NYSSCA ANNUAL CONFERENCE

1. NYSSCA ANNUAL CONFERENCE ROCHESTER, NEW YORK NOVEMBER 4-6, 2005

2. NYSSCA ANNUAL CONFERENCE THEME-CENTERED GROUP WORK Lee Corsetti-Mergen, N.C.C. Counselor, Stimson Middle School, S. Huntington School District, Long Island, NY Dr. Robert Rotunda Guidance Chair, Stimson Middle School, S. Huntington School District, Long Island, NY Adjunct Faculty, Counselor Education Program, NYIT

3. THEME-CENTERED GROUP WORK

4. THEME-CENTERED GROUP WORK Group Counseling: School counselors develop appropriate activities to use in small or large group settings. Topics may include safety, substance abuse, family issues, conflict resolution, academic performance and communication skills. School counselors are trained in group process and must be familiar with confidentiality issues. Page 34

5. THEME-CENTERED GROUP WORK Crisis/Safety Team: School counselors should be active participants in crisis and safety teams within districts. Teams guide prevention and intervention services to all students. Individual or group counseling is a part of the school counselor�s role within teams. In New York State, SAVE Law provisions may add to clarification of team set-up. Page 34

6. THEME-CENTERED GROUP WORK Process b. Group Activities: i. Conduct groups outside the classroom setting ii. Topics are identified by the needs assessments iii. Activities are designed to increase skills and knowledge of all participants Page 35

7. THEME-CENTERED GROUP WORK Determine which stakeholders need to be involved and unite to develop strategies to change systems as well as impact individual students and targeted groups of students. Page 48

8. THEME-CENTERED GROUP WORK Individual counseling will always be an important component of the program; however, as counselors move towards a comprehensive program, they need to make a tremendous effort to meet students in small and large groups. School counselors will now be more visible to a greater number of students and faculty and viewed as leaders, advocates and team players working towards school improvement and systemic change. Collaborating and teaming will also help students and colleagues understand that the school counseling goals complement all curriculum areas. Page 60

9. THEME-CENTERED GROUP WORK Appendix B: Part 100 and School Counseling Programs Other advisory and individual or group counseling assistance to enable students to benefit from the curriculum, to help students develop and implement postsecondary educational and career plans, to help students who exhibit any attendance, academic, behavioral or adjustment problems and to encourage parental involvement, provided that advisory assistance shall be provided by teachers or counselors or by certified teaching assistants under the supervision of counselors or teachers, and that such individual or group counseling shall be provided by certified or licensed school psychologists or certified or licensed school social workers in cooperation with school counselors� Page 95

10. THEME-CENTERED GROUP WORK Ethical Standards A.6. Group Work The professional school counselor: a. Screens prospective group members and maintains an awareness of participants� needs and goals in relation to the goals of the group. The counselor takes reasonable precautions to protect members from physical and psychological harm resulting from interaction within the group. b. Notifies parents/guardians and staff of group participation if the counselor deems it appropriate and if consistent with school board policy or practice. c. Establishes clear expectations in the group setting and clearly states that confidentiality in group counseling cannot be guaranteed. Given the developmental and chronological ages of minors in schools, the counselor recognizes the tenuous nature of confidentiality for minors renders some topics inappropriate for group work in a school setting. d. Follows up with group members and documents proceedings as appropriate. Page 108

11. THEME-CENTERED GROUP WORK

12. THEME-CENTERED GROUP WORK Process Student Identification Student Surveys Teacher Memos Counselor Recommendations

13. THEME-CENTERED GROUP WORK Process Student Survey

14. THEME-CENTERED GROUP WORK Process Memo to other service providers and teachers

15. THEME-CENTERED GROUP WORK Process Database

16. THEME-CENTERED GROUP WORK Process Group Structure

17. THEME-CENTERED GROUP WORK

18. THEME-CENTERED GROUP WORK Process Letter Home

19. THEME-CENTERED GROUP WORK Curriculum Group Ground Rules

20. THEME-CENTERED GROUP WORK Curriculum Resources for Group Work Plans for 8 session groups Developed over 10 years A work in progress Many Contributors Many Resources Included on your CD Lesson Plans for 14 group projects

21. THEME-CENTERED GROUP WORK Curriculum Current Groups offered Divorce and/or Remarriage Alcohol/Drug Concern Multicultural Group Assertiveness Skills Anger Control Sexual Harassment

22. THEME-CENTERED GROUP WORK Curriculum Other Groups Offered Study Skills 9/11 Groups New Students Groups Body Image/Eating Disorder Groups Your suggestion

23. THEME-CENTERED GROUP WORK Resources and Citations Many of the materials used in our group work have been accumulated over the years. Some of the handouts may be from in print or out of print books and handbooks. We have attempted to properly cite these materials in each case. Some of the books cited may be available for purchase and would be very helpful to your group work.

24. THEME-CENTERED GROUP WORK How to use the CD Open file called �Start Here for Group Resources� Forms, Group Curricula, Resources, Videos, are hyperlinked on list. Control key & click goes to file If hyperlink does not work, you can just go to the folder and file and open it.

25. THEME-CENTERED GROUP WORK Questions?