STUDENT
ASSISTANCE COUNSELING
Student Assistance Coordinators (SACs) address the needs of all district students and families in education, prevention, intervention, and referral services. SACs promote healthy lifestyles, student achievement, and academic success. The Student Assistance Coordinator is a trained certified intervention specialist. Students who demonstrate academic concerns, attendance problems, and disengagement from activities are often due to underlying issues. The Student Assistance Coordinator provides an environment for students to discuss problems they may be experiencing.
INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING
Individual counseling is confidential between student and the counselor.
Sessions typically can last from one session to several sessions. The student and professional counselor primarily focuses on creating and implementing a goal in order to address a student problem.
GROUP COUNSELING
In the group counseling setting, students will learn and teach through their interactions with a small group of their peers.
Groups can support one another, share ideas and provide feedback. Students in groups develop their own understanding of themselves and ways to cope with situational issues.
Groups focus on a specific goal and require parent/guardian permission for student to attend groups.
PREVENTION PROGRAMS
Outside of direct counseling, the Student Assistance Program is meant to service all district students.
SACs lead proactive programming targeting specific needs of the community as well as awareness to mental health issues and ways to find support.
REFERRALS
Referrals to local providers of mental health and substance abuse treatment for adolescent students is available upon request.
Some topics include but are not limited to:
Family concerns
School concerns
Drug/alcohol concerns
Vaping/Smoking
Depression
Anxiety
Mental health concerns
Gender Identity
Bullying/Cyberbullying
Emotional concerns
Relationship issues
Suicidal Ideation
High Risk behaviors and/or Self-injury
CONFIDENTIALITY
Adolescents are, as to be expected, quite careful regarding sharing personal issues to adults. Many students worry about their self-image and what the people in their lives will think about them if they disclose personal issues with people such as; teachers, administrators, coaches, peers, and sometimes their family. They worry if certain people know about their personal issues, it will impact their grades, participation, relationships, or even be disciplined. Congress recognizes the obstacles adolescents face and has created the federal confidentiality regulations (42 CFR Part 2) to protect students seeking confidential treatment from a school-based counselor. The SAC is a trained counselor and interventionist who is knowledgeable in how to communicate the nature of the issue(s) with the student, their family, develop appropriate treatment plans, and if necessary, connect families with community resources.
WHS STUDENT ASSISTANCE COORDINATORS (SAC)
Jilyan Lane-Cruz, MA, LPC, SAC, NCC
Caseload: Class of 24' and 25'
Phone: (908)789-4500 ext. 4535
Email: jilane@westfieldnjk12.org
Lorna Lopez, M.Ed, LAC, SAC, NCC
Caseload: Class of 26' and 27'
Phone: (908)789-4500 ext. 6162
Email: llopez@westfieldnjk12.org