Department of Defense Education Activity

Personal Social Development

Following the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Standards for personal/social development, the DVS counseling program provides the foundation for personal and social growth as students progress through school and into adulthood. The DoDEA Virtual School Counseling Program assists students in acquiring an understanding of, and respect for, self and others. The program also helps students develop the skills necessary to become responsible citizens.

Through virtual conferences and virtual classroom guidance lessons utilizing online conferencing tools, students learn to understand the relationship among and the importance of respecting rules, laws, safety, and the protection of individual rights. Students also understand when and how to utilize peer, school, family, and community resources to resolve conflicts. Students learn how to apply problem-solving and decision-making skills in order to make safe and healthy choices.

The standards in the Personal/Social Development domain include:

Standard A

  • Students will acquire the knowledge, attitudes and interpersonal skills to help them understand and respect self and others.

Standard B

  • Students will make decisions, set goals and take necessary action to achieve goals.

Standard C

  • Students will understand safety and survival skills.

Online Resources: Personal/Social Wellness

  • NIDA for Teens - National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens.
  • Marijuana: Facts for Teens - Facts about marijuana written especially for teens. This site includes topics such as: information about marijuana and how it's used, teen usage statistics, reasons for smoking, its short and long-term effects, how to tell if someone has been using marijuana, what it does to the brain, and how to quit.
  • Teen-Anon - Help for Teens Who Drink or Abuse Drugs And All Those Who Love Them!
  • Bam! Guide to Getting Along - What should you do when someone takes your seat or shoves you in line; or someone asks you to do something you don't want to do? This guide can help.
  • Environmental Literacy Council - Designed to guide K-12 students to the best resources available on the Internet. Search by topic: Air, Water, Forests, Climate, Food, Biodiversity, Energy, Population and Waste.
  • EPA Student Center - A site where students in middle and high school can explore a wide range of environmental issues including information on awards, scholarships, internships, club projects and fun activities.
  • Digital Citizenship - provides information for educators, parents, caregivers, and young people.
  • Childnet International - a non-profit organization working with others to help make the internet a great and safe place for kids.
  • NetzSmart - teens share their own "Real-Life Stories" about issues affecting them on the Internet such as cyberbullying, online enticement, and giving out too much personal information.
  • Teens Health - Explore hundreds of articles for teens - from braces and diets, stress and birth control, to healthy eating and common colds. Get answers to your questions and learn how to take care of your body.
  • My Pyramid.gov - Explore the official new food pyramid from the United States Department of Agriculture to learn about the food groups and to see how much physical activity you should be getting. Take an animated tour of the new pyramid. Discover a wealth of ideas that can help you get started toward a healthy diet. There are tips for each food group, physical activity, eating out, a sample menu, and more.