2014 Advocacy Presentation

8/10/2019 2014 Advocacy Presentation

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Carolyn Berger- FSCA Governing Board Chair

[email protected]

Peg Reale- FSCA Governing Board Assistant [email protected]

Rebecca SchumacherFSCA Past President

[email protected]

Advocacy and School Counseling:

A Needed Action from Within
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Three levels of advocacy

School level District level

State level


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School Level

1. Collect and publish data

2. Play an active role on the leadership team

3.

Play an active role on the SAC committee4. Get principal support

5. Get parent and teacher support

6. Consider working towards RAMP


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Collect & Publish Data

Collect data that demonstrate that what you do as theschool counselor has a positive impact on the schoolimprovement plan goals (raising test scores, promotion,college and career readiness, reduce

absenteeism/discipline referrals, etc.) Publish this data - include in newsletters and on website

Share data with faculty- also invite faculty to be a part ofinitiatives that improve student outcomes


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Be Active on the SAC Committee

Attend SAC committee meetings regularly! Make sure you have a presence to show youre

committed to making the school a great environment forthe students

Connect with parents at the SAC committee meetings Share what the school counseling program is doing and

request their feedback on needs

Request resources for the counseling program


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Get Principal Support

Make sure you meet regularly with principal Share school counseling program plans regularly

Show principal the data before you publish it

Request resources (e.g., curriculum, supplies, time). Note:

Its more likely that you will receive these resources if youfirst can demonstrate the effectiveness of your counselingprogram.

Encourage principal to contact district to voice support

when needed


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Consider working towards RAMP

Once you have a strong foundation, applying for RAMP isa great way to keep your awesome SC program runningas planned!

Attend RAMP Camps through ASCA

RAMP PDs available through FSCA Use the data from RAMP to advocate for your program!


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District Level1. Join your local school counseling organization and get

involved

2. Gather school counselors to compile data from schools

across district3. Find an advocate on the school board

4. Present data to school board

5. Request principals, parents, and students to come to

school board meeting

6. Foster connections with School Board Members

7. Submit success stories to district level communications


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Join your local school counseling organization

and get involved

Involvement in county group is essential Collaborate with other school counselors

Share advocacy ideas with each other

Form advocacy initiatives


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Gather school counselors to compile data

from schools across district

One of your SCA advocacy initiatives might involvecollecting data across the county on the amazingoutcomes SC are having on improving academics, schoolsafety, and college/career readiness

Data can be used as advocacy tools


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Find an advocate on the School Board

Try to schedule a meeting with a School Board member Find a Board Member who can help advocate for school

counselors

Use data available and stories to help this board member

see the need for school counseling Ask them advice on getting on School Board members

radars and how to approach the Board meeting


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Present data to School Board

Use data collected around the district to share with school board You may need to meet with school board as a preventative or reactive

measure to address problems in the county (e.g. problems with howcounselors are utilized in schools, excessive ratios, issues where schoolcounselors are being split between schools)

Share personal SC stories as well, but data is essential! Show how school counselors across the county help reduce retention,

raise GPA/test score, increase graduation rates, increase college/careerreadiness, have a positive impact on school safety, etc.

Ultimately you can also focus on how having more school counselors can

actually save the county money (e.g. suspensions cost districts money, as doretentions, etc.)

Focus on SC as a preventative resource- we are being under-utilized due toexcessive non-counseling duties


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Invite stakeholders to school board meeting

Invite supportive principals to share how their schoolcounselor has a positive impact

Have parents and students share their stories

Work with the stakeholders in advance to prep them-

they may only have a couple of minutes and you can helpthem figure out how to tell their story


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Foster connections with School Board

Members

Invite them to your schools Invite them to your school counseling association

meetings

Find ways to honor them- nominate them for FSCAs

advocate award, award them at the county level


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Submit Success Stories to district level

communications

Most districts have newsletters, e-news blasts that go outregularly

Contact editor of these communications to see if you cansubmit a school counseling story


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State Level

1. Remain active in FSCA

2. Schedule a face-to-face meeting with your legislators

3. Prepare talking points to discuss with legislator

4. Summarize data for legislator5. Follow up with legislator after meeting/phone call


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Remain active in FSCA

Keep an eye out for state-level advocacy initiativesthrough FSCA communications

Participate when needed in initiatives (letter writing,calling legislators, etc.)

Join advocacy committee


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Prepare talking points to discuss with

legislator

Important role school counselors play in improvingacademics, CCR, and safety of students in schools

Focus on how we can PREVENT crises, INCREASE gradrates, and have a positive impact on CCR (# of students

applying to colleges, preparation for careers, etc) Have a positive spin but also explain problems today- lack

of state level job description for school counselors, needfor lower ratios, etc.

Explain OPPAGA report (data will be coming out thisspring- you will see the survey soon!)


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Summarize data for legislator

Come prepared with some bullet points that showeffectiveness of school counseling

Bring local data- they will most likely want to focus onthat

See attached handout for summary of national studiesthat demonstrate the positive impact of school counseling(email [email protected] you want the PDF withworkable links to studies)
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Follow up with legislator after

meeting/phone call

Write a thank you email and encourage them to contactyou with school counseling questions

Make sure they have your contact information, and let

them know youll send updates when a bill is ready


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Remember

One step at a time! Prepare to hit roadblocks

Surround yourself with positive, energetic schoolcounselors and stakeholders (ignore those who arent!)

Connections are key Keep in mind this is a team effort!


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Documents

2014 Advocacy Presentation