The transformed school counselor chapter 5

School Counselors as
Advocates
The Transformed School Counselor
Chapter 5

©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.


The Role of Social Advocacy in
Schools
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Social advocacy implies questioning the status
quo, challenging rules and regulations that deny
student access, and protesting changes that
decrease opportunities for the under-represented.

©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.


The School Counselor as an
Advocate
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Surveys the internal and external school to identify barriers that are
impeding student success

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Collaborates to establish the conditions necessary for all students
to be successful in their academic, social, emotional, career, and
personal development

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Becomes the voice for students with low achievement, especially
low socioeconomic-level and minority students

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Empowerment is the complex process that encompasses selfreflection and action, awareness of environmental power dynamics
and the development of skills to promote community enhancement

©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.


Characteristics of an Advocate
The school counselor must possess many personal/social
consciousness attributes to be an advocate:
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Desire to be a voice
for students who are
underrepresented

Willingness to listen
Genuine positive
regard for others
Flexibility

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Compassion
Understanding
Empathy
Emotional stability
Insightfulness
Willingness to take
risks

©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.


The Ethics of Advocacy


Advocacy is an ethical imperative as well as a
legal imperative for school counselors.

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Kitchener’s Five Moral Principles are applied by
counselors when there is an ethical dilemma.

©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.


Kitchener’s Five Moral
Principles
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Beneficence – continually seek ways to enhance
opportunities for student success
Nonmaleficence – consider the impact of one’s action or
lack of action to determine if potential harm will result
Loyalty – remain steadfast in efforts to make systemic
change for all students
Justice – look at each individual’s unique needs and be
able to justify treating students differently
Autonomy – empower each and every child to become his
or her own advocate

©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.

Advocacy’s Impacts
Advocacy Impacts Systems, Student
Opportunities, the School Counseling Program,
and Communities
Advocating for Systemic Change
Systemic refers to organizational policies,
procedures, and practices of a school

©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.


Advocacy’s Impacts, cont’d…
Change refers to:
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Shared vision to guide change
Leadership capable of driving change
Professional development to implement and sustain the
change
Organizational arrangements to support change

Strategies to implement change
School counselors thinking systemically by identifying
practices that negatively impact students and those that
should be replicated or expanded
Reaching many more students

©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.


Advocacy’s Impacts, cont’d…
Changing Attitudes and Beliefs
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The school counselor collaborating with other educators can
help foster a vision and belief in the development of high
aspirations in every child.

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The school counselor’s skills in communication, interpersonal
relationships, problem solving, and conflict resolution can
impact the beliefs and attitudes of teachers and administrators
regarding widening opportunities for students.

©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.


Advocacy’s Impacts, cont’d…

Advocating for Individual Students


School counselors impact systems to make a difference for
every individual in that system.

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Advocacy requires us to give some individual students
more help to right an injustice against them, improve their
condition, or provide an opportunity.

©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.


Advocacy’s Impacts, cont’d…
Advocating for Your School Counseling Program
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Having a plan in mind assists school counselors to assess the
needs of the school and develop program strategies around
those needs.

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Advocacy is educating legislators, school board members,
parents, administrators, and teachers about the school
counseling program.

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Advocacy is joining a professional organization which
provides school counselors with a legislative voice.

©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.


Advocacy’s Impacts, cont’d…
Advocating for Social Action in the Context of Community
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Families and Institutions of Society
Counselors can be agents of social change in the community by
helping students and families develop the strategies needed to
advocate for themselves when dealing with other institutions.
Service Learning
School counselors can encourage involvement of students in
service learning and address some of the social problems, issues,
and injustices of their larger community.

©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.


Advocacy Skills
Use of Technology for Advocacy

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Technology enhances the counselor’s role as an advocate.

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Counselors must use technology in monitoring student
progress, in student career planning, and in accessing the
data for informed student decision-making.

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Many schools have student management systems that
contain student biographical information as well as
scheduling, attendance, discipline and test history data.

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Using student information management data guarantees
that no student is left out.

©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.


Counselors’ Skills for Advocacy
Advocacy Through Staff Development
 Provide opportunities for staff to practice new
skills, gather new information, or learn new
behaviors.

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Collaborative planning is the best way to
proceed and further success.

©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.


Steps in Advocating for Change
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1. Identify the problem.
2. Gather additional information.
3. Identify the stakeholders.
4. Research the advocacy history of the problem.
5. Identify the institutional and/or environmental
barriers contributing to the problem.
6. Develop an action plan.
7. Set goals and develop accountability measures.

©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.

Guiding Principles of Advocacy
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1. Be a calculated risk taker.
2. Believe you can make a difference.
3. Believe in your students.
4. Be kind to yourself.
5. Stay the course.

©2012 Cengage Learning. These materials are designed for classroom use and can be used for educational purposes only. Reproduction for commercial use is in violation of
copyright laws.