School Reintegration for Students with Chronic Illnesses: A School Counseling Perspective

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the level of perceived preparedness and the education/training needs of school counselors when working with students returning to school following hospitalization for chronic illnesses. Participants for this survey were recruited through the NDSCA listserv. Screening questions were used to select participants who (1) were credentialed school counselors in the state of North Dakota, and (2) were currently practicing school counselors. Results from the electronic survey indicated that most school counselors perceived that their graduate program did not prepare them to work with students with chronic illnesses, and that they were not aware of available trainings on chronic illness. Participants identified past trainings they had taken, but indicated nothing specific to chronic illness or strategies to use with students returning to school following hospitalization. Limitations, recommendations for future research, discussion and implications for school counselors and counselor educators were addressed as well.