Bill to increase time school counselors and social workers spend with students receives hearing

AUGUSTA — Legislation from Sen. Rebecca Millett, D-Cape Elizabeth, LD 247 “An Act To Increase the Amount of Time School Counselors and Social Workers Spend Providing Students Direct and Indirect Counseling,” received a public hearing before the Legislature’s Education and Cultural Affairs Committee on Monday. The bill would require that school counselors and social workers spend 80 percent of their time providing direct or indirect services to students.

“School Counselors and social workers often face role ambiguity and confusion,” said Sen. Millett. “Our children suffer as a result.”

School counselors and social workers work in a range of areas, from delivering the school guidance curriculum and guiding individual student planning to providing responsive services. They also act on behalf of students by providing referrals for additional assistance and consultation, and collaborating with parents, teachers and other educators.

These are not the only roles school social workers and counselors are being asked to fill. In addition, they are being tasked to do clerical work, serve as substitute teachers, cover recess and lunch duties, troubleshoot technical issues that occur during testing, manually enter test data into state websites and perform other jobs. These additional roles tax the already overworked school counselors and social workers and result in less time for direct and indirect services to the students.

Jenna Mehnert from NAMI Maine spoke in support of LD 247. “As the state’s largest grassroots mental health organization, NAMI Maine strongly believes in creating school environments that appropriately address the mental health needs of students,” said Jenna. “Maine adolescents are experiencing high rates of suicidality. In fact, we lose more 10 – 14 year olds nationwide to suicide than traffic fatalities. These numbers are alarming and show how crucial it is that there are comprehensive social work and school counseling programs in each of Maine’s schools.”

The only opposition to the bill at Monday’s public hearing was in the language of the bill rather than the intent. All who testified agreed that the need for additional time for school counselors and social workers providing direct and indirect services to students.

The bill faces more action in the committee and votes before the full Maine House and Senate.