Module 1
CSCPs are grounded in principles of equity and ethical practice. Equity and ethics are foundational to the professional organizations that guide the various roles of the CSCP team members. It is imperative to address the policies, systems and practices that create barriers and perpetuate dominant culture norms. The intersection of individual identities, lived experiences, life exposures and core values are very much a part of how a person perceives the world around them. This means that it is essential for CSCP personnel to continue to explore and self-reflect to build awareness and understanding of one’s identities and learn ways to recognize and address their biases. Identities can hold power; therefore, it is important to be aware of when biases show up and then intentionally work to minimize how one’s positionality and privilege can impact their interpretations, interactions, decisions, and actions. How adults show up in this work matters.
ODE Education Equity Stance
The Oregon Department of Education adopted the Education Equity Stance to clearly articulate shared goals and the intentional investments that will support an equitable educational system, and create clear accountability structures. Education equity is the equitable implementation of policy, practices, procedures, and legislation that translates into resource allocation, education rigor, and opportunities for historically and currently marginalized youth, students, and families including civil rights protected classes. This means the restructuring and dismantling of systems and institutions that create the dichotomy of beneficiaries and the oppressed and marginalized.
For more information, visit the Oregon Department of Education Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion webpage to find resources to support your work with different student populations.
You can also participate in the Engaging Equity professional learning series which provides Oregon educators with a comprehensive set of learning experiences that build their critical equity skills and competencies for supporting culturally responsive and sustaining education in a purposeful way.
Note that in module 2, your team is invited to adopt an Equity Stance statement to accompany your Beliefs, Vision, and Mission Statements. Neither the ASCA National Model nor the Oregon Framework currently address the importance of having such a statement; however, CSCPs such as Portland Public Schools are adopting such statements:
We believe School counselors are ethically obligated to advocate for the dismantling of policies, practices, and procedures that sustain institutional racism in our schools. The power structures that perpetuate white supremacy must be challenged to truly realize equity and justice in our schools. School counselors are in a position of both servitude and leadership--we must take the lead, using data to clearly show the gaps that exist between Black students and their peers. We must actively seek out injustice and institutional racism in our schools and school counseling programs while engaging in uncomfortable courageous conversations. As the PPS COSA team, we are committed to engaging in this work side-by-side with school counselors and challenging the status quo that leaves many of our Black and Brown students behind.
Your team members may also want to use the MAKSS to self-assess their multicultural counseling awareness, knowledge, and skills.
Review the statements and documents referenced below to understand these foundational social equity principles:
Dr. Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy, in her text School Counseling to Close Opportunity Gaps, 2nd. ed., Corwin Press (2022), challenges school counselors to “address systemic and structural racism and oppression in our school systems.” While fully addressing Dr. Holcomb-McCoy’s call to action is beyond the scope of this course, it is central to the mission of comprehensive school counseling team members across disciplines. Those implementing comprehensive school counseling programs should use an equity-focused lens and stance throughout all of their work in this course and beyond, through additional professional development on anti-racist practices. A few key excerpts from Dr. Holcomb-McCoy’s text are embedded throughout the course.
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American School Counseling Association and Anti-Racism Resources
These resources are helpful in addressing issues of systemic and institutional racism with students.
American School Counselor Position on Anti-Racist Practices
School counselors work toward cultural competence and engage in anti-racist actions by advocating to change racist policies, procedures, practices, guidelines, and laws contributing to inequities in students’ academic, career, and social/emotional development.
American School Counselor Position on The School Counselor and Cultural Diversity
School counselors have a professional and ethical responsibility to expand personal multicultural and social justice advocacy, awareness, knowledge, and skills to be an effective, culturally competent school counselor. School counselors work toward cultural competence and cultural humility to provide culturally sustaining school counseling. School counselors demonstrate responsiveness by collaborating with students and stakeholders in support of a school and community climate that embraces cultural diversity and helps to promote all students' academic, career and social/emotional development.
American School Counselor Position on Equity for All Students
School counselors recognize and distinguish individual and group differences and strive to equally value all students and groups. School counselors are advocates for the equitable treatment of all students in school and in the community.
School social workers are bound by the National Association of Social Work’s professional ethics including challenging social injustice. Social workers focus on issues of social injustice and seek to promote knowledge about both diversity and oppression. Their work strives to ensure access, opportunity, and meaningful participation for all people. Below are supporting documents that outline, support, and name NASW’ efforts and recommendations for race equity.
National Association of Social Workers Resources for Anti-Racist Efforts
These resources are helpful in addressing issues of systemic and institutional racism.
National Association of Social Workers Practice Resources for Ethnicity & Race
These resources are helpful in addressing issues of systemic and institutional racism.
School Social Work Association of America’s Racial Equity and Social Justice Resources
These resources are helpful in addressing issues of systemic and institutional racism in schools.
National Association of Social Workers’ Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
School social workers are committed to Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion in the profession of social work. Here are position papers on DEI, Anti-Racism, and Justice within the profession.
Vision and recommendations for achieving anti-racist social work practice.
Program Development Template Module 1
Template Entry #11 - Summarize here what you want to share with your team & partners about the ODE Education Equity Stance, school counselor and school social worker equity stance.