UCLA

The purpose of my research was to understand LAUSD counselors’ perceptions related to professional development around crisis response before and during COVID. The goal of this project was to learn how we can best support prevention efforts for students. I learned about counselors’ understanding of the suicide preventative measures the district endorses, if they felt comfortable implementing those strategies, and if they perceived those strategies to impact the student needs we see in schools. I was particularly interested in suicide prevention from an academic counselor’s perspective. While there are supplemental counselors, I was particularly interested in the role of the norm-generated counselor. Thus, I learned learn what supports counselors’ need to implement suicide prevention appropriately and with confidence in their skills to do so. This information informs next steps for the district in suicide prevention.