Hazelwood West Middle School
Comprehensive Guidance Program
The Hazelwood West Middle School Guidance Department strives to provide a comprehensive program to serve all students, meeting academic, career and social/emotional needs. The core of school counseling services fall into four categories according to the district, Missouri and national standards (ASCA, MSCA, HSD Comprehensive Guidance Program).
What does a School Counselor do?
Counseling Services
Guidance Curriculum
Classroom Lessons- The HWMS Guidance Department will be implementing the 2nd Step
prevention program to all students which integrates social and emotional
learning with academics.
Structured Groups- Counselors conduct planned small groups outside the classroom to
respond to students’ identified needs or interests.
Responsive Services
Individual Counseling-Counseling is provided on an individual or small group basis for students
expressing difficulties dealing with relationships, personal concerns or
normal developmental tasks.
Crisis Counseling- Counselors provide prevention, intervention and follow-up to support
students and families facing emergency situations. When necessary,
referrals are made to appropriate community resources.
Individual Planning
Advisement- School counselors advise students by evaluating students’ abilities,
interests, skills and achievement. Advisement is utilized to help students
develop immediate and long-range plans.
System Support- This category is for all of the busy, but important work involved in maintaining
a successful comprehensive school counseling program. To serve more
students and have a larger impact, successful programs strive to minimize time
spent not in contact with students. Some examples include program planning,
lesson and group preparation, data analysis and decision making, professional
development, administrative meetings, committee work, and fair share duties
(non-guidance).
Information about Confidentiality
It is important for students to trust the school counselor. For this reason we make every effort to follow the counseling guidelines contained in the American School Counselor Association Code of Ethics. This means we will keep the information shared with us confidential—unless permission is given to share with others. We are usually able to give enough general information to parents on progress without betraying the child’s trust. We are required to release information in cases where the safety of a student has been threatened (harm to self or others), court ordered or if a law has been broken.