Advocacy

Advocating for the needs of all students it at the forefront of my priorities as a school counselor. In accordance with the American School Counselor Association National Model, it is imperative to promote advocacy efforts on multiple levels: individually, academically, and systemically. Eliminating barriers that delay student development requires that I remain ethical, empathetic, and knowledgeable of the needs students and the community possesses.  To do this, I must utilize the data of the school environment as well as school counselor curriculum.

An example of what this would look like is a growing database of community resources that is shared with school community members and stakeholders. By communicating with important school stakeholders, I can use data to assess what resources are lacking in the community, as well as what resources are readily available. An electronic community map of these resources can then be shared with students, teachers, administration, and stakeholders to advocate for their holistic needs. To view an example of a growing community resource map I have built, please click the link below.

click here to see an example of a community resource map

By taking these specific actions: being ethical, remaining knowledgeable, using data, and assessing needs, I can implement a school-specific advocacy model that fosters growth for the entire school community. Then, advocacy efforts can be evaluated and continually assessed to ensure success.