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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:red"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:red">Question:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:red">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!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:red"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:red">Shyanne Gatrost<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:red">Pawnee High School Counselor<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:red">918-762-3676<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#00B050"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size:18.0pt;color:red">Counselor Responses:<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#00B050"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#00B050">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. <br>
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#00B050">Staci Wayant
<a href="mailto:Swayant@putnamcityschools.org"><span style="color:#00B050">Swayant@putnamcityschools.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#0070C0">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#0070C0"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Harrington;color:#0070C0">Annette Long, LPC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Harrington;color:#0070C0">Brink Junior High<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Harrington;color:#0070C0">7th & 8th Grade Counselor<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Harrington;color:#0070C0">A-G<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Harrington;color:#0070C0">405-735-4552<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Harrington;color:#0070C0">fax 405-692-0170<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Harrington;color:#0070C0"><a href="mailto:annettelong@mooreschools.com"><span style="color:#0070C0">annettelong@mooreschools.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Harrington;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#7030A0">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. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#7030A0">Carren Cantrell
<a href="mailto:ccantrell@dale.k12.ok.us"><span style="color:#7030A0">ccantrell@dale.k12.ok.us</span></a></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#F79646">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.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Bradley Hand ITC";color:#F79646">Mrs. Maurisa Afante<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#F79646">Counselor - 10th - 12th B-E-F-G-J-K-U<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#F79646">Moore High School<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#F79646">(405) 735-4718<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#0070C0"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:green">I stay, unless the student requests otherwise. The student should be able to make that decision.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:green"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:green">Alicia Brierton<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#1F497D"><a href="mailto:abrierton@lawtonps.org">abrierton@lawtonps.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">I always sat in there!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#1F497D">Cheri Gastineau
<a href="mailto:cgastineau@westtech.edu"><span style="color:#1F497D">cgastineau@westtech.edu</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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