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Ridge High School
What is the Student Assistance Program?
What is the Student Assistance Program?
Ridge High School has established a comprehensive Student Assistance Program to address the various needs of students and families. Student assistance programs are designed to help students and their families with problems that are affecting their personal lives and academic performance. The Student Assistance Program Intervention and Prevention efforts include assessment, short-term confidential counseling, group counseling, referrals and collaboration with parents and other systems. If ongoing therapy is indicated, referrals are made to private practitioners and/or appropriate community agencies.
What does a Student Assistance Counselor (SAC) do?
What does a Student Assistance Counselor (SAC) do?
A SAC provides assistance to the students having school-related, personal, or family difficulties due to behavioral and psychosocial problems that include but are not limited to the following: Alcohol/drug use, eating disorders, depression, lack of appropriate peer interaction, or a loss of a loved one.
Student Assistance Counselors (SAC) look to provide support to the student and prevent personal difficulties from interfering with their success not only in the school environment, but in life.
SAC's collaborate with parents, guidance, child study team, staff and outside stakeholders in an effort to determine effective strategies to best support the student. The Student Assistance Counselor gets to know students in order to help them manage common adolescent obstacles from a strengths-based perspective.
How can the Student Assistance Counselor help?
How can the Student Assistance Counselor help?
The SAC may provide assistance with social and emotional concerns (mental health, substance, bullying) that includes, but not limited to:
Eating Disorder
School Issues
Emotional Concerns: Anger, Anxiety, Depression, stress
Self-Esteem
Crisis Management
Self-Harm
Grief/Loss
Social/ Life Skills; time management
Divorce and other Family problems
Peer and Social Problems
Drug and Alcohol Problems
Suicide Prevention
Confidential support services
Works with both students and families to provide necessary referral resources
Assist families and students with mental health and substance use concerns by connecting students and families to community resources
Hold Individual and group meetings with students as needed
Provide psychoeducation to students and staff
Parent education programs
Coordination with outside providers
Meet your Student Assistance Counselors
Meet your Student Assistance Counselors
Check out the Student Assistance Counselor's welcome video down below!
Check out the Student Assistance Counselor's welcome video down below!
SAC 2020: Health 9 WITH EMAILS.mp4Ridge Student Assistance Counselors
Ridge Student Assistance Counselors
Mr. Chad Gillikin Mrs. Rebecca Tritt
Grades 9 & 10 *(25-26 SY) Grades 11 & 12 *(25-26 SY)
(908) 204-2585, ext: 3105 (908) 204-2585, ext: 3145
cgillikin@bernardsboe.com rtritt@bernardsboe.com
Counseling Suite Counseling Suite
*SAC's follow their assigned grade level; however students from any grade can access either SAC.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality
Confidentiality laws regulating Substance Abuse professionals is located in the Federal Regulations, Title 42, (42 CFR). With regard to school-based substance abuse professionals, this authority is referred to in the New Jersey Administrative Code, 6A:16-3.2 wherein it states: “Each district board of education shall assure compliance with the following confidentiality requirements:
Confidentiality of alcohol and drug abuse patient records, pursuant to 42 CFR part 2; and
Confidentiality of information provided by….a secondary school student while participating in a school-based drug and alcohol counseling program which indicates that the student’s parent or other person residing in the student’s household is dependent upon or illegally using substances…”
In most cases, only the standard exceptions to this law apply; these are: when a student gives written consent; when a crime has been threatened; under a proper court order; if a student presents as a threat to hurt themselves or others; or a student makes allegations of child abuse or neglect.
How to Refer to SAP
How to Refer to SAP
How can I refer?
How can I refer?
You can reach out directly to one of the Student Assistance Counselors via phone or email. A referral can also be made through your guidance counselor, other staff member, parent or speaking with the counseling office secretaries. Once a Student Student Assistance Counselor receives your request, they will reach out to schedule a meeting.
Mr. Chad Gillikin: (908) 204-2585, ext: 105; cgillikin@bernardsboe.com
Ms. Rebecca Tritt: (908) 204-2585, ext: 145; rtritt@bernardsboe.com
Who can refer to the Student Assistance Counselor?
Who can refer to the Student Assistance Counselor?
Students may self-refer
Students can confidentially refer other students who may be in need of support
Students may be referred by:
School administration
Guidance
Teacher
Nurse
Any other school staff member that has identified an area of concern
Parents
Mandatory Referrals include:
Violation of the Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco policy
Violation of the Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying policy
Confidentiality
Confidentiality
All counseling services are confidential. When students seek help on their own they are encouraged to share this with their families. Parents are not contacted unless a violation of the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Policy occurs; a student shares concerns of Harassment, Intimidation and bullying; or the student addresses a safety risk. Safety risk includes a student who is in danger of harming him or herself, harming someone else, or is being harmed by another individual.
Social Emotional Learning
Social Emotional Learning
Social and emotional learning (SEL), defined by CASEL, is the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.
HIB Policy
HIB Policy
Harassment, Bullying and Intimidation Contact Information
Any person who believes that he or she has been the victim of harassment, bullying or hazing, or any person with knowledge or belief of conduct which may constitute these actions shall report the alleged acts immediately to the School Principal, Affirmative Action Officer (Mr. Sean Siet, 908-204-2600, x104), or Superintendent (Mr. Nick Markarian, 908-204-2600, x101).
Please Click Here to access the HIB reporting form
Please click here for the NJDOE HIB Guidance document.
Bernard's Township Policy - #5512 Harassment, Intimidation, Bullying And Hazing
PHILOSOPHY
PHILOSOPHY
BERNARDS TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT BELIEVES:
BERNARDS TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT BELIEVES:
The mission of the Bernards Township School District is to provide a superior education which results in academic excellence, responsible behavior, good citizenship and fosters social- emotional development so that ultimately each student will be able to:
Maximize his/her potential.
Become a contributing member of society.
Maintain a commitment to life-long learning.
Achieve the New Jersey Student Learning Standards at all grade levels.
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