Children of Same-Sex Couples

As the United States becomes more accepting of sexual minority people, more opportunities have become available for same-sex couples to become parents. Blended families with a new stepparent, planned families via insemination, as well as adoption and fostering are changing what defines a family. As the definition of a family changes, so must the ways in which schools interact with each family type. The shared experiences of sexual minority parents and their children are explored, and recommendations for schools are made.

When Worlds Collide

This chapter will equip any person with culturally responsive practices to engage with a multiracial student or family. Relevant literature and research on the multiracial population will be provided, including multiracial identity development models and common microaggressions that often occur within this population. Using fictitious case examples, common culturally insensitive mistakes will be reviewed. Through these case examples and follow-up questions to support critical thinking, the reader will clearly see the culturally insensitive practices that often occur with the multiracial population and ways to change language, interactions, and even documentation to support cultural responsiveness and interventions. The conclusion of the chapter summarizes key points and reminders when working with the multiracial population and serves as a “call to action” for readers to act as agents of change in educational settings by supporting and advocating for inclusivity and research-based, culturally responsive practices.

Managing Diversity in Schools

The multi-ethnic content of the 21st century population is made most manifest in the classroom settings of educational institutions as the composition of an average classroom is changing due to globalization and human mobility that have brought people of diverse culture together. The diversity content of the classrooms somewhat places enormous responsibilities on the school leaders and classroom teachers to evolve teaching practices and learning experiences that are culturally responsive to the needs of each individual student. This chapter contributes by analyzing the pedagogical principles of recognition and respect as imperative in managing the cultural individuality of learners in the classrooms.

Utilizing Culturally Responsive Teaching in an SEL Curriculum

Schools are increasing the use of social emotional learning (SEL) curriculum, especially at the elementary level. As this trend continues, it's important to examine the SEL curriculum and the competencies that define it. While there are similar definitions for explaining what's involved in SEL, most educators agree that it's basically the process through which students acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, in order to help them make more responsible decisions. In this chapter, the detailed elements of SEL will be reviewed first, followed by an overview of the basic tenets of culturally responsive teaching. Additional cultural needs that today's elementary, middle, and high school students face will also be addressed in this chapter. The last part of the chapter will discuss the importance of merging SEL and culturally responsive teaching in co-existence in order to develop a stronger curriculum for creating equitable outcomes for diverse groups of students.

Building Capacity to Support Culturally Responsive Social-Emotional Learning Practices in Schools

Research has demonstrated the positive relationship between student social-emotional development and academic achievement and overall positive life outcomes. Evidence-based social-emotional practices such as direct instruction in core social-emotional learning (SEL) components, modeling, and reinforcement of appropriate SEL skills have been found to increase student social-emotional functioning, reduce maladaptive behavior and promote prosocial behavior. However, despite reports of positive outcomes based on school-based interventions, there remain questions regarding the appropriateness of strategies and practices for students from racially, culturally, or linguistically diverse backgrounds. In order to address the needs of the “whole child,” educators must view social SEL with a culturally responsive lens to ensure equitable treatment and development for all students.

Solution-Focused Group Work for At-Promise Youth in School Counseling

This chapter focuses on addressing the needs of at-promise youth within the educational system through a school counseling perspective. The authors of this chapter provide an overview of solution-focus counseling and how it can be implemented in a group setting to meet the unique needs of students who encounter barriers during their educational pursuits. The following sections are discussed in this chapter: resiliency language; meeting the needs of at-promise youth; elements of solution-focused counseling; application of solution-focused group strategies; addressing career, social/emotional, and academics in solution-focused group counseling; and provide a case example. This case example outlines how a school counselor may implement a solution-focused group when counseling at-promise youth within the school setting.

Answering the Call for School-Based Mental Health

A largely unmet need exists for school-based mental health services by students who are of an ethnic minority and who may not have insurance, access, and/or the knowledge of mental health services. These same students may not receive effective, culturally sensitive counseling services, interventions, or valid/accurate measures of psychological testing. In order to resonate and connect with these students who need the most help and support despite these barriers to accessing quality treatment, what is the school-based mental health provider to do? This chapter will initially discuss a comprehensive review of culturally competent interventions for school-based mental health providers as well as recommendations for culturally competent training for mental health providers and school staff to ensure that culturally competent collaboration and appropriate support exists for all students.

Culturally Responsive Practices

Achieving positive mental health is a worthy desire as positive mental health leads to better success in all aspects of life. Unfortunately, for some youth, achieving positive mental health is a struggle. African Americans demonstrate mental health difficulties approximately 20% more than their White counterparts. To address mental health concerns, schools have increasingly implemented multi-tiered supports to better identify and support students. Unfortunately, interventions implemented in schools have largely ignored the impact that race, culture, and behavioral expectations have on the mental health of African American youth. African American youth exhibit symptoms and behaviors of mental health similar to youth of other cultures and races, yet they experience lower levels of mental health services. To help African American youth experiencing mental health difficulties, stakeholders must implement culturally responsive, evidence-based interventions.

Creating a Sense of Belonging for Black American Students

The academic achievement of Black American students can be positively impacted by the educational supports that they receive by educators in school. Black students continue to experience systemic barriers to school, such as harsher school discipline, being at risk of being raised in a single-parent household, and living in poverty, more than any other group. Therefore, it is crucial to inform teachers how to support their unique culmination of challenges. To support Black American students in school, teachers must provide a sense of belonging, which includes cultural competence, development of support systems, affirmations, and positive messages. This chapter presents obstacles for Black American students and strategies for teachers to create an educational environment in which Black American students feel a sense of belonging.

A Restorative Approach to Culturally Responsive Schools

Restorative practice is inspired by the restorative justice movement in the criminal justice system, which puts repairing harm and relationships over and above the need for dispensing blame and punishment. Restorative practice refers to a broad range of principles and processes with the aim of developing healthy relationships and building community. Schools report that whole school implementation of restorative practice can lead to positive outcomes including improved school climate, increased academic achievement, and reduced racial disparities in school discipline. This chapter will explore how a whole school approach to restorative practice can transform schools and classrooms and create an inclusive, safe, and culturally responsive school community.