OASIS Grant
Opening Access to Services in Schools
This is the LAST cohort that we have funding for!
What is This?
$3.3 million grant over five years (with continued funding) from US Department of Education to fund mental health initiative
A partnership among ESC Region 15, Angelo State University, and participating districts
Grant will fund:
Mental Health Specialist at Region 15 (Greg Hickey, LPC)
Social Emotional Curriculum for participating districts
Qualified participants to seek school counseling master’s degree and certification (partial funding to cover tuition and salary stipends)
Why?
The project’s primary focus is the development of a collaborative effort that addresses the shortage of school-based mental health providers in the rural region serviced by ESC 15 which has led to high student-to-provider ratios in most school districts.
As this is a highly rural area, there are limited mental health services available to many schools and communities, and in light of high suicide rates in the ESC 15 service area, it is clear that more trained mental health professionals are needed. The need for school counselors and other school-based mental health professionals has grown rapidly, as mental health and college and career readiness within schools has become a focus.
Additionally, as a result of recent national and global trauma, including the COVID-19 pandemic, community violence, increased media exposure to these events, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), students in schools have growing challenges that impact their overall well-being and their ability to learn effectively. These disruptions in routines, relationships, and the learning environment have led to an increase in stress, trauma exposure, social isolation, and anxiety, which have increased the demand for school-based mental health professionals.
Why would your district need another school counselor?
Decreasing the number of students on a counselor's caseload has been shown to reduce the number of disruptive behavior incidents by as much as 29% (Collins, 2017).
Effective counseling strategies tend to have positive effects on classroom attendance, discipline, and overall achievement (Carey & Dimmitt, 2012).
When students at risk of dropping out receive both tutoring and counseling they show significant improvement in achievement, classroom behavior, and self-esteem after 6 months as compared to students who received tutorial assistance alone.
83% of failing elementary students who participate in small group counseling improved in their grades.
School counselors have been shown to help boost graduation rates (Salina et al., 2013), reduce chronic absenteeism, and raise school’s academic standing (Wegner, 2018).
School counselors play a significant role in increasing awareness of depression and suicide risk (Erickson & Abel, 2013).
Juniors who meet with school counselors are 7x more likely to complete a FAFSA, 3x more likely to attend college, and 2x more likely to attend a bachelor’s degree program (NACAC, 2019)
Students of color who are assigned to counselors of color see a 3.8 percentage point increase in graduating from high school and attending college (Barnum, 2019).
What?
The project will provide training stipends to participating districts for teachers to attend the graduate program at Angelo State University and obtain school counselor certification with their master's degree. In doing so, the project will increase the number of school counselors employed within the region who have been trained and placed by the grant to provide school-based mental health services, thus reducing the ratio of students to school counselors within area district schools.
How?
District identifies teacher(s) to obtain school counselor certification (Master of Science in Professional School Counseling) through ASU
Must be able to meet ASU graduate admission criteria
Undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or better overall or in last 60 hours
At least two years teaching experience
The identified person will begin taking courses in January 2024 and if follows schedule, earns passing/required grades, and passes TExES school counselor exam will be eligible for intern certification by Fall 2024.
District will hire as intern school counselor beginning in Fall 2024 while candidate continues to take courses and work toward full certification.
(If your district already has a candidate in the ASU Professional School Counseling master's program, and you would like them to participate, please contact Lesley Casarez for information on how we can make this work).
District will receive and disburse:
How long will it take participant to finish?
District Expectations
Recruit teacher from within district that can begin program at ASU in January 2024 (encouraged to find candidates that represent ethnic and economic distribution of students)
Fall 2024 - Provide them a position as a Counselor Intern (if completed required hours and passed certification exam) obtains full-time position as Counselor in district
Sign MOU with ESC Region 15 and ASU
Sign MOU with Participant
When the time comes for Counselor Intern, provide a mentor school counselor as the Site Supervisor (must be certified school counselor).
Participant Expectations
Currently employed at District in Cohort (Sign MOU with District)
Bachelor's Degree (2.75 overall GPA or in last 60 hours)
Begin program January 2024
Complete required coursework and pass TExES school counselor exam by Fall 2024
Commitment to Complete Master's Degree Program (48 hours)
Transition to Counselor position Fall 2024 on intern certification
Participate in monthly cohort meetings via Zoom
Participating Campus Expectations
Data Analysis (Demographics/Needs Assessment)
Identify high-need students
Determine Root Cause
Actionable Solutions
Monitoring of Actions/Results
Implement
Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs
Texas Evaluation Model for Professional School Counselors (TEMPSC-III)
SEL Curriculum provided by grant
District/Campus Next Steps
Decide whether you want to participate and contact Lesley Casarez at Region 15 to let us know.
Identify participant
Have participant contact Daniel Martinez at ASU in order to begin the application process.
Sign MOUs with ESC Region 15/ASU and with participant
Participant Next Steps
Contact Daniel Martinez at ASU to begin application process
Register for Spring 2024 courses as outlined
Sign MOU with district agreeing to remain in district for remainder of cohort (through Spring 2026 and to complete course rotation as outlined).
Contact Information
Lesley Casarez, Ph.D.
ESC Region 15
Email: lesley.casarez@esc15.net
Website: https://www.esc15.net/Domain/67
Location: 612 South Irene Street, San Angelo, TX, USA
Phone: 3254814097
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Region15ESC/
Twitter: @Region15ESC
Mr. Daniel Martinez
College of Education, Angelo State University
Email: daniel.martinez@angelo.edu
Website: https://www.angelo.edu/live/profiles/1320-daniel-orozco-martinez
Location: Carr Education-Fine Arts, Dena Drive, San Angelo, TX, USA
Phone: 325-942-2209
Greg Hickey, LPC
ESC Region 15
Email: gregory.hickey@esc15.net
Website: https://www.esc15.net/Domain/67
Location: 612 South Irene Street, San Angelo, TX, USA
Phone: (325) 658-6571
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Region15ESC/
Twitter: @Region15ESC