Counseling

School counselors work with all students in the building by teaching classroom lessons and providing individual and group counseling. The school counselor helps remove barriers that may stop a student from reaching their full potential in school and works with educational staff, administration, parents, students, and outside agencies to help meet the needs of the students.

All students receive biweekly classroom counseling social/emotional, academic, and career lessons based on the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) behavior and mindsets.

Group counseling ranges from six to eight weeks and is typically a group of four to eight students with similar needs. Group counseling builds skills with peers who have similar needs (i.e. social and classroom skills, emotion regulation, relational aggression, handling difficult situations). If a student is recommended for group counseling, a note will be sent home with details. If parents do not wish for their student to participate in group counseling, they can contact the school counselor.

Students may also participate in individual counseling. Oftentimes, students self-refer for small problems, such as recess or friendship issues. Unless there is a concern, parents will not be contacted if a student has met with the school counselor. However, if students refer often or if there is a larger concern, such as self-harm or threatening self, parents will be contacted.

Due to time constraints, the ASCA recommends that students meet with the school counselor no more than six times on the same topic. If the student is still showing a need beyond this, outside therapy may be beneficial.

Local resources

HACAP

Food assistance (Mobile Food Pantry), WIC, child health, maternal health, breastfeeding support, child care nurse consultant, Medicaid/Hawk-I, 1st Five, Head Start/Early Head Start, energy assistance/LIHEAP, I-Smile oral health, affordable housing, homelessness
319-393-7811 ext. 1001

DHS food assistance

Access to food through increased benefits for current and newly eligible applicants, food assistance auto-recertification, suspension of food assistance work requirements, online options to purchase food, emergency food assistance and home-delivered meals
mhighla@dhs.state.ia.us or 515-281-4848

United Way 211

Free, confidential information and referral helpline and website serving 42 counties in Iowa. Trained 211 professionals access a statewide database of agencies and resources to connect you to essential health and human services in our community. Multilingual assistance available.
Landline: 2-1-1; mobile: 319-739-4211; toll free: 1-866-469-2211; text your zip code to 898211

Shelters and homeless/displaced support

Waypoint Services Madge Phillips Center for Homeless Women and Children

Shelter for single women and families with children. No fees. Structured, goal-oriented program. Services include access to a daytime resource program, laundry facility, short-term counseling, assistance with housing and employment search. Capacity is 16 private living units. Unit availability is based upon family configuration.
318 5th Street SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
For openings call 319-366-7999 (24 hours a day)
helter intake hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.