“My goal as Chair is to increase members’ participation in state and local governments in order to advocate for the students in our state and the profession of school counseling.”

If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu!  It is time for WSCA to be setting the table.  As WSCA’s Government Relations Chair, I want to take the opportunity to share with you some exciting changes coming; a couple new avenues into the political landscape of our state.  Our goal is to have our members build recognition of WSCA and rally together as we build a “proactive” approach with our state leaders.  This will be accomplished through a couple avenues. 

First, I want to invite you to our annual conference in Madison and take the opportunity to “Hit the Hill” and build your political confidence.  We are offering a pre-conference to help members gain skills to advocate for our organization; learn how to approach your state representatives and how to promote “OUR” profession as school counselors. Those in attendance will then head to the state capital where you will be able to meet with your local representatives and senators and become an ambassador for all of Wisconsin’s school counselors and the school counseling profession.  So we are moving the traditional “Day On The Hill” event to coincide with our annual conference. 

Second, is a plan for building regional groups of counselors in the states political districts.  The Government Relations committee can then call upon those members in a time of need to give our state leaders some feedback on pending legislative issues.  The regional legislative committee members will be alerted and given info so they can call their representatives and address issues that affect us as school counselors; leaders in our schools and advocates for students and families.  WSCA is committed to taking a strong venture into the political arena.  We see the need to build collaboration in Madison, especially in today’s political climate.  A key part of the process is WSCA hiring a Public Affairs Counselor to be a contact point in the political arena in Madison.  They will lobby on behalf of the school counseling profession, with the focus being on students and our daily work towards helping them build personal/social success, careers skills, academic achievement and emotionally healthy lives. 

Michael Blumenfeld of Blumenfeld & Associates, LLC is on board to help us better navigate the political realm.  The goal of your Government Relations committee is to have all members involved, a part of the process in building the voice of the highly qualified professional school counselors in our state.  So come join us and become a part of WSCA’s legislative team to make school counseling a continued fundamental educational feature for students in Wisconsin.