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Referral Process

Ways to refer:

  • a child may refer themselves.
  • a teacher may refer a student. 
  • a parent/guardian may refer his/her child. 
  • a staff member can refer a student. 

For a parent/counselor meeting: 

  • call the school counselor to set up an appointment. 
  • send a note or an email to the counselor requesting contact. 

Reasons for a referral: 

  • you have concerns with your child's attitude towards school. 
  • you have concerns with your child's academic growth. 
  • you have concerns with your child's relationships with peers at school. 
  • you have concerns with your child's personal development. 
  • you have concerns with your child's reactions to changes within the family that may be affecting his/her learning at school. 

Why should it be done:

  • provides student with more one on one help, support and intervention. 
  • increases specificity of interventions and supports and tailors them to the student. 
  • increases privacy for the student. 
  • removes the student from the situation or circumstances to discuss solutions. 
  • reduces anxiety and pressure on student. 
  • provides the student with the full attention of an adult. 
  • makes student feel secure. 

When should it be done:

  • when students are over emotional and cannot calm down in an appropriate and brief amount of time. 
  • when a student's needs are greater than those the teacher can provide in the classroom setting. 
  • when a student requires more support and attention to address or solve a problem. 
  • when students need more specific and individualized help, solutions, and plans to address issues. 
  • when a student needs more privacy than a teacher can provide in the classroom. 

How should it be done:

  • counselor referrals may be planned or spontaneous. 
  • for planned referrals, have the student set up a day or days and times to meet with the counselor ahead of time and provide the student with reminders. 
  • for spontaneous referrals where an incident happens and the student unexpectedly requires counselor support, send the student down to the counselor with a note briefly explaining what happened, or send the student down and call and explain to the counselor the issue. 
    • you may walk the student down or send another student to walk down to the counselor. 
    • the counselor may also come to the room to retrieve the student.