This guide is written for counselors and guidance specialists as an awareness and strategy development program for the survival of school based guidance programs. A letter of survival hints, including the importance of political awareness, introduces the guide. A true/false quiz on what makes a difference in guidance programs points out areas of effectiveness. Additional survival skills aids focus on evaluating program effectiveness, checking the program, developing a career education program, replicating successful practices, initiating new ideas, trying new approaches, publicizing the program, improving school climate, developing a district guidance policy, and using available resources. Within each survival skill area, specific strategies, materials, resources, and programs are provided. (BL)