Counseling as a Related Service Lauren Foster Melinda Islas Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, disability, or any other legally protected status in employment or provision of services, programs, or activities. View Nondiscrimination Policy English/SpanishView Nondiscrimination Policy English/Spanish

BEST PRACTICES The Special Education counseling professional works as part of a multi-disciplinarian team to meet the individual needs of the students we serve. We comply with laws and policies and with professional standards. We collaborate, cooperate and communicate with other professionals, organizations and parents with integrity and respect. We value those we serve by maintaining confidentiality and by protecting the rights of all individuals. We maintain a high standard of competence by continuing professional growth through ongoing education and professional development. We hold paramount the welfare and needs of our students by following strict ethical standards.

GUIDELINES Special education counseling is legally defined as a related service that is required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education and is provided by a licensed/certified mental health professional. Counseling is available for special education students who are unsuccessful due to an emotional component impacting school performance or for students who qualify on the autism spectrum with severe social skills deficits that impair school performance. Students eligible for services must display significant emotional or social deficits. Counseling is an intervention that supports the student in achieving his or her individual goals. The special education counselor will work from a counseling IEP that is separate from a behavior intervention plan. Counseling services will be delivered as recommended and then faded as appropriate for students.

What is Special Education Counseling? Related service Reason for referral must be educationally relevant in an academic school setting for an identified special education student Must be determined through an evaluation and through an ARD Requires parent consent

What interventions are needed prior to requesting counselor's evaluation? Refer to general education/grade level counselor Review/develop classroom accommodations, strategies, and behavior interventions Peer mentor Tutoring Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP)

What are considerations for multi-disciplinary team? Must follow specific procedures - Staffing Address documentation of intervention’s success Improvement, continue with interventions No improvement – determine why lack of improvement Request FBA/BIP Implement BIP interventions for 3 to 6 weeks (if no improvement re-staff)

How does one access SpEd counseling? Re-staffing Case manager will have completed the SPED counseling pre-referral form Team should review information gathered with pre-referral form SPED counselor will determine need for additional interventions and/or need for a SPED counseling evaluation

What is considered an educationally relevant referral? A significant drop in achievement, and/or a pattern of failure across the core curriculum A pattern of excessive absences that threaten school success due to emotional issues (i.e. anxiety, school phobia, etc) Significant social skills or behavioral deficits that impact educational achievement and are not developmentally appropriate

What is NOT considered an educationally relevant referral? (Generally an educational need for special education counseling is not present when a student is experiencing problems common to students of the same age and developmental stage.) Truancy not related to emotional issues Poor academic performance Low self-esteem Difficulties with peer relations Poor organizational skills Gang related behaviors and/or issues Home life and/or family issues

Are there any exceptions to this process? Crisis intervention Suicidal ideation Homicidal ideation Crisis intervention does not require parent permission.

Evaluations Elementary- LSSP Secondary-Special Education Counselor/LSSP

Service Providers Elementary-Campus Counselor Secondary-Special Education Counselor

Documentation Counselor Service Log Confidentiality

Progress Reporting Special Education Manager IEP Progress Reports-9 wks Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, disability, or any other legally protected status in employment or provision of services, programs, or activities. View Nondiscrimination Policy English/SpanishView Nondiscrimination Policy English/Spanish