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Winchester speakers highlight ASCA counseling model and WISH grant-funded internships as mental‑health supports
Summary
Presenters described the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) model, local schools’ pursuit of RAMP recognition and the WISH federal grant that funded paid mental‑health internships and training; speakers said the grant will run through year three and federal funding uncertainty may end it thereafter.
Dr. Resideo, an ASCA presenter, told the Winchester School Board that the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) model provides a nationally vetted framework for school counseling and that the district is pursuing RAMP — Recognized ASCA Model Program — status for its schools.
The district’s project specialist for the WISH grant, Lisa Cobb, said WISH is a federal grant designed to expand high‑quality school mental‑health services and fund paid internships for graduate students serving as school counseling and social‑work interns. Cobb said the grant has funded training, RAMP coaches and conference attendance and that it has also served as a hiring pipeline: “So once you've had these interns working with you, they know our school, they know our system, they know our students, and we know them,” she said.
Why it matters: Board members heard that ASCA implementation aligns counseling work with school goals and that the WISH grant allowed Winchester Public Schools to pay interns a salary, reducing barriers to placement and helping the district fill vacancies. Presenters said early local outcomes include increased internships, professional development and some measurable student benefits cited in research including improvements in attendance and academic indicators.
Key details from presentations: - The ASCA model follows a four‑pillar framework and culminates in RAMP recognition; the district has two RAMP‑recognized schools, Quarles Elementary School and John Haley High School, and others are in process. - The WISH federal grant funds internships (Cobb said the program had 13 interns on board for the coming year: nine school‑counseling interns and four social‑work interns), stipends for supervisors, professional development, and some tuition assistance. Cobb said WISH offers up to $10,000 per year for staff tuition assistance. - Presenters said the WISH grant was a federal award of roughly $5,000,000 over five years; speakers also said the program will complete its third calendar year under current funding but described federal budget uncertainty afterward.
Discussion and limitations: Speakers emphasized implementation work — coaching, data collection and advisory councils — and said schools with more experienced counselors advanced faster. Board members asked about selection for conference attendance and scaling supports; staff replied that schools with RAMP recognition were given priority and that the WISH grant covered related expenses. Presenters and board members described the district reputation with local universities as an asset for recruiting interns.
No board action was taken on policy or budget at the time of the presentations. Speakers and staff flagged that some sustaining aspects (for example, paying interns) cannot be continued with grant money once the WISH grant ends; staff said lessons learned and partnerships may continue even if federal funding is reduced.
The board moved next to the technology update after the counseling and grants presentations.
