School Counselor Connection
Tips for Success, Volume 5, September 2020
September is Suicide Prevention Month
Each Mind Matters: Suicide Prevention Week Activities
Download Activity Guide to help you plan your month's activities
*Get Ready For Back To School With MHA
Mental Health America (MHA) has developed its 2020 Back to School Toolkit to help students, parents, and school personnel navigate the uncharted waters of COVID-19.
Many children who return to school will be lonely, having been isolated for months. Many who remain at home will feel even lonelier and more isolated as they see members of their peer group out and about. Loneliness can translate to poor sleep, high blood pressure, greater risk of suicidal ideation, and even alcohol and drug use. Depression, anxiety, and fear can also increase.
Download the Toolkit and access to activities, worksheets, self-care tips, parent and teacher resources, and so much more!
*Youth Suicide Prevention Resources
Click here for more information.
Mental Health Articles
*Role of the School Counselor in Student Mental Health
Reopening Guides
*CASC Reopening Considerations
NASP: Returning to School Mental Health Service
*ASCA & NASP School Reentry Considerations
EdWeek Summit: How Do We Go Back To School
- Measuring and Addressing Learning Loss
- Supporting Student's Social and Emotional and Mental Health Needs
- How can Remote Learning Improve this Fall?
- What Teachers Jobs Will Look Like this Fall?
CASEL Resources You Cannot Miss!
CASEL Guiding Principles
Durlak, J. A., R. P. Weissberg, A.B. Dymnicki, R.D. Taylor, and K.B. Schellinger, “The impact of enhancing students’ social and emotional learning: A meta- analysis of school-based universal interventions,” Child Development, 82 no. 1 (2011): 405-432.
(Adapted from Hatching Results, 2020)
*SEL Roadmap for Reopening School
SEL: Reopening Guide
SEL Guide to Resources
CASEL Guide: for Middle and High School
CASEL Tools and Resources
SEL District Resource Center
Resources from districts where SEL programs, practices, and policies are working to support high-quality SEL implementation. https://drc.casel.org
Schoolwide Guide to SEL
Guidance for systemic SEL implementation in a school.https://schoolguide.casel.org/
SEL State Resources
Sample policies and practices that support SEL.https://casel.org/csi-resources/
SEL Assessment Guide
Guidance to choose and use an SEL assessment.http://measuringsel.casel.org/assessment-guide/
Program Review Guides
Recommendations for selecting high-quality SEL programs.https://casel.org/guide/
SEL Starts at Home
Resources to bring SEL into your home and community.https://casel.org/in-the-home/
*SEL Curriculum and Activity Ideas
*County Offices of Education Leadership for School Counselors (COELSC): A group of county leads, including CASC, and Hatching Results came together to create a wealth of resources for school counselors. Below are some links to just a few of the great resources you can find in our shared google folder.
- *Connecting the Dots: School Reopening Considerations for School Counselors
- Universal (Tier 1) and Supplemental (Tier 2) Activities for Social and Emotional Development
- *SEL Activities for: PK-2 ; 3-5 ; 6-8 ; 9-12
**Greater Good in Education: Find ready to go activities and lessons for K-Adult. Search by grade level, SEL core competency and duration. (Great resource for teachers as well!)
*Wakelet: Curated list of ideas, infographics and contingency plans to help with your universal and supplemental supports
70 eLearning activities, templates and tutorials you can use tomorrow
Trauma Informed Learning/ Toolkits
*Trauma Sensitive School Training
Trauma Informed SEL Practices
*Trauma Informed Practices: Staff Training
Distance Learning Tools
*Academic, Social/Emotional & Career Development Resources
*Surveys for School Counselors
*Technology Tools
*Virtual School Counseling Tools
In partnership with California Association of School Counselors (CASC) "School Closure: Virtual School Counseling"
Presenters: Dr. Rebecca Pianta & Beatrice Nguyen
Presentation goes over technology tools and considerations when developing a virtual school counseling program.
Professional Development Opportunities
FREE Suicide Prevention and Risk Assessment Training
Participants will gain an understanding of warning signs and risk factors for suicide, and learn how to perform a suicide risk assessment and build a safety plan with a suicidal client.
Target Audience:
Pupil personnel services, school administrators, nurses (anyone who will be directly involved in completing risk assessments).
September 17, 2020
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
No Cost, Virtual Training
Register at:
Let's discuss ways School Counselors can Support Students During Distance Learning..
The Learning Continuity and Attendance Plan (LCP) was created for the 2020–21 school year in the midst of the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. LCP replaces the LCAP for the 2020–21 school year.
The new legislation initiated by SB 98, and now codified as EC 43509, states districts will not be required in 2020-21 to submit the standard Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) , but will now be submitting a Learning Continuity and Attendance Plan (LCP).
LEAs need to describe how instruction will occur this year and services which will be offered to offset the impact of learning loss, lack of engagement in distance learning and the mental health needs of staff and students among other topics.
Join this session to learn how school counselors can support your district's Learning Continuity and Attendance Plans.
September 15, 2020
9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
No Cost, Virtual Training
Register at:
Training Meant to Support During Distance Learning
Role of the School Counselor in MTSS (FREE Webinars)
Webinars on Demand!
Contact Luz M. Arellano, Coordinator of K-12 School Counseling Services at Orange County Department of Education to access these modules at larellano@ocde.us
California Association of School Counselors (CASC) Virtual Conference
Previous Newsletters
OCDE Support & Resources
Instructional Continuity Website- find resources to support your students and families
Be Calm Session- guided meditations led by Dr. Vezzuto
Crisis Response Network:
Meghan Gruppo, M.A., CCTP, Interim Program Lead
Family Engagement Program:
Sheree Newman, Program Specialist
Student Mental Health & Social & Emotional Learning:
Interim Lina Bender & Virginia Joseph, Ph.D
Restorative Practice:
Toby Jean Espley M.Ed, Coordinator
McKinney Vento Homeless Information & Support:
Jeanne Awrey Coordinator
Student Services (CWA/SARB):
Terrance Dunn, M.Ed., Coordinator
Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program:
Raina K Lee, Coordinator
Luz M. Arellano, Ed.D.
Educational Services
Orange County Department of Education
Email: larellano@ocde.us
Website: https://ocde.us/EducationalServices/LearningSupports/schoolcounselor/Pages/default.aspx
Location: 200 Kalmus Drive, Costa Mesa, CA, USA
Phone: 714-966-4476