Counseling & Mental Health

The focus of these workshops is to enhance counselors’ leadership skills in the areas of advocacy, collaboration, data use, and mental health, while also providing the latest information on college and career readiness resources. The counselor workshops are also designed for creating responsive services and building a system of support in districts and campuses for all students served.

A focus on social emotional learning for Counselors includes support and resources to better understand social emotional learning components and toolkits available to them. It also supports solutions for counselors to address parent and student needs.

Regional Counseling Director’s Meetings consist of quarterly zoom meetings with Counseling Directors from Regions 1-4, ESC (Education Service Center) Counselor Specialists, along with the Texas Education Agency Counselor Support Manager.

Counseling Director meetings allow participants
to collaborate, network, and receive updates. Representatives from Higher Education and Workforce Solutions are invited to provide updates on admissions, degree programs, and requirements. Updates on programs of study and industry-based certifications are shared and technical assistance is provided as needed.

Region One ESC, in partnership with ACT, provides a 3-part virtual series, offered in English and Spanish, focus on ways families can address the social, emotional, and academic needs of their child. Family and Parent Liaisons are also invited to attend.

Ongoing Mental Health Behavioral Health Professional Development Opportunities and technical assistance for Campus Licensed Specialist School Psychologists (LSSPs), School Counselors, Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs), Social Workers, and parents in the following topics:

• Bullying & Teen Dating Violence
• Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS)
• Overview of Non-Suicidal Self Injury
• School Personnel/Staff Stress Relief and Morale Boost
• Counseling Processes after a crisis

(Senate Bill 11, 86th Texas Legislature)
Provides school systems Mental Health Resources accessible to Region One from the TEA database.

Training-mandated by TEC Sec. 38.351

Provides Campus Licensed Specialist School Psychologists (LSSPs), School Counselors, Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs), Social Workers, and other campus staff with Suicide Prevention and ongoing training through the following programs:

• Youth Mental Health First Aid
• AS+K About Suicide to Save a Life

PLC meetings with small and rural district representatives provide resources and best practices.

Sample services for the four small rural grant districts including Lyford CISD, Rio Hondo ISD, Lasara ISD and Jim Hogg ISD include:

• Professional Development for Implementation of a Tool Kit with Mental Health Resources

• Rhithm App for two of these school districts that must be renewed annually

Ongoing professional development and technical assistance for McKinney-Vento Liaisons is provided. Services include: 

• Guidance and support to school systems when  applying for ARP Homeless II Grant;
• Support to school systems who have historically not identified McKinney Vento students.
• Provide opportunities to McKinney Vento coded students;
• STEM Camp for Students

Check out more information here