The following email was sent to all school counselors on April 2, 2020, from UFT School Counselors Chapter Leader Rosemarie Thompson.

Many of you have reached out to me with questions while we are working remotely during these unprecedented times. Those of you who are mandated service providers have inquired about parent/guardian contact, specifically regarding obtaining parent consent. I've also received questions about counseling supports, group counseling, confidentiality and recording encounter attendance for remote sessions in SESIS.

The UFT and the DOE collaborated on this FAQ to address some of your questions and concerns.

Read the FAQ

We will be in touch with further clarification about recording encounter attendance in SESIS once additional guidance becomes available.

Counselors have also expressed concerns about parents recording mandated sessions. Please see the agreed upon language from the UFT and the DOE that can and should be used when we are speaking with parents during counseling sessions that we are conducting via video with their child:

For the privacy of all students and staff, just as in school, parents should not record, share, post or otherwise disseminate audio or video of remote learning or related services sessions. Parents are encouraged to ask their child's teacher or principal if they have any questions about their child's remote learning activities or lessons.

The UFT has also created a coronavirus resource hub for parents in the parent section of the union website. As you are making contact with families in the course of your work, please share it with them.

Please remember that we are in this together. Thank you again for all of your hard work. Stay safe and healthy.