Student Counseling

studcounseling.htm

studcounseling.htm

Student counseling program became a vital component of JJAEP services since 2001. Upon enrolment, each student is assessed for substance abuse, family issues, depression, and psychological problems. This assessment is provided by Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation and by the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy Program of Texas Tech University. After collecting the data about each student, a staff meeting is held to determine this student’s particular needs. Among the participants of the staff meetings are school administrators, school counselors, on-sight juvenile probation officer, and a representative from MHMR and Texas Tech University. The data helps to determine what type of counseling program the student can benefit from. The counseling may come in a form of specialized group sessions, individual counseling, or referral to community agencies. Group counseling sessions include sessions focusing on substance abuse, anger management, social skills building, learning family dynamics, social skills, accepting authority, breaking the cycle of family substance abuse, community health issues, and self-esteem problems. Group meetings are facilitated by the JJAEP school counselor and by representatives of community agencies. In the future, additional groups may be offered in order to better accommodate individual needs of participating students. Individual counseling is provided both by the JJAEP school counselor and community agencies. Texas Tech University provides free services of practicum students pursuing a doctoral degree in family counseling. Lubbock County Juvenile Justice Center also finances student counseling by some private contractors. Other students can be referred to community agencies that will also work with the students’ families at no cost to them. As a way to improve the school’s effectiveness and to increase the benefits to the students and their families, JJAEP introduced a follow-up program. Often, after a student leaves the program, he or she does not continue with counseling provided by community agencies or school counselor, and may revert back to substance abuse, truancy, violent behavior, and may be detained in a Juvenile Detention Center or returned to JJAEP if they are found to have violated their probation, or if they are expelled from their school for a second time. The follow-up component would help to reduce the recidivism rate and would have a positive affect on students and families through monitoring and encouraging them to continue to seek counseling as long as it can be necessary.

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