School Counselors’ Knowledge, Actions, and Recommendations for Addressing Social Determinants of Health With Students, Families, and in Communities

Abstract

Social determinants of health (SDOH) are living conditions that influence mental and physical health. The American School Counselor Association provides school counselors with guidance for addressing SDOH, and this study sought to explore school counselors’ experiences in doing so. Using qualitative methodology, specifically, consensual qualitative research, with 11 school counselors, we identified six domains that describe school counselors’ experiences and perceptions of addressing SDOH with students and families. Ecological Social Justice School Counseling theory informed the discussion and implications for school counselors and school counselor educators.

Introduction to the Special Issue on School Counselors Addressing Education, Health, Wellness, and Trauma Disparities

“…School counselors are professionally qualified to recognize and respond to the various manifestations of SDOH. They play a pivotal role in navigating students in their process of healing and being successful across all areas of development ( ASCA, 2021 ; Johnson & Brookover, 2021 ). However, school counselors and, broadly, the profession face barriers influencing our ability to appropriately respond.…”

“…Language related to SDOH is presented differently, which limits school counselors in their awareness and response. Johnson and Brookover (2021) shared that the school counseling profession often emphasizes related topics and interventions such as multitiered systems of support and social/emotional learning and encourages an understanding of cultural differences. However, a dearth of school counseling research directly names SDOH, which would provide a framework to describe the social-political realities influencing the development of youth.…”

Evidence-Based School Counseling: Embracing Challenges/Changes to the Existing Paradigm

“…A second layer of data that needs to be collected in the initial phase of the EBSC process could include additional ecological issues, mental health issues, and areas of strength for our students. Johnson and Brookover (2021) pointed out that school counselors can assess students’ social determinants of health (SDOH), which include economic stability, early childhood education, social and community context, levels of health and access to health care, and the quality and safety of student neighborhoods and housing. These authors argue that challenges in an area of SDOH (e.g., socioeconomic status or access to healthcare) will directly impact students’ ability to be successful.…”

Social justice outcomes and professional counseling: An 11‐year content analysis

“…As professional counselors strive to incorporate social justice values into their professional practices, social justice continues to surface as a complex approach based on multiple definitions. Social justice interventions in counseling are commonly distinguished by their use of community‐based partnerships and programs (Cook et al., 2019) or counseling interventions reflecting social justice tenets (e.g., empowerment, systemic change; Johnson & Brookover, 2021).…”