•  
  •  
 

Teaching and Supervision in Counseling

Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5511-0352

Author Biographies

Dr. Heidi Henry is an Assistant Professor at St. Bonaventure University in their online school and CMH counseling programs. She earned her PhD in Counselor Education from Sam Houston State University and her Master’s degree in Community Counseling from Louisiana State University. Her scholarly pursuits include topics related to mental health and education disparities among diverse and historically marginalized populations, including fat women, religiously diverse individuals, and sexual and gender expansive communities.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.7290/tsc06rs4A

Abstract

Program development and evaluation can be used to address historical inequities in mental health, but they are scarcely studied in counselor education. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine how taking one social-justice focused CMHC management course impacted 66 counseling students’ social justice identity and program evaluation understanding. Participating students completed a group program proposal focused on social justice and program evaluation. To assess change in their social justice attitudes, behaviors, and program evaluation understanding, they completed a demographic questionnaire, pre-test, and post-test. The results, derived from t-tests and Wilcoxon Signed-Rank tests, indicated a significant improvement from pre- to post-test in social justice self-efficacy, interest, and program evaluation understanding. Limitations, implications, and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Public Significance Statement

This study suggests counselor educators can choose course activities and assignments facilitating the formation of a social justice identity, while simultaneously improving program evaluation understanding in students. Counselor educators can use course materials and create engaging activities to address relevant social justice and program evaluation CACREP (2015) standards (e.g., 2.F.8.e., 2.F.8.g., 2.F.8.,j., 5.C.2.a., 5.C.2.d., 5.C.2.j., and 5.C.2.m), which ultimately can improve counseling students’ knowledge and confidence in using program evaluation to help diverse and underserved clients.

Download

Share

COinS