The very foundation of a school counseling program, the ASCA National Model, connects school counseling with the current educational reform movement, emphasizing student achievement and success as well as systemic change. For many school counselors, the thought of implementing the ASCA National Model into their school counseling program feels overwhelming, especially now that we are facing so many issues and challenges. There couldn’t be a better time to get this work started to share the impact you have had on students over the last year-and-a-half and advocate your value as a professional school counselor.

In the August School Counselor Network Newsletter, we mentioned that planning was underway to offer a training program for school counselors who were interested in learning how to get started with implementing the ASCA National Model. We are excited to announce that we will be offering a two-year, countywide ASCA National Model training program. The training is designed to lead school counselors through the development, implementation, evaluation and improvement of a comprehensive school counseling program built on school-specific data. It allows time and guidance for participating teams to conduct a deeper dive into the metrics of their school counseling program, with the goal of becoming a Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP). The series will consist of six full-day workshops presented over the course of two school years, which will all be led by an ASCA-certified trainer.

If your counseling team is interested in participating in our first San Diego County cohort, registration is now open, and spots are limited. Find more information on this exciting opportunity, along with program costs, session dates, and how to register.

Applications for our third annual School Counselor of the Year (SCOY) program are available on the SDCOE School Counselor webpage. We will recognize three SCOYs at the following levels: elementary, middle, and high school. The 2022 SCOY recipients will be recognized Feb. 9 at our new event, Honoring Excellence in School Counseling Leadership. North Island Credit Union will once again sponsor the awards. Eligible applicants are required to complete an online application and upload their resume, one letter of recommendation, and three personal-interest question responses. The deadline to submit a completed application is Nov. 1 by 6 p.m.

Supplement your learning with additional workshops and conferences.

The 2021 Counselor Conference: Counseling Students for Future Careers, hosted by the San Diego and Imperial County Community Colleges Consortium, will be held virtually Dec. 1 and 2. The conference includes breakouts for middle and high school counselors, administrators, and educators to learn about career and workforce trends, share valuable resources, and hear from inspirational leaders. The conference is free for all participants. Registration is now open.

Two-year colleges offer numerous career training and certificate programs. Meet local college representatives from our local community colleges and learn more about post-secondary options available at our two-year colleges throughout the county. Find webinar recordings, resources, and materials.

Join The San Diego Foundation and Cal SOAP to learn more about available scholarships for high school students, especially seniors during new Scholarship Nights webinars. Events are free and open to students and families in San Diego and Imperial counties.

Virtual Events:

In-Person Event — Malcolm X Library

The San Diego Foundation Community Scholarship program provides scholarship opportunities for local students to help pursue their educational goals and achieve their higher education dreams. The Common Scholarship Application for the 2022-23 academic year will open Dec. 1. Details about this scholarship program are available on The San Diego Foundation website. To ensure that school counselors are prepared to support students, there will be two virtual scholarship application convenings to learn more about navigating the application.

Lynn O'Shaughnessy is a nationally recognized local author who is graciously offering her College Cost Lab course to current school counselors for free. The online program features: 27 lessons covering critical topics like researching merit awards, financial aid, and finding college bargains; eight resource guides with advice and lists of schools with their award policies; easy-to-follow videos that include how to use best online college tools; downloadable worksheets and checklists; and lifetime access to course material. To access this course, email Lynn directly at [email protected].

Sallie Mae presenters Elise Sanders and Ventrice Shanklin will be offering free virtual workshops for counselors, students, and parents on how to find scholarships. Participants will learn the importance and ease of using a scholarship search engine, scholarship resources, creating a winning scholarship essay, and key tips on applying for scholarships.

The 2021-22 Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete is now available for download! The guide is designed to assist with understanding the NCAA, NCAA Eligibility Center registration and academic requirements, and how you can help your student-athletes work toward their collegiate dreams. This is a great resource to share with your student-athletes and their families. The guide is available via the High School Portal and NCAA Publications.

The Social Work Services department is offering a two-part virtual professional development opportunity for school social workers, counselors, psychologist, and educators interested in play therapy. The series will be lead by Sarah Scott Dooling, licensed clinical social worker and registered play therapist. The workshops will be held Nov. 5 and 12, from 9 to 11 a.m. The cost is $40.

The first line of defense against bullying is to build activities and discussions that create awareness and enhance resiliency. This workshop helps bullyproof children by

implementing the seven C’s of Resiliency. It also shares tips on creating agents of change and addresses bully-banning behaviors on bullyproofing children. This free webinar will be offered Nov. 5 and Feb. 23 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. These webinars will not be recorded, nor will they be offered with Spanish interpretation. View the flyer in English and view the flyer in Spanish to share with your school staff and parents. Registration links are included.

Being well improves our ability to navigate challenges as a parent. This webinar will help participants understand the meaning and importance of wellness and resiliency, learn strategies to identify and cope with stressors, and identify self-care practices that can lift spirits and calm anxieties. This free webinar will be available Nov. 18, and April 27 from 6 to 7 p.m. These webinars will not be recorded, nor will they be offered with Spanish interpretation. View the flyer in English and view the flyer in Spanish to share with your school staff and parents. Registration links are included.

Anxiety is the most prevalent mental health disorder among children and adolescents, affecting 1 in 4 youth over their lifetime. Being physically back in school for the 2021-22 school year may help some students feel more secure, but for others the anxiety and fear can be overwhelming. It is important for caregivers to know how to help. This one-hour webinar will offer coping strategies, tools, and resources to support your children and teens who might be feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or anxious. This free webinar will be offered Dec. 15, and Feb. 17 from 6 to 7 p.m. These webinars will not be recorded, nor will they be offered with Spanish interpretation. View the flyer in English and view the flyer in Spanish to share with your school staff and parents. Registration links are included.

The 2021 Orange County Virtual Counselor Symposium from 8:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Nov. 10 will provide school counselors with strategies to support students' social and emotional well-being as they reconnect and reintegrate into in-person learning. We will continue to focus on supporting student wellness and success through the ASCA domains of academic, social and emotional, career development, and Multi-Tiered System of Support framework. This event is free.