June 8, 2018

Congressman G. K. Butterfield
2080 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Congressman Butterfield:

As a former teacher and future school counselor I am writing in support of increased funding for
professional school counselors in our public schools. Professional school counselors are
committed to each student’s social, emotional, academic, and career development. However,
mental health issues can challenge students and in many cases school counselors are on the front
lines of identifying students that may experience mental health crisis or disorders. You have
shown great leadership in the passage of the STAR act to combat childhood cancer and I hope
you can use similar leadership to advocate for measures that will improve outcomes for children
and adolescents facing the challenges of mental illness.

Mental health concerns can begin to be revealed during childhood and adolescence which makes
schools an important arena for identification and referrals for treatment. Many mental health
concerns are apparent by young adulthood so there is a need for knowledgeable professionals
within schools (Shatkin, 2015). While data has shown that one in five students are in need of
mental health services, only about 20% of those student gain access to the services they need
(Kaffenberger & Seligman, 2007). Professional school counselors can contribute to this area by
sharing mental health information and responding to students exhibiting signs of mental
disorders.

Prevention is an important aspect of mental health and within comprehensive school counseling
programs there can be planned programs and interventions that impact all students to help build
resilience and identify students that may need additional mental health support. The top three
causes of death for adolescents and young adults are accidents, homicides, and suicides (Shatkin,
2015). According to Gruman, Marston, and Koon (2013) “professional school counselors possess
both the knowledge and the skills to intervene, consult, and refer when students, either
individually or collectively, need help with mental health concerns.” Professional school
counselors are informed about best practices to promote wellness and able to identify students
that may need additional support.

The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) recommends a ratio of 250:1 for students
to counselors and many schools across the country, and here in Durham, far exceed those
caseloads. DeKruyf, Auger, and Trice-Black (2013) argue that larger student to counselor ratios
prevent school counselors from being able to serve effectively as both educational leaders and
mental health professionals. According to the American School Counselor Association’s position
statement on mental health (2015), school counselors are able “to provide education, prevention,
intervention and referral services to students and their families” and while school counselors do
not provide intensive therapy, they “provide a comprehensive school counseling program
designed to meet the developmental needs of all students.” Please consider supporting funding
which will increase the number of professional school counselors in our schools.

Education is an important public priority to develop the next generation of citizens who are
prepared to be productive members of the workforce and society. Mental health challenges have
been associated with students being unable to take advantage of educational attainment and
opportunities. One of your priorities is expanding opportunities and if you decide to support
funding for professional school counselors in order to address mental health, that can contribute
to increased opportunities for individuals and families within our district. As your website states
“education is the best investment we can make in our nation’s future” so thank you for
consideration of how opportunities within education can contribute to the development of
students and prepare them to be productive members of society. Mental health is an important
consideration for the development of the whole student. You have shown on-going support for
access to healthcare. Thank you for contributing to citizen’s access to care and remember that
school counselors can help refer students with mental health concerns to healthcare facilities.

In conclusion, thank you for your service to North Carolina’s first congressional district. You
have shown great commitment to expanding opportunities. Please consider support for additional
professional school counselors who serve to address the mental health needs and promote overall
wellness of school children in our state.

Sincerely,

Nina Brashears, M.Ed.

Professional School Counselor Intern
Constituent of North Carolina’s First Congressional District