School Psychologist Ethical Issue - Week 7

Human Services in Public Schools

IMPORTANT ROLES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Social Workers School Counselors

School Psychologist Mental Health Professional

School social workers are critical liaisons between students and their families, the school system, and the community.

Primary role is to support a wide range of at-risk and marginalized students: - ensuring students attended school - children's adjustments are being met - children with disabilities receive the services they need

Most states require that school social workers have an MSW with a specialization in school social work, accrue 1200 hours in an internship, 720 hours in public school and pass the state content exam.

School Social

Workers

National Association of Social Workers (NASW)

Former professional associations:

American Association of Social Workers (AASW) American Association of Medical Social Workers (AAMSW)

American Association of Psychiatric Social Workers (AAPSW) American Association of Group Workers (AAGW)

Association for the Study of Community Organization (ASCO) Social Work Research Group (SWRG)

National Association of School Social Workers (NASSW)

Professional Associations

Duties and Functions of School Social Workers

Roles and functions are typically generalist in nature but have become increasingly specialized as challenges have transitioned over the years.

managing psychosocial issues maintain close working relationship between student/family and school advocate for students and family members provide individual and group counseling facilitate support groups focusing on anger management, social skills, grief/loss, divorce, newomer for new students Case management Crisis intervention

School counselors play a vita role in ensuring student success.

Primary role is to promote safe and effective learning environment for all students by delivering culturally relevant services as a part of a comprehensive school counseling program.

3 Basic Focus Areas: Academic, Career, and Personal and Social Development

All states require that school counselors have a minimum of a MA degree in school counseling, typically offered with the education department at university, 450+ hours practicum and internship in a school setting, and exam or thesis.

School Counselors

American School Counselor Association (ASCA)

ASCA developed a national framework for school counseling programs with he goal of promoting student achievement by addressing student's personal, social, educational

and career needs. The framework is built on 4 principles: foundation, delivery, management and

accountability

Professional Associations

Foundation

Focus is the mission and vision of a comprehensive school counseling plan for academic achievement

Delivery

Individual student planning, providing services, individual counseling

Management

Ongoing management of organization processes, delivery of services to ensure goals are met

Accountability

collecting and evaluating data

Ethical Dilemmas Facing School

Counselors Maintaining confidentiality of student counseling

sessions Record keeping

Child Abuse Ethical boundaries

School psychologist play a vita role in creating health and safe learning environments.

The goals are similar to social workers and school counselors but their duties and functions food on student learning, which also includes supporting teachers in their efforts to teach all learning styles.

All states require either a master's degree in educational psychology or a doctorate degree, 1200 hour internship in a school setting and complete a licensing exam.

School Psychologist

National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)

Developed to maintain professional ethics in 4 broad areas: 1) Respecting the dignity and rights of all persons

2') Professional competence and responsibility 3) Honesty and integrity in professional relationships

4) Responsibility to schools, families, communities, the professionals and society

Professional Associations

Duties and Functions of School Psychologist

School psychologists work directly with students, teachers, administrators, families and other members of the student services team with the goal of helping students achieve their optimal level of academic performance

Conducting psychological and academic testing Developing programs that increase student motivation and engagement Creating individualized education programs that include instructional programs and interventions Monitor student progrss through observation, testing, and evaluation Promoting positive mental health Individual and group counseling

Ethical Dilemmas Facing School Psychologist

Balance a student's right to privacy with the parent's rights to know what's going on with their child

Complying with federal legislation such as IDEA and No Child Left Behind in a way that respects the rights of students with disabilities

Students with significant disabilities with psychiatric and behavioral disorders that can disrupt learning environments or pose a danger to

other students

Parents refuse to agree to the restraint or seclusion even if their behaior warrants it.

Mental Health and Other Psychosocial Concerns

Thee has been a drastic increase of children between the ages of 12 - 17 who have experienced at least one episode of major depression.

Due to the rise in mental health needs, research is recommending the need for school mental health providers in school settings.

By having a mental health provider in the school, it adds additional support expanding a student's support system.

Substance Abuse in Schools

Substance abuse is growing across the United Staes, primarily in high schools but also now in middle schools.

74 % of high school seniors in suburban high schools have reported using alcohol sometime in the past and 40% have reported using illegal drugs in the past.

Lambie and Rokutani suggest using systems perspective in evaluating substance abuse in adolescent population views the issue as a systems perspective view as a sign of something connected within the family system.

Diversity in Public Schools School counselors, social workers and psychologists need to recognize and address racial and ethnic concerns in the school.

Things addressed: Discrimination Cultural Sensitivity Racial Profiling Bias Based Bullying/Cyberbullying LGBTQ sensitivity Terrorism