ASCA's Vision
The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) is the foundation that expands the image and influence of professional school counselors through advocacy, leadership, collaboration and systemic change. ASCA empowers professional school counselors with the knowledge, skills, linkages and resources to promote student success in the school, the home, the community and the world.

ASCA's Mission
The mission of ASCA is to represent professional school counselors and to promote professionalism and ethical practices.

ASCA's Goals and Objectives

1. Professional development opportunities in areas of critical need are made available to all professional school counselors.  
2. Timely, relevant information exists to enhance professional school counselors' level of skill and professionalism. 
3. Legislative policy exists that supports professional school counselors and child advocacy. 
4. ASCA initiates and supports relevant research and evaluation in school counseling. 
5. Professional and ethical standards articulate the code of conduct and professional behavior for professional school counselors. 
6. Strategic partnerships with stakeholders exist to benefit professional school counselors and their students. 
7. Leaders at local, state and national levels champion and lead change initiatives.
8. ASCA maintains an organizational structure and administrative functions that facilitate the accomplishment of the goals and objectives.

AIS Counselors are members of the American School Counselors Association (ASCA) and follow the ASCA model delivery system. As professional school counselors, they provide culturally competent services to students, parents/guardians, school staff and the community in the following areas:

Individual Student Planning – Professional school counselors coordinate ongoing systemic activities designed to help students establish personal goals and develop future plans.

Responsive Services – Responsive services consist of prevention and/or intervention activities to meet students’ immediate and future needs. These needs can be necessitated by events and conditions in students’ lives and the school climate and culture, and may require any of the following:

• individual or group counseling
• consultation with parents, teachers and other educators
• referrals to other school support services or community resources
• peer helping
• psycho-education
• intervention and advocacy at the systemic level

Professional school counselors develop confidential relationships with students to help them resolve and/or cope with problems and developmental concerns.

System Support – System support consists of management activities establishing, maintaining, and enhancing the total school counseling program. These activities include professional development, consultation, collaboration, supervision, program management and operations. Professional school counselors are committed to continual personal and professional development and are proactively involved in professional organizations promoting school counseling at the local, state, national and international levels.

Overview retrieved from the American School Counselor’s Association (ASCA)