School Counselors' Role Expands to Address Challenges of Today's Students

    ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- The role of school counselors is
 expanding, according to the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) as it
 celebrates National School Counseling Week, February 6-10.  Today, counselors
 are addressing a myriad of personal and social issues which can become
 barriers to learning.
     On top of the drive to make good grades, students contend with peer
 pressure, bullying, temptation to use drugs and alcohol, school violence, and
 even natural disasters.  To ensure that students achieve both academically and
 socially, school counselors are the primary and often the only in-school
 professional assisting them with these challenges.  In fact, a recent study
 shows that school counselors are spending more than half of their time
 addressing students' mental health issues.
     The theme of this year's School Counseling Week is 'Changing Lives,
 Building Futures.'  "Every day, school counselors address barriers to learning
 and academic success," said Ms. Barbara Blackburn, President of the American
 School Counselor Association.  "Now more than ever, it's important for parents
 and counselors to work together to address fears, anxieties and other
 challenges in a young person's life."
     Numerous studies document the nature of pressures facing today's students:
 
     --  Nearly one in three girls and one in four boys report being highly
         stressed.
     --  Suicide is the third leading cause of death for 15-to-24-year-olds,
         and the sixth leading cause of death for 5-to-14-year-olds.
     --  Among students nationwide, 5.4 percent had not gone to school on one
         or more days in the last month because they felt unsafe.
     --  Between 15 to 25 percent of students are bullied with some to moderate
         frequency.
     --  More than half of sixth graders report peer pressure to drink beer,
         wine or liquor. One of every three sixth graders say they feel
         pressured to use marijuana.
 
     School counselors can make a measurable impact in every student's life.
 Professional school counselors are trained in both educating and counseling.
 Research literature has documented the effectiveness of school counselors and
 school counseling programs in such areas as preventing suicide, reducing
 anxiety, and preventing aggressive and hostile behavior.
     "School counselors are the first line of support for students.  Students
 can't achieve academically when they can't cope with social and emotional
 problems," said Richard Wong, Executive Director of the American School
 Counselor Association.  "School counselors can help guide students in their
 journey through childhood and adolescence."
     The American School Counselor Association encourages parents to maintain
 an open dialogue with their child's counselor and establish contact in-person,
 or via phone and email at least three times per school year.  A strong
 parent-counselor relationship remains the single best tool in addressing
 student concerns before they become major issues, according to ASCA.
 
     The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) supports the school
 counseling profession by educating the public about the positive and
 measurable impact school counselors have on student success.  The organization
 also supports school counselors' efforts to improve each student's academic,
 personal, social, and career development so he or she excels in school and is
 prepared to lead a fulfilling life as a responsible member of society.  ASCA
 provides professional development, publications, research, and advocacy to
 more than 18,000 professional school counselors around the world.  For more
 information about ASCA and its mission, visit http://www.SchoolCounselor.org .
 
 

SOURCE  American School Counselor Association