Like many school districts in the nation, our district has decided to implement a two week hiatus to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Fortunately, our students have the ability to work on their school devices from home to keep up with their mounting school work. Not only is keeping up with their academics important, but it is important to help students keep a healthy routine during this unusual time in our country. Although quarantine is the worst, best case scenario for stopping the virus, health officials recognize quarantine can cause anxiety, confusion, boredom, stress, lack of sleep, fear, and thoughts of suicide for those in isolation. So, if you are one of the school counselors experiencing a mandatory quarantine or possible future quarantine, what can you do to help students stay mentally healthy?
The American School Counselor Association has provided guidance on how to plan for virtual school counseling opportunities during emergencies. Unfortunately, due to our normal busy lives, you may not have any of these procedures in place. However, you may decide to implement a few or many of these suggested guidelines in case you find yourself home for an extended COVID-19 break. Below, I have selected a few practical suggestions from ASCA and some additional sources that may be helpful to our your students.
Online Counseling Strategies During Emergencies
1. Consider updating your website and social media accounts daily with important information that is helpful for students including cancellations, deadlines, and important events.
See Resource: Covid-19: School Cancellation and Trauma
2. Set up online counseling hours for students to reach out to you whether on an online platform or social media. Make sure you are following your school counseling protocol and informed consent.
3. Create helpful grade level activities for students that meet targeted counseling goals and benchmarks.
Some activities can include:
Self care suggestions
Scholarships sources
Test Prep Resources
Free educational games and apps
4. Provide information for emergency situations when the school counselor is not available. Here is a helpful post: The #COVID19 outbreak is leaving many feeling anxious, angry, sad, or scared. If you need to talk to someone, text NAMI to 741741 or call the NAMI Helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264).
5. Consider providing video lessons for students to view on targeted subjects. Clueless where to start, check out this post from The Counseling Geek on Getting Started With YouTube.
If you find yourself at home to ride out the virus, here are some tips for you to stay active and engaged.
1. Join a supportive online school counseling group.
Twitter PLNs and Topics
#scchat (See dates and topics)
#mschat
#hscchat
#escchat
Facebook PLN
Elementary School Counselor Exchange Caught In The Middle High School Counselors NetworkProfessional School Counselors of Color
Georgia School Counselor Network Educator Temporary School Closure for Online Learning
Georgia School Counselor Network Educator Temporary School Closure for Online Learning
2. Take an online workshop, webinar, or training.
Check out ASCA University Specialist courses:
- Anxiety and Stress Management Specialist
- Bullying Prevention Specialist
- Career Development Specialist
- Closing the Achievement Gap Specialist
- College Admissions Specialist
- Cultural Competency Specialist
- Grief and Loss Specialist
- Legal and Ethical Specialist
- Mental Health Specialist
- School Counseling Data Specialist
- School Counseling Leadership Specialist
- Students With Special Needs Specialist
- Trauma and Crisis Specialist
Upcoming ASCA Webinars:
Webinar: Help Students Prepare to Transition Out of High School with Text, Talk, Set to Go
March 13, 2020, 12-1 p.m. Eastern
Webinar: School Counselors vs. Mental Health Counselors
March 18, 2020, 12-1 p.m. Eastern
Webinar: From Guidance Counselors to School Counselors
March 23, 2020, 2 p.m. Eastern
Webinar: Celebrate College Signing Day
March 24, 2020, 3-4 p.m. Eastern
Webinar: The Power to Motivate
March 30, 2020, 4-5 p.m. Eastern
Other Webinars:
Webinar: Help Students Prepare to Transition Out of High School with Text, Talk, Set to Go
March 13, 2020, 12-1 p.m. Eastern
Webinar: School Counselors vs. Mental Health Counselors
March 18, 2020, 12-1 p.m. Eastern
Webinar: From Guidance Counselors to School Counselors
March 23, 2020, 2 p.m. Eastern
Webinar: Celebrate College Signing Day
March 24, 2020, 3-4 p.m. Eastern
Webinar: The Power to Motivate
March 30, 2020, 4-5 p.m. Eastern
Other Webinars:
Take a course on how to develop an online class.
4. Don't forget to practice counselor self care!
Finally, check out these additional resources and please feel free to share helpful information with your fellow colleagues in the comments!
Additional Resources:
Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus
Care for Your Coronavirus Anxiety
List of Free Educational Resources for Students
SEL Resources for Parents, Educators, and School Communities Related to COVID-19
COVID-19 and Homelessness
16 Free Resources for Schools Closing Due to the Coronavirus
Student Mental Health and Self Care
Comments
Post a Comment