Texas Model for Comprehensive Counseling Programs

The Forney ISD mission of the Guidance and Counseling Department is to implement a comprehensive developmental guidance and counseling program in grades PreK-12 that promotes student success through a focus on academic achievement, prevention and intervention activities, advocacy and social/emotional and career development to meet the needs of the students.

The comprehensive developmental guidance and counseling program model should include but not limited to:

• Self-knowledge and acceptance

• Interpersonal and communication skills

• Responsible behavior

• Conflict resolution

• Decision making/problem solving

• Motivation to achieve

• Goal setting

• Career planning

The Guidance and Counseling approach is developmental. In the developmental approach, students have an opportunity to learn more about themselves and others in advance of problem moments in their lives. They learn interpersonal skills before they have an interpersonal crisis. If a crisis situation does occur, they can draw upon their skills to address their problem. The developmental perspective recognizes that every student needs sound emotional and social skills to achieve optimum benefit from the educational program. There is a commitment to individual uniqueness and the maximum development in three major areas: academic, career, and personal/social skills.

The Forney ISD Comprehensive Developmental Guidance Model is implemented in all our schools (PK-12). A Comprehensive Counseling Program is based upon student competencies, built upon a developmental curriculum, uses crisis and preventive counseling, has four components, and is evaluated and improved based upon evaluation results. This shift in conception from a constellation of services and activities to a standards-based program represents a significant shift in thinking about the way students are supported and the anticipated outcomes.

The model is based upon four components outlined by the American School Counseling Model and the Texas Education Comprehensive Developmental Guidance Model:

★ Guidance Curriculum

★ Responsive Services Component to intervene

★ Individual Planning System

★ System Support to support school community

District resources that are available for counselors based on the four components outlined in the Texas Model of Comprehensive Counseling Program :

(This list is a small sampling of what can be used, I know you are using other resources as well)

• Guidance curriculum competencies have been articulated preK-12 aligned with the American Counseling Association, the Texas Higher Education Board, Texas Education Agency, and the Texas Workforce Commission.

  • Choose Love - Guidance curriculum pre-K through 12th grade

    • Choose Love For Schools (formerly known as the Choose Love Enrichment Program) is a no cost, downloadable, pre-K through 12th grade, evidence-based social and emotional (SEL) classroom program teaching children how to choose love in any circumstance.

    • The program focuses on four important character values – Courage, Gratitude, Forgiveness, and Compassion in Action – which cultivates optimism, resilience and personal responsibility. Included elements are positive psychology, mindfulness, neuroscience, character values, and more.

  • Core Essentials - Guidance curriculum pre-K through 12th grade

    • More than character education

    • Over time, kids decide what they believe about values, behaviors, and choices and it doesn't happen overnight. It always needs to be reinforced.

    • We equip schools, families, and communities to instill values, those inward attitudes that become outward behaviors.

    • By using a common language of a monthly value and it’s simple definition along with easy-to-implement resources, we help kids in schools and their families:

      • treat others right

      • make smart decisions

      • maximize their potential

  • Character Strong - Guidance curriculum pre-K through 12th grade

    • Social Emotional Learning and character development in one

      • Our curricula and trainings are focused on fostering the Whole Child with vertically-aligned lessons that teach SEL and character, side-by-side.

        • SEL Competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, Responsible Decision-Making

        • Character Development: Patience, Kindness, Honesty, Respect, Selflessness, Forgiveness, Commitment, Humility

  • WhyTry Program

    • Programs teach critical social and emotional life skills. We help students answer the question… why try? Why should I put effort into life, school, or work? The WhyTry strengths-based approach can help your students look at their challenges differently.

    • The WhyTry Program utilizes a flexible lesson plan that allows you to effectively teach program concepts in a ten-minute solution-focused therapy session or in an hour-long class. The program has been used in open and closed groups; it’s been incorporated into the daily lesson repertoire of teachers and as a ready-made toolkit in school counselors’ offices. The program fits into all three tiers of the RTI model but is used primarily for Tiers 2 and 3.

  • Resilience for Youth

    • Four sources of resilience that help every person in a school – students, teachers, and staff – identify where resilience is found and how to access it. Taken from WhyTry Founder Christian Moore’s renowned book The Resilience Breakthrough the strategies in this engaging new program will transform the way you and your students view life’s challenges.

  • NearPod

  • Future Ready Days/Curriculum

• Responsive Services Component to intervene

  • Capturing Kids Hearts

  • Culture of Excellence

  • Student Support Counselors

• Individual Planning System

  • 4-year planning

  • Academic counseling

  • Career Cruising

    • Middle school and high school students complete inventory to determine interest, career goals, college searches, and 4 year plans.

• System Support to support school community

  • Future Ready Days/Curriculum