School Counseling News You Can Use
Counseling News from the Indiana Department of Education
March 2020
All I can say is Whew! What a whirlwind past 10 days it has been. I am thinking of all of you during these challenging and uncertain times. I can't imagine how difficult this past week has been for you all. I thought I would use this newsletter to pull together some resources for you to use right now, as most of the school districts are not currently in session.
First off, I have seen many questions regarding Virtual Counseling, this is ASCA's Ethical Standards guidance:
A.15. Virtual/Distance School Counseling School counselors: a. Adhere to the same ethical guidelines in a virtual/distance setting as school counselors in face-to-face settings. b. Recognize and acknowledge the challenges and limitations of virtual/distance school counseling. c. Implement procedures for students to follow in both emergency and non-emergency situations when the school counselor is not available. d. Recognize and mitigate the limitation of virtual/distance school counseling confidentiality, which may include unintended viewers or recipients. e. Inform both the student and parent/guardian of the benefits and limitations of virtual/distance counseling. f. Educate students on how to participate in the electronic school counseling relationship to minimize and prevent potential misunderstandings that could occur due to lack of verbal cues and inability to read body language or other visual cues that provide contextual meaning to the school counseling process and school counseling relationship.
Furthermore, as counselors, it is really important that we do our best to continue working with our students in the best capacity we can. We work with a vulnerable population, and it is really hard for students to suddenly not have our support without notice. We also need to look at our services through a lens of equity. What are students not receiving now that school is not in session? Some things to think about:
- Planning meals for students who relied on school breakfast and lunch. Do they have transportation to get the meals being served and provided?
- Check in with homeless students/families. Share resources for them to be safe during this time.
- If E-Learning, do students have access to technology? How can you help them get the resources needed?
- How will students be able to access virtual counseling? Do students know where to find help if they are experiencing a crisis?
- Can you still post counseling related content? Post SEL tips via school email or social media.
Below are some resources I have pulled together from various sources that might be helpful to share. Please check them out!
Providing Virtual/Distance School Counseling
https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/home/EmergencyShutdown.pdf
Social Emotional Learning - Social Emotional resources specific to COVID-19
Child Mind Institute
Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus
SAMHSA
Coping with Stress During an Infectious Disease Outbreak
COVID-19 Resources for Indiana Schools
https://www.doe.in.gov/safety/health/covid-19-resources-indiana-schools
IDOE Resource Page
https://www.doe.in.gov/elearning/2020-covid-19-remote-learning
Stay healthy and breathe! We got this!
Sincerely,
Michelle
Self-Care Tip
Take care of YOU too!
Give yourself grace during the next few weeks. It is OK to feel some anxiety over this current Pandemic, it is even more important to practice self-care during this time!
Here are some articles for YOU to read!
What to Do If Your Anxiety About Coronavirus Feels Overwhelming
https://www.self.com/story/coronavirus-anxietyCoronavirus: How to protect your mental health
All Level Updates
Lilly Endowment Comprehensive Counseling Initiative Videos
Each month this year brief stories of the schools and organizations implementing Lilly Endowment’s Comprehensive Counseling Initiative (CCI) are being released online. These 10-15 minute videos highlight the strategies and activities schools and organizations are launching with the support of their CCI grant to improve student outcomes in Indiana.
The January and February videos feature MSD Decatur Township and NexTech, respectively. In January's video, Chris Duzenberry of MSD Decatur Township discusses the corporation's advances and challenges in the first year of implementing their Comprehensive Counseling Initiative grant. In February's video, you can hear about NexTech, a statewide organization committed to bringing Computer Science education and experiences to K-12 classrooms around Indiana and how this work supports school counseling.
The videos can be viewed here:
Primary (Pre-K to Five)
"Calming Corner" at Home!
Some ideas include:
- Stress Balls/Squishies
- Calming Bottles (recipe here)
- Rubik's Cube
- Positive Affirmations
- Books that talk about regulation/emotions
- Sound machine
- Cotton Balls with Lavender Essential Oils
- Fidget Spinners
- Calm App on Tablet/iPad
Secondary (6-12)
Indiana Career Explorer Training
The Indiana Career Explorer (INCE) system is a state-wide career and postsecondary planning system available to all 6-12 grade students and schools. The INCE system is provided at no cost to schools by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD).
Here are a few of the ways Indiana middle and high schools are using the INCE system:
• Meet the requirements of the 8th grade career exploration legislation
• Create Special Education Transition Portfolios
• Collaborate with PreETS counselors
• Track IN Graduation Requirements
• Meet JAG requirements
• Include parents in the career exploration and planning process
• And so much more!
All training on the Indiana Career Explorer system is offered at no cost to schools, by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD). Training is offered in-person (for 10 or more participants) or by WebEx webinar (for one or more attendees). Please utilize the Indiana Career Explorer training request form here https://tinyurl.com/INCETrainingRequest and we will work with your school to best address your needs.
Do you have specific INCE system issues or questions? Please know that Kuder Client Engagement is always a great resource for anyone using the INCE system! They can be reached by phone at 877-999-6227 (7 am-6 pm, CST, Mon-Fri), by email at clientengagement@kuder.com, or by live chat in the Administrative Database Management System (ADMS).
For questions regarding training, please contact Mary Pouch (Indiana Field Trainer) at pouchm@kuder.com.
Dual Credit Instructor Courses
Please share with your Dual Credit Instructors:
You may be eligible for a summer 2020 graduate course through an Indiana Department of Education grant. The grant provides tuition-free Indiana University online graduate courses to eligible instructors in Computer Science (new!), English, Speech, Math, Chemistry, Biology, History and Political Science.
Availability is limited.
To be eligible, you must meet all of the following:
· You are a current Indiana dual credit teacher in Computer Science, English, Math, Biology, Chemistry, Political Science, History, or Speech,
· You have been informed by your dual credit partner that you need additional graduate hours in the dual credit discipline order to meet HLC requirements,
· You possess a completed master’s degree but have fewer than 18 graduate hours in the discipline associated with your dual credit course, and
· You received this email invitation from directly from your dual credit partner institution (e.g. Ivy Tech, Vincennes, Trine).
Important Details:
· The application allows you to request a course enrollment - you are NOT officially registered for a course via this application. After you complete the request, you will receive an acknowledgement email message that confirms your course requests. Check your email regularly for enrollment status updates and course access information.
· IU will not be reviewing your transcripts to determine which, if any, graduate courses you have already taken. It is important that you review your transcripts to be sure you do not request a course you have already taken.
· The grant will cover the tuition and course fees but textbooks or other supplies are your responsibility.
· Instructors must meet minimal eligibility requirements to be Indiana University non-degree seeking students.
· This grant does not pay for graduate courses in a discipline other than the one in which you currently teach a dual credit course.
Follow this link, click your discipline, and then click on a class number to see the course description. Once you know which course want, click on the Apply Now tab, and make your first and second choices for a summer 2020 course by submitting the appropriate application (New or Returning). The application request window is open Tuesday, March 17 – Wednesday, April 1, 2020.
Contact Becky Carter, reacarte@indiana.edu, with questions about the application process.
Graduation Pathways
Locally Created Pathways
The window to apply for a new Locally Created Pathway will open on Monday, March 2nd. Additional details regarding Locally Created Pathways can be found here.
If you have further questions you can email me or direct questions to DOEGradpathways@doe.in.gov.
Professional Development
Indiana School Health Network Conference
Since 2008, the Indiana School Health Network has been unlocking the potential of school health by assembling key stakeholders, thought leaders and subject matter experts. This conference provides people who are passionate about school health an opportunity to expand their knowledge, increase their skills, and collaborate with others who truly want to make a positive impact on school health in Indiana. With over 600 attendees last year, we are excited for this year’s conference! In addition to our featured speakers, we will offer 30 breakout sessions organized by five learning tracks: Administration & School-Based Health Centers, Health & Behavioral Health, Outreach & Enrollment, Policy & Advocacy, and Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC). CEs will be made available for social work (LSW, LCSW, LMFT, LMCH, LAC, LCAC & Psychologists), nursing, and CHES.
Below is information that includes a link to register which includes a promotional code for FREE registration!!
Counselor Spotlight- Benton Elementary (Goshen, IN)
The spotlight is on Benton Elementary in Goshen, IN this month! Kindness has been their school's year-long core value. With National Random Act of Kindness Day on February 17th, they used the whole month of February to celebrate by organizing a school-wide kindness challenge.
Here are some highlights shared by Elizabeth Yoder:
- Each teacher presents their class with a daily Kindness Challenge, which students are encouraged to complete at some point throughout the day. All classrooms have a Daily Kindness Count where students place a sticker if they completed the challenge. Our school goal was to reach 1,000 acts of kindness by the end of the month. We met our goal in just five school days! We set our new goal for 2,000 and are already at 1,850 as of 2/19.
- Each classroom wrote their own Kindness Goal for the month, such as "make sure no one is lonely at recess" or "make a video to show what kindness looks like." These are displayed outside the classroom door for all to see. Classes have also been challenged to complete at least one act of kindness collaboratively.
- Students can anonymously submit "Caught Being Kind" notes for any act of kindness they notice from peers or staff. To date, 246 notes have been written to recognize kind gestures! I choose two each day for our principal to read during morning announcements. After announcements, I present those students with a note of appreciation in front of their class. These notes are included in our school-wide kindness count, and have been a great way to encourage students to notice and appreciate the kindness around them.
- Staff has gotten in on the fun, too. I made a Kindness BINGO Board in the lounge, where staff members can initial any kindness challenge they have personally completed. They are treated to a jeans pass when they achieve a BINGO. :) These challenges are not only to encourage kindness towards others, but also include some to encourage kindness in the form of self-care (i.e. "I asked for help when I needed it" and "I didn't complete any work-related tasks last night").
- I've had fun making displays including a large Kindness Count and "Be the I in KIND" bulletin board.
- I met with all classrooms to conduct lessons on being kind by including others and how kindness sometimes requires courage.
This is so amazing Elizabeth! Thank you for sharing!
What Are You Reading?
The Power of a Teacher
Adam L. Saenz
Relationship, Responsibility and Regulation: Trauma-Invested Practices for Fostering Resilient Learners
Kristin Van Marter Souers with Pete Hall
Indiana School Counselor Directory
Add your name to the Directory HERE.
SEBW Newsletter
Michelle Clarke
Email: mclarke@doe.in.gov
Website: doe.in.gov/sebw/school-counseling-guidance
Location: 115 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN, USA
Phone: 3172325164
Twitter: @CounselorClarke