Our presentation was aimed at providing a thorough overview of concepts that interfere with an adolescent’s ability to stay in school and graduate. Additionally, the presentation addressed what other factors of poverty, such as risk-taking behaviors (e.g., marijuana use, binge drinking, or sexual activity), might carry over into college life and affect a student’s academic career. Variables connected to family community, family responsibilities, and adolescents’ self-esteem were described as well. Finally, the presentation discussed factors that play into a student’s willingness to seek out college campus resources for support. With this paper, we hope to outline variables that lead to academic drawbacks within our youth and to raise awareness about the multi-faceted phenomenon of retention of students.

School counselors need to advocate and act as an ally for all students. Safe Space, a training designed to facilitate competency for working with and serving LGBTQ youth (i.e., LGBTQ competency), has received increased attention in the field of school counseling. However, limited empirical support exists for training interventions such as Safe Space, with only one study to date examining its effectiveness for graduate psychology students (see Finkel, Storaasli, Bandele, & Schaefer, 2003). This study used a randomized pretest-posttest control group design to evaluate and examine the impact of Safe Space training on competency levels of a sample of school counselors/school counselor trainees and to explore the relationship between LGBTQ competency and awareness of sexism and heterosexism.

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This article reviews information related to school counseling and trainings aimed at increasing professional school counselors’ awareness, knowledge, and skill related to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) students. Educational concerns related to LGBTQ trainings affecting counselor training programs and counselor educators are discussed. Considerations for school counselor trainings are offered with regard to LGBTQ knowledge, awareness, and skill. Lastly, limitations regarding the extent of research on LGBTQ trainings for school counselor trainees are presented.

The Family Focus section of this issue of NCFR Report — "Families as Catalysts" — includes articles that address how families are able to contribute to their own wellbeing and to their communities and the larger world.

Play therapy is a growing area of interest and is a specific type of intervention that requires training and supervision to be implemented effectively. Play therapy continues to grow out of a need to provide effective, age appropriate, and multicultural interventions to children. In response to the heightened interest, universities are offering courses and supervision experience in play therapy. The goal of this program is to provide participants with specific ideas and materials for planning and implementing their own successful play therapy training intensive.

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The "Connections Through Clubs" program provides all students with the opportunity to participate in a small-group extracurricular activity and mentoring experience led by school faculty, staff, and community members during the school day throughout the academic year. This schoolwide program was developed in response to identified school needs and as a means to facilitate a strengths-enhancing school environment and to promote the developmental competencies of all students, both of which have been linked to academic and personal success. The purpose of this article is to describe the inception, implementation, and preliminary evaluation of the Connections Through Clubs program. In addition, the school counselor's collaboration, coordination, and advocacy efforts to implement this program are highlighted.

School counselors are in a unique position to support LGBTQ-identified youth. However, the school setting may not provide a welcoming atmosphere for the level of support needed. How can school counselors overcome systemic challenges in order to best serve youth who are at increased risk of low academic performance, depression, selfharm, substance abuse, and suicide? This presentation will build upon skill competencies necessary for school counselors and open dialogue about how to work with challenges faced in the school system.