April 1, 2002

With the initiation of the Career Preparation System, renewed emphasis is being placed on school counseling programs. School counselors are highly trained professionals who can assist in a variety of ways to provide students with the opportunities to learn and prepare for their future success. The Michigan Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling Program provides a method for school counselors within their school districts to organize their efforts to proactively address the needs of students.

The mission of the Program is to assure that all students will acquire and demonstrate competencies in the areas of academic, personal-social, and career development. Its purpose is to help districts plan, develop, implement, and evaluate comprehensive and systematic guidance and counseling programs which accomplish this goal. When implemented, the Program becomes an integral part of the school’s total educational program, with school counselors working in collaboration with students, parents/families, teachers, administrators, and the community. The Michigan Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling Program has four program components:

Guidance Curriculum, Individual Planning, Responsive Services, Systems Support

Guidance Curriculum—consists of structured developmental experiences presented through classroom and group activities kindergarten through twelfth grade. The student competencies are organized around three content areas: Career Planning and Exploration, Knowledge of Self and Others, and Educational/Career-Technical Development. A needs assessment is used to customize learning activities to school/community priorities.

Individual Planning—consists of activities that help students plan, monitor and manage their own academic, personal and career development goals and progress toward them. They may include interpretation of assessments, helping students use educational, personal/family, and career information to develop personal plans of action, and guiding students through processes for college/career entrance.

Responsive Services—consist of activities to meet more immediate needs and concerns of students, including personal or crisis counseling, consultations with parents and teachers, and referrals to appropriate community resources.

Systems Support—consists of management activities that establish, maintain, and enhance the total guidance and counseling program. Activities may include staff and community relations, program/school-wide planning, and professional development.