About

The Berks Area School Counselors Association is thought to have begun its charter in the late 1950’s around the same time that the Pennsylvania School Counseling Association came into existence.  PSCA’s history began in 1956 when a passionate group of school counselor leaders met to explore ways to provide collegiality and professional development for school counselors across Pennsylvania. PSCA was incorporated in that same year as a 501C3, non-profit business.  BASCA while not a 501C3 supports the mission and goals of PSCA.  BASCA has remained committed over the years to the professional development of school counselors and those who support our mission and goals.  

During the past two decades, BASCA continued its strong tradition of providing professional development for school counselors.  In the late 1990’s until 2010 our association held an annual Wellness Conference which was coordinated with staff and associates from the Berks County Intermediate Unit, K-12 Public and Private School Counselors, local mental health agencies and counseling practices as well as Counselor Educators from local universities.  In the past eleven years in adjusting to the needs of our schools we have moved to the format of hosting four meetings every school year with one of those meetings being a professional development day.  Act 148 and professional CEU’s are often provided on these Inservice Days.  Program planning is responsive as well as proactive as a survey of program needs and along with program evaluations are conducted every year.  

BASCA also works in collaboration with many counseling agencies, mental health agencies, career agencies, local businesses and educational support programs and networks to provide resources and program information for Pre – K – college aged students.  BASCA’s members include K – 12 public and private school counselors, public and private school college counselors and counseling students from local universities that are preparing to become school counselors all of whom work and or live in the Berks County area.