Home | Counseling Events | HHS Career Technical Education Program | School Counseling K-8 | School Counseling 9-12 | Mental/Behavioral Health Resources

Haverhill Public Schools Counseling Department

Jami Dion, Director of Guidance, Counseling & Student Support Services

Megan Arivella, Supervisor of School Counseling

Our Mission

Haverhill Public Schools Counseling Department is committed to cultivating a growth mindset in every student through a holistic and inclusive approach to navigate challenges, build self-awareness, and achieve full potential. We aim to provide all students a safe and nurturing environment to gain essential resources, guidance and comprehensive support to make informed decisions about their own well-being and college, career and post secondary choices.

Components of our school counseling program that is integral to our mission

The work of school counselors is essential to meet all the Commonwealth’s goals for preparing more students to be college and career ready. Part of this work includes a partnership with the Massachusetts School Counselors Association (MASCA). Among DESE’s goals is to collaborate with MASCA to support and expand the use of the Mass Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs in order to repurpose the role of school counselors and position them as a primary resource to lead students in college and career readiness. This partnership is designed around the Massachusetts Definition of College and Career Readiness.  A counselor’s responsibility to help each student develop their academic, career, personal, and social abilities through a comprehensive developmental guidance program.  A school counselor works in different capacities depending upon their licensure but all counselors work as a team with staff, parents, and the community to create a successful atmosphere for students.

School Guidance Counselors and School Adjustment Counselors collaborate and provide support for all students. Haverhill Public School Counselors are guided by the MASCA Model: A Framework for School Counseling Programs, ASCA Model and the MyCAP Plan. Four sets of school counseling standards define the school counseling profession. These standards help school counselors develop, implement and assess their school counseling program to improve student outcomes.

Connect with our schools and counselors! (click here for an email list)

Students can access school (guidance) counselors and/or school adjustment counselors:

  • Visit the school counseling office and/or individual counselor’s office
  • Email the counselor
  • Ask a teacher for a pass to the counselor’s office
  • Utilize the PULSE platform (on the launchpad) 

Comprehensive School Counseling Program

The guidance curriculum, responsive services, individual planning system, and system support are essential components of a comprehensive school counseling program. Overall, these components work together to create a well-rounded school counseling program, helping students succeed academically and personally while supporting the wider school community. Here’s a breakdown of each area:

Guidance Curriculum

  • Purpose: This proactive or preventative measure focuses on the developmental needs of students, aiming to equip them with skills for academic, personal, and social success.
  • Methods: Taught by the school counselor through classroom instruction.
  • Key Topics (including but not limited to):
    • Grade 9-12 Workshops
    • Senior meetings
    • FAFSA workshops
    • Freshman meetings
    • Transition to high school lesson
    • Applications for high school lesson
    • CTE MyCap
    • Roadshow, Grade 8 Tours
    • Course selection
    • Grade 5-12 Naviance lessons
    • Career awareness
    • SEL
    • Peer relationship
    • Paths- Elementary
    • Problem-solving
    • Conflict resolution
  • Framework: Based on national standards and state models which outline competencies and desired learning outcomes to ensure accountability and alignment with student needs. *Refer to curriculum maps / scope & sequence of curriculum

Responsive Services

  • Purpose: This area addresses immediate, short-term needs and helps students navigate challenges in their personal, social, or academic lives.
  • Methods:
    • Individual Counseling: One-on-one support to address specific issues.
    • Small Group Counseling: Provided based on referrals (teacher, parent, staff, or student self-referral).
    • Project AMP
    • NFI/Outside Organization Counseling and partnerships
    • Consultation and Referral: Counselors consult with parents, teachers, and staff, and may refer students to external support services or community resources.
    • Youth Wellness Coach (HHS, Nettle)
    • Substance Use Counselor (HHS)
    • Screening: SBIRT (Grades 7 &10)/ Collaboration with Mass General Optimization SBIRT study
    • Survey implementation- Attitudes & Behavior (Grade 7 & 8), Substance Use Risk Factors (SURF) 9-12
    • Pulse- student emotion check (weekly)
  • Focus: The goal is to provide timely, individualized support to address students’ immediate emotional or psychological needs.

Individual Planning System

  • Purpose: Helps students with long-term academic, career, and personal goal setting, as well as self-assessment.
  • Methods:
    • Supports students in making informed decisions about their educational path. (Including SAT/PSAT test taking at HHS)
    • Involves self-awareness and reflection on strengths, weaknesses, interests, and skills (Naviance)
    • Guides students in creating plans for academic success, career aspirations, and future educational goals (Naviance student planner, CTE options, Internships)

System Support

  • Purpose: Supports the broader school community, including staff, parents, and the community, in creating an environment that promotes student success.
  • Methods:
    • Consultation: Counselors work with school staff and parents to enhance program effectiveness and ensure it aligns with students’ needs.
    • Coordination: Counselors may coordinate resources or services to ensure a holistic approach to student support. (504, IEP, Mental Health referrals)
    • Professional Development: Counselors also engage in professional growth to stay current with best practices in student counseling.

The Massachusetts Model

The Massachusetts School Counselors Association (MASCA) used The American School Counselors Association (ASCA) National Model as a guide in designing and developing the Massachusetts Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, which guides the Haverhill Public School Counseling Department in developing best practices.  The American School Counselors Association (ASCA) Standards for Students provides a map of standards to “prepare today’s students to become tomorrow’s adults.”

The Massachusetts Model Mission Statement

Massachusetts school counselors will develop and deliver counseling programs and services that provide all students with the requisite knowledge and skills for success in the academic/technical, workplace readiness, and personal/social domains.

The Massachusetts Model Vision Statement

To implement standards-based school counseling programs statewide in order to ensure that every student has the necessary academic/technical, workplace readiness, and personal/social knowledge and skills for school and future success. Specifically, the Model envisions school counseling programs that:

  • Advance each school’s mission by operating from a recommended student to counselor ratio of 250:1 with school counselors also acting as leaders and coordinators of program delivery.
  • Support high standards for all students as a means of eliminating the achievement gap by having counselors attend to students’ developmental needs in ways that enable them to achieve success in their endeavors in education, the workplace and society.
  • Implement school counseling interventions in accordance with the Massachusetts Career Development (CDE) Benchmarks by having counselors evaluate, modify, and develop their programs for alignment with the CDE Benchmarks.
  • Are data-driven and accountable by having counselors implement evidence-based interventions, measure student outcomes, and document results regularly.

My Career and Academic Plan (MyCAP Model)

My Career and Academic Plan is a comprehensive framework designed to help students become active participants in their own postsecondary planning and success. By focusing on individual interests, skills, and talents, MyCAP empowers students to connect their education directly to their future career goals. Ultimately, MyCAP offers students a structured yet flexible pathway to achieving their educational and career goals, empowering them to take ownership of their future while being well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities ahead.