Alderwood Counseling Resource Website Click Here!
Elementary Resource Counselor
Children, just like adults, can participate in and benefit from counseling. Counseling can help children learn how to identify causes of their distress, develop their skills in asking for help and expressing emotions, and improve their problem-solving abilities. Many children need help dealing with the stress of school, family and other significant life events such as the death of a family member, friend, or pet; divorce or a move, trauma or a major family illness. All of these things can cause stress that might lead to problems with a child’s behavior, mood, sleep, appetite, and academic or social functioning. Please visit https://iusd.org/department/ student-support-services for more information about IUSD Student Support Services.
Guidance Assistance
The Elementary Guidance Assistant Program is designed to offer social-emotional learning to students during their school day using an evidence based social-emotional classroom curriculum called Second Step. Second Step is designed to teach children how to understand and manage their emotions, control their reactions, be aware of others’ feelings, and have the skills to problem solve and make responsible decisions. These lessons will increase students' learning-readiness and help them to move ahead successfully in school. Guidance Assistants are trained para-professional staff and are assigned at each of IUSD’s K-6 school sites to teach Second Step in the classroom and provide small group workshops for children who would benefit from additional support. Students with parent permission may participate in “TOOLBOX” groups, the small group workshops, which are a series of once-a-week, 30-45 minute small group lessons during the school day. Groups usually last for 10-12 weeks.
Mental Health/Wellness Services and Resources:
The District provides school-based mental health/ wellness services and resources (www.iusd.org/WeCare or https://iusd.org/department/mental-health-wellness to students and families. These services include short-term individual or group counseling for students at the school site; short-term, solution-focused therapy for students and families through the Irvine Family Resource Center; and resource linkages to community-based mental health or social services for students and families. Services are provided by counselors or licensed mental health professionals.
Nondiscrimination Statement
The Irvine Unified School District is committed to equal opportunity for all individuals in education. District programs and activities including membership in student clubs shall be free from discrimination based on race, color, ancestry, nationality, ethnic group identification, immigration status, age, religion, actual or potential parental, family, or marital status, or the exclusion of any person because of pregnancy or related conditions, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, or genetic information; the perception of one or more of such characteristics; or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.
The District does not discriminate in enrollment in or access to any of the activities and programs available. Admission to these programs is based on age appropriateness, class space, interest, aptitude, and prerequisite coursework where applicable. The lack of English skills shall not be a barrier to admission to or participation in the District’s activities and programs. The Irvine Unified School District also does not discriminate in its hiring or employment practices.*
*The full Nondiscrimination statement can be found at iusd.org and Board Policy 5145.5