The School Counselor's Role in Advocacy
By MSCA Ethics Committee | January 2023
“Advocate” is a very powerful verb. As school counselors, we hear it, say it and live it out daily in our work. It is also written into our job description and ethical codes. Our voice and advocacy is our most valuable tool. It is imperative to use your school counselor super-powers of courage, relationship building, collaboration and brokering needs in your advocacy work.
Our ethical responsibilities and advocacy are interconnected: School counselors must be intentional, strategic, and seek to be agents of social justice in our work. The ASCA Ethical Standards (2022) states that school counselors “advocate for equitable, anti-oppressive and anti-bias policies and procedures, systems and practices, and provide effective, evidence-based and culturally sustaining interventions to address student needs” (A.1.j). It is important to remember that school counselors not only advocate on the individual level, but also the system-wide level. We have an ethical duty to advocate for change when school practices and procedures create inequities or barriers to success.
Some examples of ethical advocacy may include:
Do you have a dilemma about advocacy or a school counseling situation? Reach out to the Minnesota School Counselor Association Ethics Committee to consult at ethics@mnschoolcounselors.org.
Again this year, the MSCA Ethics Committee will be hosting virtual ethical drop-in sessions. No need to pre-register, simply connect in at the scheduled time (CEUs will be available for attendees). Be sure to watch the MSCA listserv for upcoming session dates and meeting links. We hope you will join us to discuss an ethical situation and to consult with fellow school counselors regarding ethical dilemmas they may be currently navigating.
Our ethical responsibilities and advocacy are interconnected: School counselors must be intentional, strategic, and seek to be agents of social justice in our work. The ASCA Ethical Standards (2022) states that school counselors “advocate for equitable, anti-oppressive and anti-bias policies and procedures, systems and practices, and provide effective, evidence-based and culturally sustaining interventions to address student needs” (A.1.j). It is important to remember that school counselors not only advocate on the individual level, but also the system-wide level. We have an ethical duty to advocate for change when school practices and procedures create inequities or barriers to success.
Some examples of ethical advocacy may include:
- Working with a student and their family when there’s a difference in post-secondary dreams and desires
- Questioning the status quo of grading practices
- Using disaggregated data to review students’ attendance, behavior incidents or enrollment in advanced placement classes
- Supporting students from historically marginalized groups
- Developing an evaluation tool for school counselors aligned with ASCA standards
- Communicating with your district leadership about the value of a comprehensive school counseling program
Do you have a dilemma about advocacy or a school counseling situation? Reach out to the Minnesota School Counselor Association Ethics Committee to consult at ethics@mnschoolcounselors.org.
Again this year, the MSCA Ethics Committee will be hosting virtual ethical drop-in sessions. No need to pre-register, simply connect in at the scheduled time (CEUs will be available for attendees). Be sure to watch the MSCA listserv for upcoming session dates and meeting links. We hope you will join us to discuss an ethical situation and to consult with fellow school counselors regarding ethical dilemmas they may be currently navigating.