A descriptive study of urban school counseling programs

Professional School Counseling, Feb, 2005 by Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy, Natasha Mitchell

With increased attention being paid to urban education, it seems fitting that the work of counselors in urban schools be researched and examined. In the near future, it is the authors' hope that school counselor preparation programs and professional organizations (e.g., ASCA) will make urban school counseling a new focal point of concern.

Table 1. Frequencies of Most Prevalent
Issues or Concerns of Urban Students

Issue/Concern                        Most Prevalent     Second Most
                                         Issue        Prevalent Issue

                                      N        %        N       %

Academic achievement                 28      27.5      12      11.8
Poverty                              12      11.8      18      17.6
School attendance/truancy             3       2.9       7       6.9
Violence in community                 4       3.9      17      16.7
Violence in home                      1       1.0       2       2.0
Low family functioning/parenting     30      29.4      21      20.6
Substance abuse                       6       5.9       3       2.9
Employment/school-to-work             2       2.0       1       1.0
College admissions                    1       1.0       7       6.9
Ethnicity/racial issues               0       0         0       0
Health care                           0       0         0       0
Other                                 3       2.9       1       1.0

References

Baker, S. B. (2000). School counseling for the twenty-first century (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Gysbers, N. C. (1990). Comprehensive guidance programs that work. Ann Arbor, MI: ERIC/CASS. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED314660)

Gysbers, N. C. (1996, February). Remodeling your school guidance and counseling program while you are living and working in it. Presentation at the School to Work Conference in Gulf Shores, AL.

Gysbers, N. C., & Henderson, P. (2000). Developing and managing your school guidance program (3rd ed.). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.

Gysbers, N. C., & Henderson, P. (2001). Comprehensive guidance and counseling programs: A rich history and a bright future. Professional School Counseling, 4, 246-256.

Gysbers, N. C., Lapan, R.T., & Blair, M. (1999). Closing in on the statewide implementation of a comprehensive guidance model. Professional School Counseling, 2, 357-366.

Holcomb-McCoy, C. (2001). Examining urban school counseling professionals' perceptions of school restructuring activities. Greensboro, NC: ERIC/CASS. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED452451)

Kameen, M. C., Robinson, E. H., & Rotter, J. C. (1985). Coordination activities: A study of perceptions of elementary and middle school counselors. Elementary School Guidance and Counseling, 20, 97-104.

Kelly, F. D., Peterson, G. W., & Myrick, R. D. (1999). Florida's student development program: A framework for developing comprehensive guidance and counseling programs for a school-to-work system. Tallahassee, FL: Florida State Department of Education.