Advocate & Educate During National School Counseling Week: 4 Impactful Strategies

National School Counseling Week celebrated the first full week in February. It is a unique opportunity to recognize the impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. It is also a prime opportunity to showcase school counselors expertise and impact beyond individual student interactions. Here are 4 ways school counselors can leverage this week to advocate and educate staff, community and school stakeholders.

1. Host Informational Sessions:

• Topic-focused workshops: Organize workshops tackling relevant themes like social-emotional learning, bullying prevention, college admissions, or career exploration. Tailor these to specific audiences, like parents or teachers needing specific skills.
• Panel discussions: Invite experts like mental health professionals, college admissions officers, or career counselors to participate in discussions alongside you. This broadens perspectives and showcases collaboration. American School Counselor Association has hosted annual panel discussions during the NSCW.
• Lunch & Learn sessions: Offer casual, bite-sized informational sessions during lunch breaks on pertinent topics like understanding student data, utilizing school counseling resources, or navigating mental health concerns.

2. Create Educational Resources:

• Develop informational pamphlets or infographics: Design easy-to-understand materials addressing common student struggles, mental health awareness, or college/career readiness tips. Distribute these widely in the school and community. This also include the information about Roles and Facts about school counselors. Download NSCW FACT SHEET here and use it to educate your staff and community.
• Start a blog or vlog series: Share your expertise through regular blog posts or short video clips on relevant topics. This allows information to reach a wider audience and be accessed later.
• Contribute to school newsletters or local media: Submit articles or interview segments highlighting the role of school counseling, student needs, and available resources. I attached the FACT SHEET to my newsletter and also shared it with my school counselors colleagues.

3. Partner with Other Professionals:

• Collaborate with teachers: Co-present workshops or develop integrated lessons that incorporate social-emotional learning or career exploration activities into the curriculum.
• Team up with school administrators: Advocate for additional support staff, improved mental health resources, or increased counselor-to-student ratios to demonstrate the need for more comprehensive student support.
• Partner with community organizations: Connect with mental health providers, career development centers, or social service agencies to offer joint workshops, resource fairs, or referral networks for students and families.

4. Leverage Social Media:

• Create a National School Counseling Week hashtag (#NSCW): Encourage the school community to share their appreciation for counselors and highlight your activities using a designated hashtag.
• Run social media campaigns: Organize photo challenges, contests, or polls related to topics like student well-being, career aspirations, or counselor appreciation.
• Share relevant resources and articles: Utilize platforms like Twitter or Facebook to share informative content, promote events, and engage in discussions about relevant topics.

Bonus Tip: Encourage student participation! Involve students in creating resources, hosting presentations, or leading discussions about their social/emotional development and career/college explorations. Check out the Activities and Resources for NSCW Advocacy. Including students empowers them and showcases their perspectives, strengthening your message.

Remember, advocating and educating is an ongoing process. Utilize National School Counseling Week as a springboard to build bridges, share your expertise, and advocate for the students you serve throughout the year!