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Counselling Corner
 The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) has a variety of resources online to help you support your school staff to implement a comprehensive, evidence-based SEL approach for your school. To learn more about the basics of the CASEL framework, click here. You can take a 60-minute online introductory course to begin diving into the CASEL framework here.  Family Smart has a variety of free online and over-the-phone resources for families in BC. The BC Parent Peer Support program provides emotional support, information, resources, and help navigating services for parents and caregivers of any child, youth, or young adult with mental health and substance use challenges. There are also online events for parents and caregivers, including the "Beyond Behaviours" presentation and facilitated discussion. The next dates are June 1, 7, 13, 19, and 21. Family Smart's website also has resources, videos, and two different workshop offerings for families, schools, and professoinals. Dr. John-Tyler Binfet from the University of British Columbia Okanagan developed the School Kindness Scale (SKS) to test students' perception of kindness in schools. The scale is free to use without charge by all practitioners as long as you give credit to the authors of the scale (John-Tyer Binfet, Anne M. Gadermann and Kimberly A. Schonert-Reichl as noted in Psychology in the Schools, Vol. 53(2), 2016.) The Learning Curve
The Children's Mental Health Policy Centre at SFU publishes a quarterly report on children's mental health research. The Quarterly is filled with articles relevant to school counsellors and across BC. The most recent edition focuses on the theme: "Suicide prevention: Reaching young people at risk." Research from Cambridge University shows "parents who frequently exercise harsh discipline with young children are putting them at significantly greater risk of developing lasting mental health problems." The article, published March 2023 in Epidemiology and Psychiatric Studies, can be read in full online. Did you know that the student to school counsellor ratio in the BC Collective Agreement is 693 to 1? (Click this link and scroll to page 28). Research conducted in Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Ireland, Malta, North Macedonia, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, UK, and USA shows an average ratio that varies between 250 to 500 students. The researchers state "The best standard (i.e. the lowest ratio) is announced in Croatia – schools with about 180 students must have 2 school counselors, schools with 180 to 500 students must have 3 school counselors, and schools with more than 500 students must have 4 school counselors. In the United States, the average standard is 250 students per one school counselor. In Malta, the standard is 300 students. In Ireland, schools having up to 500 students must appoint at least one school counselor, while schools with more than 500 students must have one school counselor per every 250 students. In Bulgaria, Russia and the other countries the usual standard is 500 students. However, in Bulgaria, the Ministry of Education and Science plans to decrease this number up to 400." 
Based on her research with teachers in BC schools, Shirley Giroux (BCSCA VP: Wellness) has begun an initiative to enhance relational and emotional support for teachers across BC, just like mental health professionals do through clinical supervision. Shirley presented on the Intervision initiative at the 2022 BC School Counsellors' Association Conference, and also wrote about it in the most recent issue of BC Counsellor magazine.
Members Only
We invite you to join our BCSCA Members Only Facebook Group to take part in casual and professional conversations and learn about and share upcoming professional development opportunities. Search "BCSCA Members Only" on Facebook. We are excited to once again partner with two organizations offering high-quality professional development to our members. During the 2022-2023 school year, BCSCA members can receive discounts on webinars, workshops and live trainings with Jack Hirose & Associates and Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute (CTRI). Jack Hirose Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute (CTRI) 
BC Counsellor Magazine
Twice a year, the BC School Counsellors' Association publishes an issue of BC Counsellor magazine. Click this link to visit the issue library and read past issues of the magazine. We are always looking for ideas and contributors. If you enjoy writing and have an idea for an article you would be willing to share with colleagues in BC and beyond, then please email publications chair, William Nicholls-Allison (willnichollsallison@gmail.com), and see the attached author guidelines for more information. The Fall/Winter 2023 issue's theme is "Change", and the deadline for submissions is July 31, 2023. The Spring/Summer 2024 issue does not have a theme chosen yet, and the deadline for submissions would be approximately late January 2024. 
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