Att stärka motivation och framtidstro : Studie-och yrkesvägledarens roll i grundskolansnärvarofrämjande arbete

School absenteeism is a complex issue that can lead to negative consequences for students' future opportunities.This study aims to explore how career and guidance counselors describe their preventive efforts to strengthen students' attendance and motivation, as well as how they perceive collaboration with other school staff. Previous research has primarily focused on the efforts of principals, teachers, and student health services in promoting attendance.The study employs qualitative methods and includes professional career and guidance counselors working in primary schools. The results indicate that key strategies used by the profession include inspiring thoughts about the future, creating a sense of meaning in schoolwork, and strengthening relationships with students. The most central intervention is individual counseling, but the work also involves outreach activities, study visits, internships, and collaboration with guardians.Career and guidance counselors, with their future-oriented perspective, can play a crucial role in schools' attendance-promoting efforts. However, time constraints and varying organizational conditions are seen as challenges. In schools where the profession is included in the student health team and attendance-promotion efforts are more structured, counselors experience greater success. Increased understanding and a stronger role for career and guidance counselors could contribute to improved student motivation and attendance.Keywords School attendance, career counselor, motivation, cooperation, strategies