Compassion for Schools in Need

Catholic Charities' school-based counselors provide counseling, coping-skills development, crisis response, staff consultation, parent support, and faith-based character development through the Virtue Curriculum. 

Few schools can afford to hire and supervise their own counselor, vet them against Catholic Social Teaching, or ensure licensing stays current. The School Counseling Program relieves school leadership of each of these burdens.

Schools are charged according to counselor days per week, on a sliding scale for under-resourced schools. Last school year, 30% of the schools served were classified as under-resourced, and we provided compassionate care at a deficit because of the importance of this work. 

Impact of School-Based Counseling

With counselors on-site, school leadership can call on our entire team's expertise for complex cases. On-site counseling has reduced in-school suspensions and disciplinary actions by as much as 85 percent; students miss fewer classes, develop healthy coping skills, and gain an advocate while learning ways to positively influence their learning environment. As we expand, our goal is equitable, accessible mental health care for every child, regardless of school resources. 

Learn more about our counseling program here or in our 2026 Impact Report.