The mission of the Birmingham City Schools Counseling and Guidance Department is to provide students with the tools necessary to achieve personal, social, academic and career success. Its vision is to work collaboratively with students, parents, community leaders, teachers, and administrators; to implement a comprehensive school counseling program that teaches students valuable academic, personal/social, and career skills; to ensure the counseling program prepares all students to succeed in school and become productive citizens; and to provide counseling services that are inclusive and respectful of student and staff differences in gender, religion, ethnicity, race, ability, handicapping conditions, and age.