School Counselors as Advocates The Transformed School Counselor Chapter 5 ©2012 Cengage Learning....

School Counselors as Advocates

The Transformed School CounselorThe Transformed School Counselor

Chapter 5Chapter 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 Social advocacySocial advocacy implies questioning the implies questioning the

status quo, challenging rules and status quo, challenging rules and regulations that deny student access, and regulations that deny student access, and protesting changes that decrease protesting changes that decrease opportunities for the under-represented.opportunities for the under-represented.


The School Counselor as an Advocate

Surveys the internal and external school to identify barriers that are impeding student success

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

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

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


Characteristics of an AdvocateThe school counselor must possess many personal/social

consciousness attributes to be an advocate:

Desire to be a voice Desire to be a voice for students who are for students who are underrepresentedunderrepresented

Willingness to listenWillingness to listen Genuine positive Genuine positive

regard for othersregard for others FlexibilityFlexibility

CompassionCompassion UnderstandingUnderstanding EmpathyEmpathy Emotional stabilityEmotional stability InsightfulnessInsightfulness Willingness to take Willingness to take

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

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


Kitchener’s Five Moral Principles 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


Advocacy’s Impacts

Advocacy Impacts Systems, Student Advocacy Impacts Systems, Student Opportunities, the School Counseling Program, Opportunities, the School Counseling Program, and Communitiesand Communities

Advocating for Systemic ChangeAdvocating for Systemic Change SystemicSystemic refers to organizational policies, refers to organizational policies, procedures, and practices of a schoolprocedures, and practices of a school


Advocacy’s Impacts, cont’d…

Change refers to:Change refers to: 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



Changing Attitudes and Beliefs The school counselor collaborating with other educators can

help foster a vision and belief in the development of high aspirations in every child.

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.



Advocating for Individual Students School counselors impact systems to make a difference for

every individual in that system. Advocacy requires us to give some individual students

more help to right an injustice against them, improve their condition, or provide an opportunity.



Advocating for Your School Counseling Program

Having a plan in mind assists school counselors to assess the needs of the school and develop program strategies around those needs.

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

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



Advocating for Social Action in the Context of Community 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.


Advocacy SkillsUse of Technology for AdvocacyUse of Technology for Advocacy Technology enhances the counselor’s role as an advocate.

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

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

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


Counselors’ Skills for Advocacy

Advocacy Through Staff DevelopmentAdvocacy Through Staff Development Provide opportunities for staff to practice new

skills, gather new information, or learn new behaviors.

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


Steps in Advocating for Change

1. Identify the problem.1. Identify the problem. 2. Gather additional information.2. Gather additional information. 3. Identify the stakeholders.3. Identify the stakeholders. 4. Research the advocacy history of the problem.4. Research the advocacy history of the problem. 5. Identify the institutional and/or environmental 5. Identify the institutional and/or environmental

barriers contributing to the problem. barriers contributing to the problem. 6. Develop an action plan.6. Develop an action plan. 7. Set goals and develop accountability measures. 7. Set goals and develop accountability measures.


Guiding Principles of Advocacy

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


School Counselors as Advocates The Transformed School Counselor Chapter 5 ©2012 Cengage Learning....

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