Counseling and Career Development

The American School Counseling Association (ASCA) as well as the Georgia School Counseling Association (GSCA) assert that school counseling is an integral part of the overall educational experience. Fayette County Public School's counselors are committed to providing all students with a comprehensive school counseling program which systematically addresses the three areas of academic, career, and personal/social development. It is our belief that in doing so, we assist students in exploring, planning, and realizing their individual interests, abilities, and goals, thus helping them to reach their full potential as productive members of society.

Our 51 school counselors implement strategies and activities to support and maximize each student's ability to learn and help prepare students to make informed choices regarding post-secondary options to complete future career goals. In addition, the school counseling program provides the foundation for personal social growth as students progress through school and into adulthood. School counselors work with students through classroom guidance lessons, small groups, and on an individual basis.

Belief Statements

The professional school counselors serving the students of the Fayette County School System believe:

• All students will achieve and meet high standards that will result in college and career success.
• The dignity, culture, and social/emotional needs of every student is to be respected and valued.
• The school counselors will use data to continuously improve the school counseling program and to deliver services.
• The school counselors will develop and manage a comprehensive school counseling program aligned with the District Strategic Plan.
• School Counselors must be leaders, advocates, and collaborators who create equitable access to rigorous curriculum and opportunities for self-directed personal growth for every student.
• The school counselors will collaborate with families, staff, and community resources to address student developmental needs, primary prevention, and continuous student achievement.
• The school counselor will apply the ASCA Ethical Standards to make decisions based on the highest moral principles to promote the maximum development of every student.

Adapted from American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model Framework, 2012

Mission Statement

To provide a comprehensive school counseling program that will enable all students to acquire the academic, personal/social, and career knowledge to positively impact our world.

Vision Statement

To foster student success at each developmental stage, increasing the percentage of students graduating from high school prepared for the demands of college and career, one student at a time.

Fayette County Public Schools is committed to providing all students with a variety of support services to ensure that all students are healthy and secure and ready to learn.  There are many resources for students dealing with mental health issues and you are encouraged to reach out to your school counselor for resources.

Helpful Resources 

• National Alliance on Mental Illness
• Mindwise Innovation (Signs of Suicide)
• The Georgia Crisis and Access Line (GCAL) is a 24/7 behavioral health crisis call center operated by Behavioral Health Link through funding from the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. GCAL provides free and confidential behavioral health crisis intervention and access to behavioral health services. Anyone in Georgia can call GCAL for help for themselves or on behalf of someone else at 800-715-4225 or via the My GCAL app. Callers actively experiencing a crisis can speak with live clinicians trained in deescalation. When needed, GCAL can dispatch mobile crisis response teams to provide deescalation on-site. GCAL information specialists can also provide referrals for treatment in a caller’s area.
  
  For access to services, please call the Georgia Crisis and Access Line (GCAL). GCAL is available 365 days a year to help you or someone you care for in a Mental Health crisis, crisis related to an intellectual/developmental disability and/or substance-use crisis. Download the MyGCAL app for text and chat crisis assistance. Search for "MyGCAL App" in the Apple App Store and Android Google Play Store.

In case of an emergency, I should:

Call 911

Call a Crisis Hotline and/or take my child for an immediate assessment (refer to CARE Provider resource)

Crisis Hotline that is open 24 hours per day:

Georgia Crisis & Access Line · 1-800-715-4225

Fayette County Mental Health Center Hotline · 770-358-5252

National Crisis Line · 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)

Suicide Prevention Hotline · 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)

Take my child to an emergency room

Suicide Prevention