School Counselors' Use of a Multitier System of Support to Foster Safe School Experiences and Respond to School Violence

In this chapter, the authors introduce and identify current issues, controversies and problems that influence school safety and counselor preparedness. A brief overview of school violence in America, counselors' training to deal with school violence, and factors that influence school violence are provided. Following this, the authors present a multitier system of supports (MTSS) as a recommended model for counselors to (1) prevent, (2) prepare and plan, (3) respond, and (4) lead recovery efforts as related to school violence. Finally, a case study is presented in which the authors apply best practices within the American Counselor Association's national framework to handle a crisis.

Rehabilitation Counseling Practice in State Vocational Rehabilitation and the Effect of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)

Purpose: This article includes a study that sheds light on the implications of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act (WIOA) mandated VR knowledge and skills requirements for VR counselors in the state VR program. It is also a commentary on current training, accreditation and intraprofessional challenges in the larger counseling field. Our study investigated VR directors’ perceptions of the importance and counselor preparedness in specific WIOA mandated knowledge areas. Findings revealed that VR directors consider WIOA mandated knowledge areas (e.g., employment-related and case management) to be very important, and they see room for improvement in the preparation of VR counselors to execute these functions. Our commentary provides readers with information related rehabilitation counseling history, intraprofessional practice, and guidelines for the future of rehabilitation counseling and the larger counseling profession.