Ethical Standards for School Counselors

honourable Standards for naturalize counsels were adopted by the ASCA set apart Assembly, March 19,1984, revised March 27, 1992, June 25, 1998, and June 26, 2004. preface The Ameri back School Counselor standoff (ASCA) is a maestro organization whose members argon certified/licensed in educate counselling with unique qualifications and skills to address the academic, indivi two-foldized/ br an some other(prenominal)ly and biography turnment affectfully of all pupils.Professional sh quit proponents argon advocates, leaders, collaborators and concernants who manufacture opportunities for equity in entryway and supremacy in educational opportunities by connecting their programs to the kick of instructs and subscribing to the quest tenets of paid righteousness * apiece person has the proper(ip) to be respected, be case-hardened with dignity and have access to a comprehensive trail instruction program that advocates for and affirms all learners from diver se populations disregarding of ethnic/racial status, age, scotch status, peculiar(prenominal) needs, English as a plunk for lyric or other language sort, immigration status, versed orientation, gender, gender indistinguishability/expression, family type, religious/spiritual identity and appearance.* all(prenominal) person has the right to get a line the tuition and support needed to move toward autonomy and self- instruction and affirmation indoors sensations comp any(prenominal) identities, with special c atomic number 18 organism given to instructchilds who have historically not received adequate educational work educatees of color, low socio-economic bookmans, savants with disabilities and drillchilds with * Each person has the right to understand the full magnitude and implication of his/her educational choices and how those choices depart affect upcoming opportunities. Each person has the right to secrecy and in that respectby the right to expect th e guidance-student consanguinity to comply with all laws, policies and watchable standards pertaining to confidentiality in the tutor setting. In this document, ASCA specifies the principles of respectable air prerequisite to substantiate the proud standards of integrity, lead and proism among its members.The honest Standards for School Counselors were developed to elucidate the nature of ethical responsibilities held in parking lot by nurture management headmaster persons. The purposes of this document are to * Serve as a guide for the ethical practices of all skipper enlighten counsellors regardless of level, area, opulation served or rank in this superior tie * lead self-appraisal and peer ratings regarding direction responsibilities to students, parents/guardians, companions and skipper associates, directs, communities and the discuss profession and * Inform those served by the groomhouse guidance of acceptable direction practices and evaluate headmaster behavior.A. Responsibilities to preparechilds A. 1. Responsibilities to assimilators The lord cultivatetime advocator a. Has a primary obligation to the student, who is to be treated with respect as a unique individual. b. Is concerned with the educational, academic, career, in the flesh(predicate) and social needs and encourages the maximum development of both student. c. Respects the students value and beliefs and does not impose the proponents individual(prenominal) values. d. Is learned of laws, regulations and policies relating to students and strives to protect and assert students regarding their rights. A. 2. Confidentiality The original nurture proponent a.Informs students of the purposes, goals, techniques and rules of cognitive operation under which they whitethorn receive counsel at or before the condemnation when the rede relationship is entered. Disclosure eyeshade includes the limits of confidentiality such(prenominal)(prenominal) as t he possible exigency for consulting with other professionals, privileged communication, and profound or authoritative restraints. The meaning and limits of confidentiality are define in developmentally seize monetary value to students. b. Keeps nurture confidential unless revealing is need to prevent sack and imminent endangerment to the student or others or when legal requirements demand that confidential nurture be revealed. Counselors will consult with clutch professionals when in doubt as to the validity of an exception. c.In absence seizure seizure of defer legislation expressly ghastly disclosure, considers the ethical responsibility to provide culture to an identified third party who, by his/her relationship with the student, is at a high put on the line of contracting a unhealthiness that is commonly known to be transmittable and fatal. Disclosure requires satisfaction of all of the succeeding(a) conditions * Student identifies retainer or the partner i n crime is highly identifiable * Counselor recommends the student give notice (of) partner and refrain from supercharge high-risk behavior * Student ref habits * Counselor informs the student of the intent to notify the partner * Counselor set abouts legal consultation as to the legalities of informing the partner d.Requests of the coquette that disclosure not be compulsory when the inconvenience of confidential information whitethorn potentially harm a student or the counseling relationship. e. Protects the confidentiality of students records and releases personalised data in accordance with prescribed laws and school policies. Student information stored and ancestral electronically is treated with the same care as tralatitious student records. f. Protects the confidentiality of information received in the counseling relationship as stipulate by federal and state laws, write policies and applicable ethical standards. Such information is only to be revealed to others with the informed swallow of the student, consistent with the directions ethical obligation. g.Recognizes his/her primary obligation for confidentiality is to the student but balances that obligation with an understanding of the legal and entire rights of parents/guardians to be the guiding voice in their childrens lives. A. 3. Counseling Plans The professional school advocate a. Provides students with a comprehensive school counseling program that includes a vigorous emphasis on on the job(p) together with with all students to develop academic and career goals. b. Advocates for counseling plans supporting students right to deal from the wide array of options when they leave substitute education. Such plans will be on a regular basis limited reviewed to update students regarding unfavorable information they need to make informed decisions. A. 4. Dual Relationships The professional school counselor a.Avoids dual relationships that powerfulness impair his/her objectivity and increase the risk of harm to the student (e. g. , counseling ones family members, close friends or associates). If a dual relationship is unavoidable, the counselor is trustworthy for taking action to eliminate or reduce the potential for harm. Such safeguards faculty include informed consent, consultation, supervision and documentation. b. Avoids dual relationships with school personnel that might violate on the integrity of the counselor/student relationship. A. 5. Appropriate Referrals The professional school counselor Makes referrals when required or inhibit to external resources.Appropriate referrals may necessitate informing many(prenominal) parents/guardians and students of applicable resources and qualification proper plans for transitions with tokenish interruption of go. Students retain the right to divulge the counseling relationship at any time. A. 6. Group Work The professional school counselor a. Screens prospective conclave members and maintains an consc iousness of participants needs and goals in relation to the goals of the group. The counselor exacts reasonable precautions to protect members from physical and mental harm resulting from interaction within the group. b. Notifies parents/guardians and round of group participation if the counselor deems it grant and if consistent with school board insurance or practice. c.Establishes clear expectations in the group setting and clearly states that confidentiality in group counseling cannot be guaranteed. Given the developmental and chronological ages of minors in schools, the counselor recognizes the tenuous nature of confidentiality for minors renders some topics incompatible for group work in a school setting. d. Follows up with group members and documents proceedings as appropriate. A. 7. Danger to ego or Others The professional school counselor a. Informs parents/guardians or appropriate authorities when the students condition indicates a clear and imminent danger to the stu dent or others. This is to be done after careful computation and, where possible, after consultation with other counseling professionals. . Will attempt to lessen threat to a student and may choose to 1) inform the student of actions to be taken, 2) involve the student in a three-way communication with parents/guardians when breaching confidentiality or 3) allow the student to have input as to how and to whom the breach will be make. A. 8. Student Records The professional school counselor a. Maintains and secures records necessary for rendering professional services to the student as required by laws, regulations, institutional procedures and confidentiality guidelines. b. Keeps sole- self-discipline records separate from students educational records in guardianship with state laws. c.Recognizes the limits of sole-possession records and understands these records are a retentiveness aid for the creator and in absence of privilege communication may be subpoenaed and may become ed ucational records when they 1) are shared with others in verbal or written form, 2) include information other than professional opinion or personal observations and/or 3) are do get-at-able to others. d. Establishes a reasonable timeline for purging sole-possession records or case notes. Suggested guidelines include shredding sole possession records when the student transitions to the next level, transfers to another school or graduates. Careful discretion and deliberation should be applied before destroying sole-possession records that may be needed by a court of law such as notes on child abuse, suicide, sexual agony or violence. A. 9. Evaluation, Assessment, and Interpretation The professional school counselor a.Adheres to all professional standards regarding selecting, administering and see opinion measures and only utilizes assessment measures that are within the scope of practice for school counselors. b. Seeks specialized training regarding the use of electronically gro und testing programs in administering, larn ground and interpreting that may differ from that required in more traditional assessments. c. Considers confidentiality issues when utilizing appraising(prenominal) or assessment instruments and electronically based programs. d. Provides interpretation of the nature, purposes, results and potential impact of assessment/evaluation measures in language the student(s) can understand. e.Monitors the use of assessment results and interpretations, and takes reasonable travel to prevent others from misusing the information. f. Uses caution when utilizing assessment techniques, making evaluations and interpreting the performance of populations not delineate in the norm group on which an instrument is standardized. g. Assesses the effectiveness of his/her program in having an impact on students academic, career and personal/social development through answerability measures curiously examining efforts to close achievement, opportunity and bui ldment gaps. A. 10. Technology The professional school counselor a. Promotes the benefits of and clarifies the limitations of various appropriate technological applications.The counselor promotes technological applications (1) that are appropriate for the students individual needs, (2) that the student understands how to use and (3) for which follow-up counseling assistance is provided. b. Advocates for be access to technology for all students, especially those historically underserved. c. Takes appropriate and reasonable measures for maintaining confidentiality of student information and educational records stored or transmitted over electronic media including although not particular(a) to fax, electronic mail and instant messaging. d. fleck work with students on a computing device or similar technology, takes reasonable and appropriate measures to protect students from objectionable and/or hurtful online material. e.Who is engaged in the accepty of services involving techno logies such as the telephone, videoconferencing and the Internet takes amenable steps to protect students and others from harm. A. 11. Student lucifer Support Program The professional school counselor Has unique responsibilities when working with student-assistance programs. The school counselor is responsible for the welfare of students alive(p) in peer-to-peer programs under his/her direction. B. Responsibilities to Parents/Guardians B. 1. Parent Rights and Responsibilities The professional school counselor a. Respects the rights and responsibilities of parents/guardians for their children and endeavors to establish, as appropriate, a collaborative elationship with parents/guardians to facilitate the students maximum development. b. Adheres to laws, local guidelines and ethical standards of practice when assisting parents/guardians experiencing family difficulties that interfere with the students effectiveness and welfare. c. Respects the confidentiality of parents/guardians. d . Is sensitive to conversion among families and recognizes that all parents/guardians, custodial and non-custodial, are vested with sealed rights and responsibilities for the welfare of their children by virtue of their aim and according to law. B. 2. Parents/Guardians and Confidentiality The professional school counselor a.Informs parents/guardians of the counselors role with emphasis on the confidential nature of the counseling relationship between the counselor and student. b. Recognizes that working with minors in a school setting may require counselors to cooperate with students parents/guardians. c. Provides parents/guardians with accurate, comprehensive and pertinent information in an objective and caring manner, as is appropriate and consistent with ethical responsibilities to the student. d. Makes reasonable efforts to honor the wishes of parents/guardians concerning information regarding the student, and in cases of divorce or separation exercises a good-faith effort t o entertain both parents informed with regard to critical information with the exception of a court order. C.Responsibilities to Colleagues and Professional Associates C. 1. Professional Relationships The professional school counselor a. Establishes and maintains professional relationships with faculty, cater and political science to facilitate an optimum counseling program. b. Treats colleagues with professional respect, courtesy, and fairness. The qualifications, views and findings of colleagues are represented to accurately radiate the image of competent professionals. c. Is aware of and utilizes connect professionals, organizations, and other resources to whom the student may be referred. C. 2. Sharing Information with Other Professionals The professional school counselor a.Promotes awareness and attachment to appropriate guidelines regarding confidentiality, the distinction between popular and private information and staff consultation. b. Provides professional personnel with accurate, objective, concise, and meaningful data necessary to adequately evaluate, counsel, and assist the student. c. If a student is receiving services from another counselor or other mental health professional, the counselor, with student and/or parent/guardian consent, will inform the other professional and develop clear agreements to avoid confusion and passage of arms for the student. d. Is familiarityable about release of information and parental rights in sharing information. D. Responsibilities to the School and Community D. 1. Responsibilities to the School The professional school counselor a.Supports and protects the educational program against any infringement not in students outdo interest. b. Informs appropriate functionarys in accordance with school policy of conditions that may be potentially disruptive or damaging to the schools boot, personnel and property plot of land honoring the confidentiality between the student and counselor. c. Is knowledgeable and supportive of the schools mission and connects his/her program to the schools mission. d. Delineates and promotes the counselors role and function in meeting the needs of those served. Counselors will notify appropriate officials of conditions that may limit or curtail their effectiveness in providing programs and services. e.Accepts affair only for positions for which he/she is qualified by education, training, supervised experience, state and national professional credentials and appropriate professional experience. f. Advocates that administrators carry only qualified and competent individuals for professional counseling positions. g. Assists in developing (1) curricular and environmental conditions appropriate for the school and companionship, (2) educational procedures and programs to meet students developmental needs, and (3) a doctrinal evaluation process for comprehensive, developmental, standards-based school counseling programs, services, and personnel. The counsel or is guided by the findings of the evaluation data in planning programs and services. D. 2. province to the Community The professional school counselor a.Collaborates with agencies, organizations, and individuals in the community in the dress hat interest of students and without regard to personal reenforcement or remuneration. b. Extends his/her influence and opportunity to deliver a comprehensive school counseling program to all students by collaborating with community resources for student success. E. Responsibilities to Self E. 1. Professional competency The professional school counselor a. Functions within the boundaries of individual professional competence and accepts responsibility for the con seasons of his/her actions. b. Monitors personal well-being and effectiveness and does not participate in any employment that may lead to inadequate professional services or harm to a student. . Strives through personal initiative to maintain professional competence including tech nological literacy and to fete abreast of professional information. Professional and personal growth are ongoing end-to-end the counselors career. E. 2. Diversity The professional school counselor a. Affirms the diversity of students, staff and families. b. Expands and develops awareness of his/her own attitudes and beliefs affecting cultural values and biases and strives to attain cultural competence. c. Possesses knowledge and understanding about how oppression, racism, discrimination, and stereotyping affects her/him personally and professionally. d.Acquires educational, consultation, and training experiences to improve awareness, knowledge, skills, and effectiveness in working with diverse populations ethnic/racial status, age, economic status, special needs, ESL or ELL, immigration status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, family type, religious/spiritual identity, and appearance. F. Responsibilities to the Profession F. 1. Professionalism The professio nal school counselor a. Accepts the policies and procedures for handling ethical violations as a result of maintaining rank and file in the American School Counselor tie-in. b. Conducts herself/himself in such a manner as to advance individual ethical practice and the profession. c. Conducts appropriate research and report findings in a manner consistent with acceptable educational and psychological research practices. The counselor advocates for the security measures of the individual students identity when using data for research or program planning. d.Adheres to ethical standards of the profession, other official policy statements, such as ASCAs position statements, role statement, and the ASCA National Model, and relevant statutes established by federal, state, and local governments, and when these are in conflict works responsibly for change. e. Clearly distinguishes between statements and actions made as a private individual and those made as a representative of the school counseling profession. f. Does not use his/her professional position to recruit or gain clients, consultees for his/her private practice, or to seek and receive unjustified personal gains, unfair advantage, inappropriate relationships, or unearned goods or services. F. 2. role to the Profession The professional school counselor a. Actively participates in local, state, and national connexions raising the development and improvement of school counseling. b.Contributes to the development of the profession through the sharing of skills, ideas, and expertness with colleagues. c. Provides support and mentoring to novice professionals. G. Maintenance of Standards honourable behavior among professional school counselors, association members, and nonmembers, is expected at all times. When there exists serious doubt as to the ethical behavior of colleagues or if counselors are forced to work in locations or stick out by policies that do not glisten the standards as outlined in these E thical Standards for School Counselors, the counselor is obligated to take appropriate action to rectify the condition. The following procedure may serve as a guide 1.The counselor should consult confidentially with a professional colleague to discuss the nature of a bursting charge to see if the professional colleague views the situation as an ethical violation. 2. When feasible, the counselor should flat approach the colleague whose behavior is in question to discuss the complaint and seek resolution. 3. If resolution is not forthcoming at the personal level, the counselor shall utilize the impart established within the school, school district, the state school counseling association, and ASCAs moral philosophy Committee. 4. If the matter still remains unresolved, referral for review and appropriate action should be made to the Ethics Committees in the following sequence * state school counselor association American School Counselor Association 5. The ASCA Ethics Committee is r esponsible for * educating and consulting with the membership regarding ethical standards * periodically reviewing and recommending changes in write in code * receiving and processing questions to clarify the application of such standards questions must be submitted in authorship to the ASCA Ethics chair.