From the Chair: Be an Active Advocate

As we begin the new year, the FSCA governing board is renewing our advocacy efforts. The leadership and school counselors gathered in Tallahassee meeting with legislators for our annual Day on the Hill on Tuesday, February 5, 2019. We welcomed all school counselors, graduate students and advocates of school counseling. We encourage all school counselors to reach out to legislators throughout February and March to request their support for school counselors. The FSCA board is advocating for all Florida school counselors to prioritize student success by delivering a comprehensive, standards-based program. The preventive and standards-based program goals are to develop student competencies in academic, career, and social/emotional development. The American School Counseling Association (ASCA) recommends, for maximum benefits for student achievement and school success, that school counselors spend a minimum of 80 percent of their time delivering direct student services, and no more than 20 percent providing indirect services.
 
DIRECT services are face-to-face interactions with students that are delivered in classrooms, small groups and individually. Some examples:

• Individual counseling for a student in crisis (e.g., suicidal, experiences child abuse, bullying, lack of school attendance)
• Small group counseling with a few students (e.g., how to resolve conflict, deescalate anger appropriately, deal with life challenges and changes)
• Classroom lessons for all students (e.g., test-taking strategies, time management skills, learning about postsecondary options, social and emotional learning [SEL] skills)

INDIRECT services are interactions with parents, teachers, administrators and community organizations, including referrals when there is a crisis, that will support students for school success – academically, socially and emotionally.
 
To achieve the 80/20 goal and the delivering of comprehensive, standards-based programs, we need legislative support for school counseling so we may impact not just some students, but every student in every school.
 
Access contact information for your State House and State Senate legislators. Make sure to use the talking points and advocacy tips under Advocacy on the FSCA website.
 
Are you interested in getting more involved in FSCA leadership? FSCA seeks to fill four positions on the Board of Directors for the 2019–2022 term. Submit your nomination packet before February 28, 2019. Voting is limited to FSCA members and is available online from March 1–31. The candidates receiving the highest number of votes are considered elected to the board and will be announced on the FSCA website in April. Learn more and access the Nominations and Elections packet.
 
Elizabeth Villares, Ph.D., is 2018-2019 FSCA Governing Board chair and a professor at Florida Atlantic University. Contact her at elizabethvillares10@gmail.com.