Student Assistance Counselor
Location
Watchung, NJ | United States
Job description
Performance Responsibilities:
Counseling
- Provide short-term solution based individual counseling for students regarding mental health, academic, emotional, family, substance abuse and other behavioral issues.
- Address the needs of students in crisis at the request of administration, school counselor, or school nurse.
- Provide intervention, recommendation for referral, and follow-up support for students placed in residential, PHP, IOP, or other outpatient programs. Coordinate Re-entry meeting with school counselor, school nurse, and Administration. Provide appropriate re-entry paperwork.
- Provide group counseling to students that are struggling to deal with any loss, friendship issues they may have experienced if desired by enough students to form a group.
- Work in cooperation with treatment facilities, counselors, parents, school personnel, and students in developing and following through with aftercare plans for students upon return to school.
Staff Consultation
- Serve as resource to staff personnel on substance awareness/abuse issues and availability of training programs.
- Assist with the provision of in-service training of school staff on topics such as substance use/abuse, mental health issues (including teen suicide), and bullying and harassment.
- Assist with the development and annual review of policies and procedures regarding drug and alcohol use, school crisis response plan in the event of a catastrophic emotional event, and bullying/harassment and mutual respect.
- Participate in individual case conferencing with teachers, parents, guidance counselors, and administration.
- Serve as a member of the school Crisis Intervention Team.
Student and Parent Orientation
- Attend and facilitate Freshmen Orientation session to discuss the Student Assistance Program and the Peer Facilitator Program.
- Lead Peer Facilitators in a mentor and leadership training prior to Freshmen Orientation Coordinate and facilitate an anti-bullying program with the Freshmen class each year to address Bullying and Mutual Respect.
- Attend Mercy Guild and Father's Club meetings yearly to discuss the SAC services and any topic that they request to learn more information.
- Strive to establish cooperative relations and communicate with parents as necessary.
Wellness Programs
- Lead grade level Wellness Seminars that focus on a variety of Self-Care topics to meet the current needs of students.
- Collaborate with Health teacher on topics that the SAC can assist with in Health classes.
- Assist in the coordination of providing programs, guest speakers, and assemblies for students and parents to address topics that are relevant to adolescents.
- Coordinate the Senior Safety Seminar focusing on Active Consent and Substance Use for all seniors annually.
- Wellness Center: Coordinate schedule for Wellness Center/Volunteers.
- Maintain the Wellness Center and ordering supplies.
- Send emails to students regarding wellness/self-care and Wellness Center hours.
Student Assistance Counseling (SAC) Team Coordinator:
- Coordinate and facilitate monthly SAC meetings addressing student concerns and programs/policies/procedures.
- Develop agenda for each meeting.
- Coordinate Wellness Day every 2 years.
- Serve as the Anti-bullying specialist in conjunction with the Dean of Students
Record Keeping/Reporting:
- Maintain confidential records concerning students and student contacts, as well as parent contacts.
Assessment:
- Develop and coordinate a referral system for any staff member to use as an early identification of a student that may be struggling with a mental health, substance abuse, family, or academic issue.
- Assess any student referred to the SAC or SAC team and make appropriate referrals to an outside agency when necessary. Contact parents in crisis situations regarding student safety as per MSMA Handbook procedures.
Peer Facilitator Moderator
- Meet weekly with the Peer Facilitator Team to discuss and implement school-wide activities that bring awareness to relevant topics (i.e. Red Ribbon Week, Stress issues, Self-Care).
- Meet regularly with the Peer Facilitator Leadership Team
- Coordinate the Freshmen Mentor Program with the PF team. PFs meet a minimum of 6 times per year with their mentees. Coordinate with the PF team, the Half-Way There Event.
Professional Development
- Maintain Professional Standards by attending the ASAP-NJ monthly meetings and state conference. Attend other relevant PD as necessary for current school issues.
- Maintain working relationship with the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office. Request information for prom/graduation letter for parents and students.
Qualifications
- Master's degree in mental health field.
- NJ State Student Assistance Professional Certification
Work Environment
- On-site.
- Additional hours for Peer Facilitator training prior to Freshmen Orientation, Mercy Guild and Father's Club Presentations at night Ix /yr.
- Other duties as assigned by the administration.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit their resume and cover letter outlining their qualifications and relevant experience to Mrs. Jacqueline Muratore, Assistant Directress for Faculty, Curriculum, and Planning, via email at [email protected] .
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