Counseling

At Francis Howell School District you can find school counselors and Educational Support Counselors (ESC) in each building that knows your child and is able to assist you with navigating community resources and providing support for your family. Feel free to reach out to your child’s counselor through email or phone. FHSD cares about you and your family’s well-being and we are here to assist you. Visit the District staff directory to find the contact information for your child's counselor.

Missouri Comprehensive School Counseling Program

The comprehensive school counseling program is an integral part of a school district's total educational program. It is developmental by design and includes sequential activities organized and implemented by professional school counselors with the active support of parents/guardians, teachers, administrators, and the community.

As a developmental program, it addresses the needs of all students by facilitating their academic, career, and personal/social, development as well as helping create positive and safe learning climates in schools. At the same time, the program assists students as they face issues and resolve problems that may prevent their healthy development.

The Work of Professional School Counselors in the Francis Howell School District

Professional school counselors spend their time working in the program assisting all students to complete a college and career ready curriculum that prepares them for their successful transition to post-secondary education or the world of work. This is accomplished through the full implementation of a comprehensive, K-12 counseling program providing all students with developmental and preventative activities and services delivered through the four interrelated program components of guidance curriculum, individual student planning, responsive services, and system support.

Educational Support Counseling

The Educational Support Counselor Program is a voluntary service offered by the Francis Howell School District to assist students and their families. The purpose of this program is to help students who are coping with special issues so that they may also experience success in school. Reasons for referrals may include, but are not limited to: poor school attendance; aggressive and non-compliant behavior; difficulties in maintaining attention; motivational problems; conflicts with other students or staff; grief related issues; self-injurious behaviors; etc. The emphasis is placed on providing brief, solution-focused interventions utilizing the strengths of the family. Depending on the student’s individual situation, time-limited counseling may be offered and the counselor may also link the family to appropriate resources in the community. Referrals to the Educational Support Counselor Program may be initiated by the school staff, a parent/guardian, or by the students themselves through the student's counselor. The Educational Support Counselors also assist the district students with crisis intervention services as needed.

For additional information on the Educational Support Counselor Program, please contact the Counseling office of your child’s school, or Dr. Kevin Morrison, Director of Student Services, at 636-851-4076.

College and Career Counselors

Trauma-Informed School Initiative

The implementation of a trauma-informed approach is an ongoing organizational change process. A “trauma-informed approach” is not a program model that can be implemented and then simply monitored by a fidelity checklist. Rather, it is a profound paradigm shift in knowledge, perspective, attitudes, and skills that continue to deepen and unfold over time. Some leaders in the field are beginning to talk about a “continuum” of implementation, where organizations move through stages. The continuum begins with becoming trauma aware and moves to trauma sensitive to responsive to being fully trauma informed.

Please visit the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's website for more information about the Trauma-Informed School Initiative.

Tragedy and Grief Counseling

During times of tragedy, parents may struggle with how to address concerns from children. The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) has also compiled an extensive list on its’ website that is available to both members and non-members. It can be accessed at ASCA Crisis Resources.

Each school will work to provide emotional supports for students at school should the need arise. If you find that your child needs such support, please let school officials know.

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