School Counselors are staffed in each elementary school and multiple counselors work within the middle school and high school levels. School Counselors provide a variety of services and support for K-12 students and families. They provide Tier 1 and Tier 2 support for the social-emotional and behavioral needs for students in general education. They work very closely with the SST process, threat assessment teams, and crisis response. They provide individual counseling, group counseling, consultation with staff and parents, and advocacy that links families to outside services and resources in the community. In grades K-8, counselors lead lessons on themes such as developing friendships, improving coping skills, taking responsibility, increasing empathy, learning improved communication techniques, enhancing personal safety, and designing activities around bullying prevention. At the middle school level, counselors assist students with exploring career planning and help with high school course selections. At SBHS, counselors assist with scheduling, college and career planning, mental health issues, and connecting students and families to resources in our community.
Click here for a list of elementary school counselors.
SBSD has an established Student Assistance Program with three Student Assistance Counselors (SACs) that serve the high school and middle school communities. They assist with in-service training of school staff on substance abuse and related issues. Our SACs are also training in addressing multiple mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, self-harm/suicidality, peer issues, etc. They serve as resources for substance abuse prevention, curriculum development, and instruction, assist the district in revising and implementing substance abuse and related policies and procedures, develop and administer substance abuse and related intervention services in the district; provide counseling and referral services to students regarding substance abuse and related problems, and communicate with community service providers or other officials in the rendering of substance abuse and related treatment services.
School-Based Youth Services (Rutgers UBHC - B.R.I.D.G.E. Center)
The BRIDGE Center is a dynamic partnership between South Brunswick School District and Rutgers University Behavioral Healthcare (UBHC), a division of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. The primary objective of the program is to help assure that pre-teens and teenagers have readily available access to quality counseling and other support services.
The BRIDGE Center provides a range of free, confidential recreational and mental health services at South Brunswick High School and Crossroads Middle Schools to all middle and high school students. Services include individual, group, and family counseling, conflict resolution, parent support groups and recreational programming. Referrals to the center can be made by students, parents or school staff. Parental permission is required for participation.