Miss Cowens Comprehensive Counseling Program

The foundation of a comprehensive counseling program includes strong effective collaboration. The role of collaboration is to build teams to work towards the equity and success of every student. A well built comprehensive counseling programs foundation is built with a collaborative process based within an advisory board (Dollarhide & Saninak, 2012). The ASCA directs that a school counseling program have an advisory board put in place so that reviewing of goals and competencies can take place as well as recommendations for the program (ASCA, 2005). Standard 7 in the ASCA Model discusses the vital tool the advisory board is in creating a valuable counseling program. Just as important as implementing an advisory board into the program, is selecting significant stakeholders to be a part of the board. The boards stakeholders should reflect the school and communities values as a whole and be able to communicate effectively as a group (ASCA, 2005). The size of the group is also important as well as the sincerity and interest to the counseling program (ASCA, 2005). The board will serve educators, community, guardians, and business, so the board should be made up of stakeholders that represent each group. Each member will work cooperatively with one another to ensure that a quality program is being delivered to all students. Teachers play a vital role in working the advisory board as well as working together with the counselor (ASCA, 2005). Another partnership that is important to the board is school administration. The administration can help support and implement the counseling program. Also, guardians or parents must give valuable input as well as advocates for students and help make a connection between what goes

on outside of school verses what goes on during school (ASCA, 2005). Students should be active participants on the board as well. Students will be able to influence the program by giving their concerns and opinions of what is going on with the program and school. The students will be first hand responders of what is really going on with the student body, and they should definitely have input (ASCA, 2005). Lastly, community members and community business leaders should partake in the board. Community and business members can be important tutors, mentors, and provide field based learning experiences for students to encounter (ASCA, 2005). Through collaboration, meaningful relationships, and building a sense of community, an advisory board can be powerful to the success of students. Elementary Advisory team potential members: School Counselor, 1 School Administration Representative, 2 PTO representatives, 2 Community Members, 1 Administration Building Representative, 1 Community Business Leader member, 1 4th or 5th grade student leader Also, in the foundation aspect of a comprehensive counseling program, a mission statement is needed to establish structure, a vision, and focus for the program. A mission statement should be developed at the foundation of a counseling program, and it should be developed from the work done relative to beliefs, assumptions, value, and philosophy (Dollarhide & Saginak, 2012). The statement describes the programs purpose and provides a vision that represents success for all students (ASCA, 2005). The mission statement should be clear and specific to the program purpose and what the program will contribute as a whole (ASCA, 2005). The statement helps define the program and includes all students, and it also help identify the same targets for all

students. The mission student helps guide the program and sets up a firm foundation and management system (ASCA, 2005). School Mission Statement: Providing an environment that is encourages creativity, academic excellence, and personal growth for all students. Counseling Program Mission Statement: Counselors work cohesively with the campus, district, and community members to create interventions and programs so that all needs of students are being bet and that allow all students to excel academically and socially. Personal Mission Statement: As an inspiring school counselor, my goal is to be a voice and advocate for all students and to work collaboratively with others to empower all students to be successful academically and socially.

References American School Counseling Association (2005). The ASCA National Model: A Framework for School Counseling Programs, Second Edition. Alexandria, VA: Author. Dollarhide, C. T. & Saginak, K. A. (2012). Comprehensive school counseling programs: K-12 delivery systems in action. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.