Counseling and Supportive Services

Alliance Leadership Middle Academy (ALMA) has a counselor and psychologist available to provide support services. School Counselors & School Psychologists are mental health professionals licensed to provide services that promote social, emotional, and behavioral adjustment in school and in society. As the counselor, I have my Pupil Personnel Service credential through the State of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. The counseling services at ALMA are aligned with national standards to promote academic, personal/social and career development. Services provided through ALMA Counseling and Supportive Services include:

- Behavior Intervention Plans

- Community Collaboration

- Conflict Resolution

- Consultation

- Classroom Presentations

- Crisis Counseling

- Data Gathering

- Individual Assessments

- Referral Support

- School-wide Guidance

- Teacher In-servicing

- Group Counseling (Topics include: Anger Management, Social Skills, Stress Management, Conflict Resolution/Bullying Prevention, Family Problems/Divorce, Grief/Loss, School Success)

About Me

My name is Kelly Ross and I am the School Counselor assigned to ALMA for the 2017-2018 school year. I graduated from San Diego State University with a B.A. in Psychology before attending the University of Southern California for my Master’s in Education and Pupil Personnel Services Credential. I have worked in the field of academic supportive services here in South LA for the last five years. My goal as a counselor is to implement strategies that help students reach their full academic potential. This may involve academic mentoring or personal/social counseling to break through emotional barriers to student success.

I can be reached via email: kross@laalliance.org or via phone at (323) 920-4388.

Counseling Referral Process

- Referral form can be found here. 

- Consent form (signed by parent)
- Download consent form or you can pick one up from the counseling center in the main office
- Counselor then calls parents to obtain family history & explain services provided
- Counselor will then determine appropriate plan, which may include: school based group counseling, classroom behavior plan, referral to outside services

 Community Collaboration

Counselors work cooperatively with several community agencies to promote safe and drug free schools. School staff collaborates with the Asian American Drug Abuse Program (AADAP), which serves students of all nationalities with various issues. We also consult with the Department of Mental Health and refer to outside agencies such as Star View Community Services.

Accountability

While individual counseling records remain confidential, data is maintained for counseling sessions, group presentations and in-services.

 Links

College and Career
www.collegeboard.org
http://www.eaop.org/files/college-readiness-workbook.pdf
www.campustours.com
http://www.educationplanner.org/
www.cacareerzone.org
http://www.whodouwant2b.com/student/pathways

The AACAP developed Facts for Families to provide concise and up-to-date information on issues that affect children, teenagers, and their families. The AACAP provides this important information as a public service and the Facts for Families may be duplicated and distributed free of charge as long as the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry is properly credited and no profit is gained from their use.

https://www.aacap.org/

California Healthy Kids Fact Sheets

http://chks.wested.org/

Website to empower young girls

http://www.girlshealth.gov/

Offers information regarding various health issues in child friendly language (info for parents as well).

http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/

Live Homework Help targets children in grades 4-12 and provides them with homework assistance in English, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Program is internet based and connects students with qualified tutors in real time. Service is free and available in English and Spanish. To access the program students need a County of LA Public Library card available free at any County Library location.

http://www.librarytutor.org/

WELCOME BACK STUDENTS AND PARENTS

WELCOME BACK STUDENTS AND PARENTS

Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s),    
                          
I would like to welcome everyone to a new and exciting school year! We have many great things in store for your child as they begin school. As your child’s counselor, I believe in helping students make their lives easier and more productive by providing a counseling program that will enhance their academic, personal, and social development. My goal is to maintain a safe and secure environment where students can grow and develop into happy, healthy, and independent learners.

You may contact me for concerns over your child’s achievement, concerns over behavior issues, discussion of special needs of your child, potential crisis, or any family difficulties or concerns. At any time, students may walk in to see me with any issues that they might have. Students may be referred to the counseling office by parents, teachers, or administrators.

As your child’s school counselor, I will be:

Counseling individual students dealing with personal/social and academic issues.
Maintaining confidentiality at all times.
Facilitating group counseling sessions designed to address specific concerns or issues.
Conducting classroom guidance lessons to enhance social development, address students needs, teacher concerns, or current events.
Coordinating educational programs (assemblies,workshops,presentations…)
Providing information and resources to parents, students, and teachers.
Supplying college and career information through presentations and enrichment activities. 
School counseling services are available to all students. Please refer to my counseling blog for more details of services and provided resources. I look forward to working with you and helping in any way that I can. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. I can be reached at kross@laalliance.org or by phone (323) 920-4388 on campus, in room 211.


Thank you for entrusting your child to us. We are looking forward to a wonderful school year together!

Best Regards,

Kelly Ross
School Counselor

Alliance Leadership Middle Academy