How We Can Help Vulnerable Children

It’s important for School Counselors to know the facts. According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, “some 7 million adults (about 1 in 32) are under criminal justice supervision in the United States and 1.8 million children have a parent in prison.” Data found at aecf.org also shows that 18 million children growing up in immigrant families and, in 2015, more than 428,000 kids were in the U.S. foster care/welfare system. In June, Oklahomans learned that our state ranks 44^th in the nation for overall child well-being, down from 36^th the year before (oica.org).
 
These staggering numbers clearly show students are vulnerable, hurting and many are at risk. Who better to act on these facts than a school counselor? I believe that school counselors are trained and poised to lead in providing the national and state-wide support needed for students struggling with family instabilities. How can we more effectively respond to Oklahoma students in need and improve the outcomes for their families?

• Embrace your role as an advocate. School counselors wholeheartedly strive to protect the rights of students. Sometimes your voice may be the only one speaking up for a particular student.
• Be informed. Follow blogs that feature best practices and websites specific to legislative actions pertinent to children, such as the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy.
• Collaborate among various systems. From the local courts and welfare agencies to the child’s case workers, schools should collaborate in order to best support students’ academic and social/emotional development.
• Help create community-driven initiatives. School counselors should seek ways to remove roadblocks by partnering with local agencies, businesses, ministerial alliances and other supporters to help families with food and clothing insecurities, offer parenting courses and possibly provide legal and financial guidance programs when needed.
• Instill hope. Help students see that their lives can improve. When youths can visualize that their past is not necessarily a prelude to their future, progress is truly possible.

I encourage school counselors to strengthen their comprehensive counseling programs with some of these steps and review ASCA’s position statement on the School Counselor and School-Family-Community Partnerships, Revised 2016.
 
By understanding these facts and accurately facing the realities of our families, School Counselors can provide the insight to help students possess a belief in a brighter future.
 
Contact Michelle K. Taylor, Ed.D, LPC, OSCA past president, at mtaylor@adairschools.org.