A school counselor learns about the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model during training. If the school counselor chooses to use the National Model to create a comprehensive counseling program, the counselor should start with which of the following components?

"Manage" refers to the ongoing processes involved in implementing and overseeing the counseling program. This step comes after defining the program's goals and objectives. Managing without a clear understanding of what the program aims to achieve would lead to inefficiencies and misalignments with the school's mission.

"Deliver" pertains to the actual execution of the counseling services and interventions. This component occurs after the program has been clearly defined and managed. Attempting to deliver services without first defining what those services are meant to accomplish could result in a lack of focus and ineffective counseling practices.

"Assess" involves evaluating the effectiveness of the counseling program and its outcomes. While assessment is essential for continuous improvement, it should be conducted after the program is clearly defined and implemented. Starting with assessment without a defined framework would not provide meaningful insights or directions for improvement.