• Verify program eligibility by completing this Referral Readiness Check form.

• Complete this Release of Information (ROI) form:

  • If the student is under age 14, a parent or legal guardian is invited to fill out the form.

  • If the student is age 14 or older, they have the option to complete the form themselves or have a parent or legal guardian assist them.

If the student is not eligible for school-based services and you feel that Sankofa may be a good fit, you are welcome to refer using the Contact Us form here. Please note: completing a referral does not guarantee services.

• Sometimes sites offer short 10-15 minute Meet & Greets to gauge interest.

• Complete the Online Referral Form: Click your school's link above to access and fill out the referral form.

• After a referral is received, a Sankofa counselor is tentatively assigned.

• Once eligibility & student interest is confirmed → Your student’s School Counseling Team gathers the student’s insurance information (including copy of policy/ID card) and ensures Insurance Information & Permission Form is complete by the legal guardian; or supports OHP exploration if uninsured.

  *Please note, this process can take up to 2 weeks.

• First Meeting: After referral is complete, the student meets with a Sankofa counselor for their intake session.

• Family welcome call: 5–10 minute introductory phone call with parent/guardian.

• Consent Forms: Must be signed within 2 sessions to continue. Forms will be provided by the student’s Sankofa counselor and can be completed online, on a Sankofa laptop during session, or on paper (returned to school staff for secure upload).

  • Note: Students can be scheduled for future sessions only after all paperwork is complete.

Following the Initial Intake Session, the student begins ongoing one-on-one counseling services with their assigned Sankofa counselor. Sessions provide identity-affirming, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive support aligned with the student's needs, goals, and treatment plan.

During weekly/biweekly counseling sessions, the counselor and student will:

• Continue building a trusting therapeutic relationship.

• Work collaboratively toward treatment goals.

• Explore student strengths, challenges, and areas of growth.

• Use culturally responsive clinical approaches based on the student's needs.

• Monitor progress and adjust treatment goals as appropriate.

• Support the student's continued engagement in counseling services.

Attendance Policy

Students and families are expected to:

• Attend scheduled counseling appointments consistently.

• Communicate with the counselor when a student is unable to attend.

• Work collaboratively with Sankofa to address barriers to participation.

Sankofa counselors regularly monitor student progress, engagement, and ongoing needs throughout the student's participation in counseling services.

As part of ongoing care, counselors will:

• Review progress toward treatment goals with the student.

• Assess whether counseling continues to meet the student's needs.

• Adjust treatment goals or clinical approaches as appropriate.

• Monitor attendance and engagement in services.

• Address barriers to continued participation.

• Coordinate scheduling and ongoing support needs with the student and school site as appropriate.

Counselors will collaborate with students, families, and school partners when appropriate to support continuity of care and ensure services remain aligned with student needs.

If a student's needs change, attendance becomes a significant barrier, or counseling is no longer the appropriate level of support, Sankofa will work with the student and relevant supports to determine next steps.