Written by: Dee Hagan, M.A. and Dana Lougheed, M.A.
It’s time to head back to school! And as you complete back-to-school shopping and begin signing up for new extracurricular activities, it may also be necessary to reflect on your student’s needs and to whom you could go to for their assistance and support. As a student, back-to-school time can be especially hard and sometimes you might need additional support. Parents, this is a guide to help you better understand what resources are available to you so you can best support your kiddo. This guide is specifically geared towards students and parents that reside in Virginia but many of these programs or similar ones exist in school districts across the nation. In Virginia schools, there are many people who can support the students, as a whole, and your student’s needs, as an individual learner. Below is an outline of personnel who support the academic, social, and emotional needs of K-12 students!
School Counselor
Counselors must complete a comprehensive program that educates them on how to support the needs of the students in their school. Counselors are trained to support the academic, social-emotional, and future development of students through lessons, short-term counseling (individual and group), responding to crises, and referring families to resources that may be needed. If your child is having difficulty in either the home or school environment, the School Counselor can be an aid in supporting the student, teacher, and family.
School Social Worker
School Social Workers can support the needs of a student’s family. If there are barriers to necessities or challenges that a family is facing that can hinder a student’s success in school, such as difficulties obtaining safe and consistent shelter or adequate nutrition, the School Social Worker can assist. The School Social Worker can be a liaison between the school, the family, and the greater community. If your family is having trouble finding or connecting with resources to support the needs of your family, the School Social Worker can be of assistance.
School Psychologist
The School Psychologist is capable of helping students in various ways. They usually work with students from multiple schools and travel between the schools. When present at a school, a School Psychologist may provide group services for students, complete evaluations to determine a student’s needs or growth, or may be present for meetings to share their expertise in how to support the student. If you have concerns about your child’s academic achievement or behavior, you can request that your child be evaluated to determine how the school can best support their performance.
Child Find
Child Find is a process that ensures that all children under 21 years old can be identified and evaluated for special education services that support their learning, whether they attend a public or private school or are home-schooled. Parents can request a screening or evaluation if they believe that there are physical, mental, or emotional delays or concerns with their child’s development. While the opportunities that are detailed in the Virginia state law (8VAC20-81-50) support Child Find programs throughout the state, one would need to reach out to their local school district to get more information and determine the next steps.
Teacher
Teachers are the people who spend the most time with students – educating them on information to meet learning standards. Teachers also have more opportunities to learn about your child, their personality, and their needs. A new school year can bring new expectations, new accomplishments, and new struggles, all of which the classroom teacher(s) can be helpful in supporting. A parent can communicate any concerns to a teacher with the expectation of support for their child and assistance in advocating for their well-being.
Headstart
Backed by President Lyndon B. Johnson’s war on poverty, Head Start was founded by Sargent Shriver and a group of experts to create a program to help underprivileged youth. In 1995 the first grant was awarded to serve low-income families expecting children birth to age three. In 1998, the program was expanded to include full-day and full-year services. This program offers resources and services for early learning and development, health and wellness, family well-being, and family engagement. Look to the resources below for direct access to the Head Start government webpage and local resources.
Resources
- Behavioral Health & Instructional Support | Virginia Department of Education
- Child Find Virginia Law
- Glossary of Education Terms
- Head Start Center Locator
- Head Start Services | The Administration for Children and Families
- Parent Ombudsman for Virginia Department of Education
- Parent/ Teacher Planning Tool
- Virginia Public School Listing by Region
