual counseling, group counseling, and guidance curriculum. School counselors also help connect students and their families to a variety of community resources.
Each school counselor or school social worker has a Pupil Personnel Certificate from the Idaho State Department of Education. The minimum education requirement for this certificate is a master’s degree in school counseling or social work.School Counseling
The School Counselor:
- Promotes a safe, caring, climate and a positive school experience for all students
- Guides and supports students with personal, social, and academic goals
- Encourages students to have healthy perceptions of themselves
- Inspires students to show kindness, respect, and empathy toward others
- Advocates for students, and empowers students to make positive choices, by using appropriate tools for problem-solving and decision making
The Role of the School Counselor:
- Offers short-term, solution focused, individual and group counseling (group counseling is based on availability).
- Teaches whole group class lessons with district approved curriculum
- Observes students in various settings
- Consults and collaborates with parents, staff, students, and community agencies
- Provides community referrals and resources for families
- Coordinates Section 504 Accommodation Plans
- Provides support during a crisis
The School Counselor's Referral Process:
- Referrals typically come from parents, staff, and students
- Students can stop by the counselor’s office (with teacher permission), and fill out a request slip, or bring their own note, and place it in the counselor’s confidential mailbox. Or, students can ask their teacher to contact the school counselor for them.
- Staff and parents may contact the counselor at any time via phone or email
Note: For issues beyond the scope of a school counselor, and/or when more intensive, long-term services may be needed, parents may request referrals for outside counseling services
Confidentiality Policy
-
What you say in here stays in here UNLESS:
-
You threaten to hurt someone...
-
You plan to hurt yourself...
-
Someone has hurt you...
-
You have broken the law...
-
You give us permission to share with other trusted adults...
-
-