From the Chair: Our Policy of Care

The mission of the Pennsylvania School Counselors Association is to expand the image and influence of professional school counselors, to promote professional and ethical practice, and to advocate for equity and access for all students.

Pennsylvania school counselors have taken the lead over this last year in support of all stakeholders. While maintaining focus on all students, school counselors have provided family support and stepped up to be the leaders among leaders in the school setting and beyond. On any given day, a counselor has worked with a troubled colleague, absorbed administrative work from a spent administrator, and bounced between academics (i.e., learning and graduation concerns), career (i.e., future planning and workforce development), and social/emotional wellness (i.e., safety, social justice and trauma-informed approaches) – and likely a crisis or three was in there. While counselors have endured the pandemic we have emerged with new skills and passion to meet the changing needs of students and evolved in the face of great adversity to continue to be the best advocates for both our students and the profession. We have done all of this with the theme of a policy of care ever present.

“As change agents, school counselors will not only do the daily work, but will also press comfort zones and advocate with intentionality to move the profession and meet the needs of children.”

It has been recognized that the key factor in promoting capacity for posttraumatic growth and resilience is relationships. A caring adult, just one, can make all the difference. This critical relationship is a huge protective factor for a young person. School counselors are the bridge between all stakeholders; we make the connections; we are the caring adults. And yet, Pennsylvania is the only state that does not require comprehensive school counseling programs or mandated school counseling positions in schools. In fact, less than 20 percent of Pennsylvania public school buildings meet the nationally recommended ratio of 250 students to one school counselor. The most recent PSCA Staffing Report reviews HB 1825, The School Counseling Services Act of 2021, and challenges us with the following calls to action:

• Reasonable student-to-school counselor ratios
• A certified school counselor for every level
• A certified school counselor for every building
• Defined use of time

School counselors are uniquely positioned to support students and create an environment of care that ensures access and equity. Our training in healthy development across a lifespan, mental health disabilities, community engagement and direct services allows the 20 percent or more of students needing mental health services and care access to mental health professionals in the school setting. School counselors also can create the school systems to provide students with stability, consistency and a safe space for belonging.

I’ve reflected on the themes and leadership messages shared with PSCA’s membership and found much to celebrate and to review. As change agents, school counselors will not only do the daily work, but will also press comfort zones and advocate with intentionality to move the profession and meet the needs of children. Steve Sharp, PSCA assistant chair, challenged that “if school counselors are leaders of educational equity and stewards of student lifelong outcomes, then our collective voice and resolve serves not just to the benefit of our students' future, but also to build a more perfect education system less encumbered by divisive movements of the past.” Formally, let’s begin to create a policy of care to inform practice and build structure to ensure systems to support students.

Development of a policy of care is possible and it will allow for the development of cultures of support across the Commonwealth. I’ve stated before that the call to school counselors is to lead, advocate, save lives and be change agents. The ASCA Ethical Standards challenge us to advocate for students and do just this. On March 28, President Biden released his budget request for the fiscal year 2023. In this budget is the President’s request for $88.3 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Education. President Biden, in an effort to build a better America, included a $1 billion investment to boost the number of school counselors, nurses, psychologists, social workers and other health professionals in schools. Educate your stakeholder partners within your own school community as to the role of school counselors. Move beyond your local experience and advocate on a regional or state level by moving into formal leadership roles in your local school counselor association or with PSCA. Dig into the law, understand the need and follow through on engaging our partners in the political arena – policy change requires action and the evolution of our work and the needs of all students continue.

Contact Jennifer Kirk, PSCA board chair, at jkirk@uscsd.k12.pa.us.