UNITED WAY OF VENANGO COUNTY AND TITUSVILLE REGION

THE UNITED WAY OF VENANGO COUNTY AND TITUSVILLE REGION LAUNCHED THEIR CAREER COUNSELOR PROGRAM IN 2019. THIS PROGRAM HELPS FACILITATE THE TRANSITION OF STUDENTS FROM SCHOOL TO THE COMMUNITY BY IMPLEMENTING THE PERSON-CENTERED PLANNING PROCESS IN SUPPORT OF STUDENTS' JOB AND ADULT PLACEMENT. UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE BUILDING PRINCIPALS AND IN COOPERATION WITH THE SCHOOL COUNSELORS, THE CAREER COUNSELOR COORDINATES CAREER READINESS AND AWARENESS ACTIVITIES WITHIN A TEAM COMPRISED OF THE STUDENT, PARENT/GUARDIAN, EDUCATORS, AND SERVICE PROVIDERS TO ENSURE THAT CAREER EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES ARE ADDRESSED AND IMPLEMENTED FOR EACH STUDENT IN GRADES 7-12.IN 2022, UNITED WAY WAS APPROACHED BY TWO SCHOOL DISTRICTS EXPRESSING THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS. THEY HAD SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE NEED FOR SERVICES SINCE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC BEGAN AND FELT THIS COULD MAKE A MAJOR DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THEIR STUDENTS. THROUGH THEIR COLLABORATION, UNITED WAY WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE EDUCATION SERVICES SPECIALISTS TO MULTIPLE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THESE POSITIONS ARE BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, STUDENTS, AND FAMILIES. SINCE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM, THE EDUCATION SERVICES SPECIALISTS HAVE INITIATED GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING SESSIONS, DELIVERED SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LESSONS, PROVIDED CRISIS INTERVENTION, AND CONDUCTED OVERALL GUIDANCE MEETINGS. THE SPECIALISTS ARE REQUIRED TO BE LICENSED SOCIAL WORKERS WHICH ALSO PERMITS THEM TO FOLLOW UP WITH PARENTS AND HANDLE SITUATIONS THAT SURPASS THE SCOPE OF IN-SCHOOL SERVICES.