[Counselors] FW: FW: FW: Counselor Question re: DHS

Tue Oct 15 15:31:30 CDT 2013

Three new comments:

1. Check district policy. If no policy, then check standard expected practice.
2. I agree whole-heartedly with Angela Schottel and Maurisa Afante for reasons they stated. (Too often we muddle the waters while we are attempting to do good.) If a DHS worker is trained correctly, they need to be the one working the investigation and they have been cleared by the state to do so.
3. We do not sit in on the meetings here unless specifically asked but we do follow up afterwards. In the 14 years as a high school counselor, I've only sat in on two: one because the kid could not remain calm without a trusted face and the other because DHS asked me to stay and "help." She was inadequately prepared and did not know how to ask open-ended questions to let the child speak freely. She had the habit of play 20-questions with a 'yes' or 'no' answer.  Needless to say, by report to her supervisor resulted in a job change.
4. Don't be discouraged nor encouraged to behave differently by the "threat" of being subpoenaed to appear in court or relinquish records. I have had this happen in 4 different cases with DHS or child-abuse situations and none of them were because I was present in the initial DHS intake. Being subpoenaed just comes with the territory of advocating for kids.
5. Be encouraged by the response of your peers in this thread.

Dana Martin
11th & 12th Guymon
(580)338-4350
dana.martin at guymontigers.com
 We at Owasso High School do not sit in.
Becky Copeland Becky.Copeland at owasso.k12.ok.us<mailto:Becky.Copeland at owasso.k12.ok.us>
I don't usually stay unless the student wants me to or feels especially anxious about the meeting.  I do, however, ask the DHS worker to make sure I know any information that could affect the student at school.
Amy Broadbent
Kingfisher MS Counselor
Amy Broadbent  abroadbent at kingfisher.k12.ok.us<mailto:abroadbent at kingfisher.k12.ok.us>

Our school lawyers have told us that once DHS is on site, we are to excuse ourselves due to the legal issues involved. . If a student requests our presence, we can make the judgement call knowing we & our records can then be subpenaed. I have sat in on - but did not speak- in only one (in 8 years) when I felt the DHS worker was not handling the situation well & wanted to make sure the student felt safe.
Angela Schottel aschottel at bixbyps.org<mailto:aschottel at bixbyps.org>
 I normally sit in unless not asked to by DHS and/or the child's parents.  If it is a matter involving the police, then either my superintendent or principal sit in instead of me.
Ed Poley epoley at tyrone.k12.ok.us<mailto:epoley at tyrone.k12.ok.us>

If we can be, we will. I think it is a case by case basis. Some situations do not require us to be present, and others, we do most of the talking.
Crawford, Blake crawfordb at pryor.k12.ok.us<mailto:crawfordb at pryor.k12.ok.us>

Question:
Counselors, if DHS comes to see one of your students during school, how do you handle this? Do you as the counselor sit in with your student and DHS or do you allow the student to meet alone with DHS? I feel like I am supposed to be an advocate for my students and I feel like I am letting them down if I am not with them. Any suggestions or information would be very helpful! Thank you!

Shyanne Gatrost
Pawnee High School Counselor
shyanne.gatrost at pawnee.k12.ok.us<mailto:shyanne.gatrost at pawnee.k12.ok.us>
918-762-3676<tel:918-762-3676>

Counselor Responses:

I ask the student. If they want me in there, I sit. If they are ok alone, I let them go alone. The tricky part is if you are the one who called DHS. If that is the case, I stay out.
Staci Wayant Swayant at putnamcityschools.org<mailto:Swayant at putnamcityschools.org>

We sit in on the meeting. I think it is probably our district's policy. There is a form that DHS has to complete and we keep it in our files.  I don't interject or ask any questions during their meeting.  A point to be aware of, if a school employee is present in the meeting, he or she can be called as a witness if a case goes to court.

Annette Long, LPC
Brink Junior High
7th & 8th Grade Counselor
A-G
405-735-4552<tel:405-735-4552>
fax 405-692-0170<tel:405-692-0170>
annettelong at mooreschools.com<mailto:annettelong at mooreschools.com>

I typically set in on those meetings.  I have had one particular case that was extremely confidential and court related.  That particular DHS worker asked me not to be there, so I abided by that.  I would have had to testify in court, so I opted out.  The student wanted me to be in the room, but I explained to her the legal ramifications involved.  I did however tell her that I would be with her if she needed me to be.
Carren Cantrell ccantrell at dale.k12.ok.us<mailto:ccantrell at dale.k12.ok.us>

I do not sit in. As a previous therapist with foster kids I can say that for the investigation it is better for the student and DHS to meet privately. If you are in the office to the parents, or whoever the allegation is against, might say that you talked the student into saying things and then sat there after to make sure they stuck with the story. It is better to allow them there space and then check with the student after to see how they are feeling and to stay away from asking directly about the investigation.
Mrs. Maurisa Afante
Counselor - 10th - 12th B-E-F-G-J-K-U
Moore High School
(405) 735-4718<tel:%28405%29%20735-4718>

I stay, unless the student requests otherwise. The student should be able to make that decision.

Alicia Brierton
abrierton at lawtonps.org<mailto:abrierton at lawtonps.org>

I always sat in there!
Cheri Gastineau cgastineau at westtech.edu<mailto:cgastineau at westtech.edu>

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Angela Schottel
Counselor, R-Z
Bixby High School
(918)366-2238<tel:%28918%29366-2238>

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