ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors

A. 6. Group work

As a PSC, I will facilitate group work that is brief and solution-focused, covering a variety of academic, career, and personal/ social topics

A. 3. Academic and career development

I will provide students with a CSCP that parallels the ASCA National Model with emphasis on working jointly with all students to develop academic, career, and personal/ social goals

When attempting to develop a collaborative relationship with other service providers assigned to the student

I will request a release of information signed by the student and or the parents or guardians

A. 1. Responsibilities to students

I will respect students' values, beliefs, and cultural background and will not impose my personal values on students or their families

If I were asked to speak in court, and believed that the release of confidential information may be harmful to the student or the counseling relationship

I would request of the court that disclosure not be required

At the age of 18, the right to educational records transfers from the parent or guardian to the student

It is notable that students in special education programs can decide whether or not to adopt this right (Stone, 2013)

If a dual relationship is unavoidable, I will exercise appropriate safeguards in an effort to reduce or eliminate the potential for harm

Safeguards may include informed consent, consultation, supervision, and documentation

With these points in mind, I will establish a reasonable timeline for purging sole possession records or case notes

Suggested guidelines include shredding the documents when students transition to the next level, transfer to another school, or graduate

Parents also have access to any information that is transmitted electronically

Therefore, sensitive information should be transmitted to a receiving school, for instance, over the phone (ASCA, 2010, A. 8., Stone, 2013)

In the group setting, I will establish clear expectations and will clearly state that confidentiality within the group cannot be guaranteed

This lack of confidentiality may render some topics inappropriate for group work in a school setting

In the case that a breach must be made, I will promote the autonomy and independence of the student to the extent possible

by using the most appropriate and least intrusive method of breach

In addition, student records may be shared without parental permission

during emergencies or if called for by a court order or subpoena (Stone, 2013)

I will avoid dual relationships that might impair my objectivity and increase the risk of harm to students

for instance, counseling my own family members or the children of friends or associates

Each student has the right to feel safe at school

free from abuse, bullying, neglect, harassment, and other forms of violence

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

gives parents and guardians the right to review their student's educational records, as well as decide who can view those records (Stone, 2013)

I might say something like, what we say here stays here, except when your safety is at risk

if someone's hurting you, if you're hurting yourself or others, or if I'm asked to speak in court. Do you have any questions about that?

It is recommended that sensitive information be conveyed to a receiving school

in a personal contact, such as over the phone, as opposed to E-mail

I will inform all students of confidentiality and its limits

in a way that is developmentally appropriate

With this in mind, I will only transmit sensitive information electronically

in a way that is untraceable to the student

To ensure that all students understand these exceptions, I will explain the limits of confidentiality using a variety of mediums

including classroom guidance lessons, the student handbook, school counseling brochures, and the school website

In cases of divorce or separation, I will exercise a good-faith effort to keep both parents informed

maintaining a focus on the student and avoiding supporting one parent over the other in divorce proceedings

My roles as a PSC will be to

model interpersonal skills and behavior, manage the flow of conversation, keeping it strengths-based and forward-moving, act as an informational source, and help group members focus on present functioning, as well as to develop realistic action plans and personal goals

I recognize that it is best practice to

notify the parents or guardians of students participating in small groups

I will use caution when utilizing assessment techniques, making evaluations, and interpreting the performance

of populations not represented in the norm group on which the instrument is standardized

I will take appropriate and reasonable measures for maintaining confidentiality

of student information and educational records stored or transmitted electronically

I must also balance the student's autonomy, and their capacity to give consent or assent with

parental or familial rights and responsibilities to protect their students and to make decisions on their behalf

Group work is limited due to

scheduling and time away from class, which requires teacher buy-in. Also, there is no guarantee of confidentiality

Group work is effective due to

social interaction, modeling, and feedback

F. 4. As a PSC, I will collaborate with

special educators, school nurses, school social workers, school psychologists, college counselors and admissions officers, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech pathologists

I will make every attempt to find appropriate, specialized resources for clinical or therapeutic topics that are difficult or inappropriate to address in a school setting

such as eating disorders, sexual trauma, and chemical dependency issues. I will inform both parents and students of applicable resources

However, I will apply careful discression and deliberation before destroying some possession records that may be needed in a court of law

such as notes on child abuse, suicide, sexual harassment, or violence

Further, I will avoid dual relationships through communication mediums

such as social networking sites

I will provide and advocate for career awareness and exploration

supporting a student's right to choose from a wide array of options when they leave secondary education

I will screen potential group members to assess for appropriate fit

taking reasonable precautions to protect group members from any physical or psychological harm resulting from interaction within the group

I will also avoid dual relationships with school personnel

that might infringe on the integrity of the counseling relationship

G. 2. When school counselors are forced to work in situations or abide by policies that do not reflect the ethics of the profession

the PSC should work responsibly through the correct channels to try and remedy the condition

When issuing assessments, it is important that I consider

the developmental age, language skills, and level of competence of the student taking the assessments before they are given

Each student has the right to understand

the full magnitude and meaning of his or her educational choices and how those choices will affect future opportunities

I will provide interpretation of

the nature, purposes, results, and potentioal impact of assessment/ evaluation measures, using language the students can understand

Before beginning a group, I will develop an action plan, which will include

the overall theme of the group, group rationale, sample objectives, group activities, logistics, and methods of evaluation

Each student has the right to privacy and thereby

the right to expect the school counselor to comply with all laws, policies, and ethical standards pertaining to confidentiality in the school setting

Serious and foreseeable harm is defined by

the setting, the student's developmental and chronological age, parental rights, and the nature of the harm

Case notes may become educational records if

they are shared with or are otherwise accessible to others, or when they include information other than professional opinion and personal observations

I will ensure equitable access to academic, career, and personal/ social opportunities for all students

through the use of data to help close opportunity, achievement, and attainment gaps

Parents and guardians also have the right

to request a formal hearing to remove information from student records that they believe to be inaccurate or misleading (Stone, 2013)

I will respect the confidentiality of parents and guardians

to the extent that is reasonable to protect the best interest of the student

Schools may share educational records without parental permission with

transfer schools, financial aid institutions, the juvenile justice system, and educators with legitimate educational interest (ASCA, 2010 C. 2., Stone, 2013)

I will make reasonable efforts to honor the wishes of parents and guardians concerning information regarding the student

unless a court order expressly forbids parental involvement

I will consider confidentiality issues

when utilizing evaluative or assessment instruments and electronically-based programs

A. 2. Confidentiality

I will keep information confidential unless legal requirements demand that confidential information be revealed or a breach is required to prevent serious and foreseeable harm to the student

A. 8. Student records

I will maintain and secure records necessary for rendering professional services, keeping sole possession records or counseling case notes separate from educational records

A. 4. Dual relationships

I will maintain appropriate professional distance with students at all times

However, when the counseling needs are beyond my scope of practice

I will make referrals to outside resources for student and family support

With this in mind

I will only use assessment measures that are within the scope of practice for school counselors, for which I am trained and competent

I will strive to protect and inform students regarding their rights

I will promote the welfare of individual students

I recognize the limits of sole possession records

and understand these are a memory aid for the creator, and in the absence of privileged communication, may be subpoenaed

It will be my responsibility to notify parents that FERPA does not grant them access to confidential information discussed in school counseling sessions

Case notes are not subject to FERPA, as they are sole possession records. However, case notes may become educational records if accessible to others, etc. (ASCA, 2010, A. 8., Stone, 2013)

I am ultimately responsible for

appropriate training and supervision of peer helpers

I will promote the benefits and clarify the limitations of various technological applications that are appropriate for student needs

Further, I will provide training to students on how to use such applications, along with follow-up counseling assistance

Group counseling - Sink, Edwards, and Eppler, 2012

Groups are short-term and time limited

Depending on the student's developmental age and the circumstances requiring the breach

I may engage the student in a discussion regarding the method and timing of the breach

Although my primary obligation for confidentiality is to the students

I muse balance that obligation with an understanding of parents' and guardians' legal and inherent rights to be the guiding voice in their children's lives, especially in value-laden issues

I will inform parents or guardians and or other appropriate authorities of the risk of harm

I understand the legal and ethical liability of releasing a student who poses a danger to themselves or others without proper and necessary support for that student

A. 10. Technology

I will advocate for equal access to technology for all students, especially those who have been historically undeserved

A. 9. Assessments

I will assess the effectiveness of my CSCP in having an impact on students' academic, career, and personal/ social development though accountability measures, especially examining efforts to close opportunity gaps

and collaborate with them to develop an action plan for success

I will consider the involvement of support networks valued by individual students

B. 1. Responsibilities to parents

I will establish as appropriate a collaborative relationship with parents and guardians

A. 11. Peer-to-peer programs

I will have unique responsibilities when working with peer helpers and will safeguard the welfare of students participating in peer-to-peer programs

A. 5. Appropriate referrals

I will help educate about and prevent personal/ social concerns within my own scope of education and competence

B. 2. Parental confidentiality

I will inform parents and guardians of my role as a school counselor, including the confidential nature of the counseling relationship

Parental permission is required before releasing student records to outside services

at the risk of losing federal funding (Stone, 2013)

Student records include

attendance records, discipline records, grades and test scores, psychological assessments, special education records or evaluations, and teacher notes (Stone, 2013)

A. 7. Danger to self or others

When a student poses a danger to themselves or others, after careful deliberation and consultation with other counseling professionals

I will collaborate with parents and guardians to the extent possible and will provide them with

accurate, comprehensive, and relevant information in an objective and caring manner

It will be my duty to consider the extent to which cyber bullying is interfering with students' educational processes

and base guidance curriculum and intervention on research-based and best practices

Upon completion of the group, I will provide necessary follow-up

and document as appropriate

I will develop professional competencies

and maintain appropriate education, training, and supervision in group facilitation and any topics specific to the group

I must be sensitive to diversity among families

and recognize that all parents and guardians, custodial and noncustodial, are vested with certain rights and responsibilities for their children's welfare by virtue of their role and according to the law

I will protect the confidentiality of student records

and release personal data in accordance with prescribed state and federal laws, such as the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

I will monitor the use of assessment results and interpretations

and take reasonable precautions to prevent others from misusing the information

I recognize the complicated nature of confidentiality in schools

and the need to consider each case in context and will consult with appropriate professionals when in doubt as to whether or not a breach is required