Social Justice, Advocacy and the Role of the School Counselor

How can we as school counselors be involved in the work of social justice and activism?  

Learn about the role of school counselors as leaders in social justice advocacy, working to eliminate racism and bias in schools by integrating the ASCA National Model and standards in practice. Hear practical, solution-focused action steps to begin or deepen this critical work. Through a social justice framework and the lens of lived experiences, understand the impact racial stress and trauma has on students, faculty, families and the communities where they live. 

Walk away with realistic, tangible tools to apply immediately at your school to effectively meet the needs of students of color and their families through the lens of wholistic healing from systemic oppression and race-based trauma. 

Learning Objectives:
After attending this workshop, you should be able to:

• Accurately identify both overt and implicit bias (in self/others) and systemic oppression in schools and communities
• Discuss the role of the school counselor in social justice and advocacy
• Gain practical resources and research-based social justice interventions for students, families and communities of color. 
• Practice strategies to support students, faculty and schools in the aftermath of race-based incidents and gain tools to address the social/emotional implications of race-based stress and trauma.

About the Presenter:
Sylvia Hollins is currently a counselor education and supervision doctoral student at the University of Alabama. She served as a school counselor for five years, during which she was awarded the New Counselor of the Year honor from the Alabama Counseling Association. She has taught various counseling courses both at the University of Alabama and in the master’s program for trauma and resilience in education at Capella University – Portland.  Her concentration of research, teaching and advocacy includes: counseling individuals and families from marginalized and minority populations, social justice advocacy, the impact of police violence, the dehumanization of black youth, activism and the role of the school counselor, solution-focused brief counseling and mentoring. Hollins serves on both the ASCA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and the University of Alabama DEI Committee. 

Schedule: Full day, 0.6 CEUs available for participants.

Cost: $4,000* for full day

To bring this professional development workshop to your district, email Jennifer Walsh.