One in five children experiences a diagnosable mental disorder. However, adolescents have been overlooked in programming and policy responses to mental health issues. Mental health issues contribute to poor academic performance, lower rates of high school graduation, disrupted development, increased health risk, role transition from adolescent to…

This chapter proposes a new approach to counselor education as a means of preparing school counselors to work in twenty-first century schools. It is proposed that it is critical that school counselors move beyond their current roles as helper-responders in order to become proactive leaders and advocates for the success of all students in schools.…