Abington School District staff presented an overview of the district’s elementary school counseling program during a virtual parent presentation, outlining services available to all K–5 students, the multi-tiered support model counselors use, and how families can access in-school therapy and small-group supports.

The presentation, led by Joe Taliaferro, supervisor of student services for Abington School District, and elementary counselors, said the district has placed a school counselor in every elementary building over the past three years and delivers classroom lessons, small groups and short-term individual counseling aligned to academic, social-emotional and college/career-readiness goals. “We do have school counselors in every elementary school, which started about 3 years ago in the school district,” Taliaferro said.

District counselors described their work inside a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS). At tier 1, counselors deliver universal classroom lessons tied to the Second Step social-emotional curriculum and lead buildingwide efforts such as PBIS (positive behavioral interventions and supports). Tier 2 provides targeted interventions such as small counseling groups, lunch groups and a check-in/check-out system. Tier 3 includes individualized, short-term, solution-focused counseling and mentoring or referrals to outside services when students need longer-term support.

Mikayla Fitzpatrick, a school counselor at Overlook Elementary, summarized counselor training and certification requirements: counselors must hold a master’s degree from an accredited program, complete about 300 hours of supervised fieldwork and pass the Praxis professional school counselor exam; some counselors also hold a Licensed Professional Counselor credential. Fitzpatrick said these qualifications support the district’s goal of providing “short term solution focused” school-based help while referring families to outside therapy for intensive needs.

The district described two in-school clinical partnerships. The Student Assistance Program (SAP), operated in partnership with Aldersgate Youth Services, provides short-term, evidence-based mental health interventions delivered by a licensed clinician in schools; counselors noted parental consent is required for student participation. Child and Family Focus (CFF) was described as an outpatient, in-school individual therapy option that occurs during the school day and is covered by medical assistance or paid out of pocket. Danny Micah, a counselor at Willow Hill Elementary, said, “We have tons of resources, and we’re willing to help you at home as well,” when asked about take-home materials for families.

Counselors listed grade-level classroom lesson topics they will teach this year: kindergarten (emotional literacy, body awareness, coping skills); first grade (impulse control, self-advocacy, problem solving); second grade (emotional regulation, growth mindset, being an upstander); third grade (conflict resolution, healthy relationships); fourth grade (peer pressure, perspective taking); and fifth grade (self-esteem, self-awareness and transition to middle school).

On timing, Taliaferro said SAP groups are expected to begin in October after planners collect parental permission forms and finalize group rosters. For parent contact, counselors asked families to use district email addresses or call the front office at the child’s school; staff also said they will schedule in-person parent meetings when families prefer.

The district said it will record and post these presentations for families who cannot attend live. Staff noted additional presentations planned for the fall, including an October program on anxiety, bullying and conflict resolution and a later session on how to use parent-teacher conferences to understand a child’s progress.

The presentation was informational; no board action, vote or policy change was proposed during the session.