Systems Support consists of management activities that establish, maintain and enhance the total guidance and counseling program. This component is implemented and carried out through activities in the following areas:

Professional Development:
Counselors need to be involved regularly in updating their professional knowledge and skills. This may involve participating in regular school in-service training, attending professional meetings, conferences, and workshops, or completing graduate course work.

Staff and Community Relations:
This activity involves orienting staff and the community to the comprehensive guidance and counseling program through such means as newsletters, local media, e-mail, and school-community presentations.

Advisory Committees:
Serving on departmental curriculum committees, community committees, or advisory boards are examples of ways to support other programs in the school and community and to gain support for the guidance and counseling program.

Community Outreach:
Included are activities designed to help counselors become knowledgeable about community resources and referral agencies, field trip sites, employment opportunities, and local market information. This may involve counselors' visiting local businesses, industries, and social services agencies on a periodic basis.

Program Management And Operations:
Included are the planning and management tasks needed to support activities conducted in a comprehensive guidance and counseling program. This category also includes responsibilities that need to be fulfilled as a member of the school staff.

Research and Development:
Guidance and counseling program evaluation, needs assessment, data analysis, follow-up studies, and the continued development and updating of guidance learning activities and resources are some examples of the research and development work of counselors.