Homewood City Schools comprehensive school counseling program is dedicated to preparing every student socially, academically, and emotionally for present and future challenges and success. The counseling program provides leadership and equitable access in a proactive system designed to anticipate and facilitate student development, to include academic, career, and social/emotional development. The program seeks to provide all students with opportunities to gain an understanding of self and others, to participate in educational and occupational exploration, and to pursue career planning opportunities in an environment that is safe, caring, and encouraging.  Counselors are advocates and work in collaborative partnerships with students, educators, parents, and community members to educate and empower students to maximize their unique potential.

We believe that every student has the right to:

• experience respect and dignity as a human being and to benefit from school counseling program services;
• participate in activities that promote self-direction and self-development;
• make choices and accept responsibility for choices made; and
• participate in a comprehensive school counseling program designed to assist all students in attaining their maximum potential in academic, career, and personal/social development.

The Homewood City Schools’ school counseling program is an essential integrated component of the total instructional program through which students have maximum opportunity for academic, career, and personal/social development.

The school counseling program involves a planned, purposeful, and sequential program of activities that begins in kindergarten and continues through the twelfth grade.

Homewood City Schools strives to enhance student learning and well-being by addressing students’ academic, behavioral, emotional, and social needs. We recognize that a student’s academic success can be directly impacted by life stressors, which can include, but are not limited to, family issues, behavioral health, substance abuse or relationship difficulties.

Through prevention, intervention, support, and referral services, Student Assistance Services assists students, families, and staff in the identification and removal of barriers to student development and learning. Utilizing a continuum of support services and collaborative partnerships involving parents, educators, and community resources, we desire to keep students safe and healthy to maximize their unique potential.

The school district’s tiered positive behavior support framework involves assistance services that may include trainings, parent/staff consultation, initial screenings, individual/group counseling, crisis intervention, case management, and referral suggestions/consultation. Student Assistance Services will not provide diagnosis or long-term treatment services but endeavors to connect students and families with appropriate school and community resources.

Mental Health Services Notification and Opt-in Form