Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024
Competencies for school counselors
A. The counselor will develop and implement a
comprehensive school level guidance program based on the American school
counseling association national standards and focused on the physical, social,
intellectual, emotional, and vocational growth of each student by:
(1) determining guidance priorities based on
local assessed needs;
(2)
formulating measurable objectives from identified needs and
priorities;
(3) formulating
specific tasks relating to achieving the objectives;
(4) coordinating a continuing evaluation of
the program;
(5) serving all
students at the prevention level;
(6) coordinating with the appropriate
administration to achieve items in Paragraphs (1) to (4) of Subsection A of
6.63.6.9 NMAC.
B. The
counselor will coordinate activities in the guidance and counseling program by:
(1) communicating the curriculum based on
content standards and benchmarks;
(2) working with other staff members to
encourage the inclusion of a student-oriented philosophy in all school
activities;
(3) helping to
integrate the guidance and counseling program within the total school
program;
(4) communicating with
parents and the community about services available within the guidance and
counseling program;
(5) learning
about available school and community resources;
(6) establishing and maintaining contact with
school and community resources;
(7)
working with the administration to utilize community resources related to the
guidance program.
C. The
counselor will provide information and facilitate guidance activities for
students, staff, and parents by:
(1) assisting
others in their understanding of personal and social development;
(2) serving as a resource to facilitate
groups and presentations on pertinent issues;
(3) providing prevention strategies which
address current issues such as chemical dependency, teenage pregnancy, suicide,
dropping out, and various forms of abuse;
(4) conducting activities on educational
career themes;
(5) conducting
orientation/training programs for students, parents, and staff;
(6) interpreting test results to students,
parents, and staff.
D.
The counselor will serve as a consultant to the school and community by:
(1) providing mediation for change in
behavior and conflict resolution;
(2) serving as a liaison for issues pertinent
to the learning environment of the school;
(3) supporting the staff with assistance in
developing positive rapport with students to maximize learning potential by
reducing or mitigating the impact of learning barriers;
(4) assisting teachers in identifying
students who would benefit from counseling and providing feedback on referred
students as appropriate;
(5)
providing information to parents and students to aid in their understanding of
educational goals and barriers to learning;
(6) providing resource materials and
expertise dealing with issues affecting students, staff, and family;
(7) providing information about appropriate
community resources or organizations which provide services to students and
their families;
(8) developing
strategies and methods of working with parents and guardians.
E. The counselor will provide
individual and group counseling by:
(1)
providing crisis intervention;
(2)
using appropriate interventions in situations detrimental to the physical,
mental, educational, and emotional well-being of the individual;
(3) providing support to individuals by
addressing topics such as interpersonal relations, communication,
decision-making, problem-solving skills, academic programs, and career and life
planning;
(4) making referrals to
school and community resources when necessary.
F. The counselor will uphold the standards of
the counseling profession by:
(1) meeting the
state competency standard and the requirements for preparation;
(2) participating in the development of
policies concerning guidance and counseling;
(3) keeping informed about developments and
innovations within the profession at the local, state, and national
levels;
(4) following the legal and
ethical standards of the counseling profession;
(5) realizing personal and professional
limitations.
G. The
counselor will understand the cultural context of relationships, issues and
trends in a multicultural and diverse society related to such factors as
culture, ethnicity, nationality, age, gender, sexual orientation, mental and
physical characteristics, education, family values, religious and spiritual
beliefs, and socioeconomic status, and unique characteristics of individuals,
couples, families, ethnic groups, and communities.
H. The counselor will be able to use
technology in the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of a
comprehensive school counseling program.
