What is school counseling?

School counseling includes K–12 activities that are organized and implemented by certified, professional school counselors with the support of teachers, administrators, other school personnel, parents, and business and community members. School counselors provide individual, group, and classroom guidance sessions. School counselors help all students in the areas of academic achievement, career and social/emotional development, ensuring today's students become the productive, well-adjusted adults of tomorrow.

What is the role of a school counselor?

Professional school counselors are licensed/certified educators with a minimum of a master’s degree in school counseling, making them uniquely qualified to address all students’ academic, social/emotional and career developmental needs by designing, implementing, and evaluating a comprehensive school counseling program that promotes and enhances student success. 

School counselors embrace the framework of a comprehensive program that includes four key components: foundation, management, delivery and accountability. 

What is the role of a special programs counselor?

Special Programs Counseling as a related service is counseling that is provided when the Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) team determines that it is required in order for a student to make progress in the general education environment. For students who are eligible under Section 504, counseling is a related service when it is needed for the student to have access to school programs. Counseling services may include individual and group counseling with the student and family, psychological counseling for students and parents/families, along with crisis prevention and intervention. Counseling services in this context in ACPSD are services provided by licensed social workers and licensed professional counselors.

What is the role of a career specialist?

Career specialists are part of the Education and Economic Development Act’s (EEDA) initiative of Personal Pathways to Success and are required to complete the 120 hour Facilitating Career Development(GCDF/CDF) Course and become certified as a Global Career Development Facilitator. They serve as part of the school counseling team and implement the “Learning to Work” portion of the SC Comprehensive School Counseling Model.

The South Carolina Comprehensive School Counseling and Career Guidance Model

Resources for Parents:

Golden Harvest Food Bank: 

https://goldenharvest.org/find-help/

For assistance, call 706-736-1199 during business hours (Mon-Fri 8am-12pm and 1pm-5pm) and the team will help you find a food resource that fits your needs. You can also visit the Master's Table Soup Kitchen for a hot meal served daily Monday-Saturday at 11am and Sunday at 1pm. It's located at 702 Fenwick Street, Augusta, GA 30901.

ACTS of Aiken:

Food pantry, medical, and utility assistance is available from Monday-Friday 11:00AM-3:00PM. Call 803-642-5919.

ACTS of Aiken is located at 340 Park Avenue, SW in Aiken SC 29801.

Social, Emotional, and Mental Health Resources

The State Department of Education has a new social emotional learning resource page: Here

Hundreds of Elementary School Resources Here

List of online resources for counselors, parents, and teachers: Dept. of Mental Health online resources

Articles: How to Talk to Your Children about Coronavirus

New York Times Article

NPR Article

Tips and Resources for Parents

Book: The Yucky Bug by Julia Cook

YouTube video of the Book being read by the author:

Click here

Strategies for Parents and Caregivers: Maintaining mental wellness

Social-Emotional Learning Websites & Activities

Brain Pop Parents can create a free account. Includes hundreds of videos and activities on topics such as understanding emotions, empathy & respact, mental health, course & perserverance, etc. 

Inside SEL Resources for parents, educators and school communities. Activities, articles, and plenty of ideas for SEL at home.

Local Mental Health Information:

Aiken Barnwell Mental Health (ABMH) and Aurora are both open. ABMH is able to conduct sessions over the phone. The main office number is 803-641-7700.  Also, the National Disaster Distress Hotline 24/7/365 is operating and providing crisis counseling and emotional support.  Calls (1-800-985-5990; press "2" for Spanish) and texts (text TalkWithUs to 66746) are answered by trained counselors from a network of independently-operated crisis centers located across the U.S. 

Office of Suicide Prevention Crisis Text Line:

Text HOPE4SC to this number: 741741

Aurora Pavilion is open Monday-Friday from 8am-8pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 8am-4:30pm. Call 641-5900 for assistance. Walk-ins are also welcome. Aurora provides walk-in crisis assessments, crisis stabilization, inpatient stabilization, and outpatient services.

Aiken 2-1-1 is a great resource for connecting families to local human service resources. Dial 211 or visit their website: Aiken 211

College and Career Information

12th Grade Students and Parents:

Understanding your College Financial Aid Offer

 Take a Virtual College Tour

E-Campus Tours

You Visit

Online Career Awareness Activities:

Click here for career resources you can use from home.

Strategies to Manage Stress and Anxiety

Click here for stress management tips

Click here for breathing exercies for students of all ages.

Free Academic Tutoring

SC Discus: Free Tutoring 

SC Dept. of Ed Remote Learning Site