School Counselors are located in each school and provide a variety of services to students, staff, and families. In grades K-8, counselors provide lessons as per district curriculum (based on the American School Counselor Association's National Standards). Lessons encompass such themes 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 also help students think about career planning, and help with high school course selections. Counselors additionally provide individual and group counseling, consultation to staff and parents, and can link families to outside services and resources. At SBHS, counselors assist with course planning, focus on college and career readiness, provide individual and group counseling, address crisis situations, and support students and families in a multitude of ways.
Click here for a list of elementary school counselors.
SBSD has an established Student Assistance Counselor (SAC) that serves the high school and middle school communities by assisting with the in-service training of school staff concerning substance abuse and related issues and with the district program to combat substance abuse; serving as an information resource for substance abuse prevention, curriculum development and instruction; assisting the district in revising and implementing substance abuse and related policies and procedures; developing and administering substance abuse and related intervention services in the district; providing counseling and referral services to students regarding substance abuse and related problems; and cooperating with community service providers or other officials in the rendering of substance abuse and related treatment services.
For additional information, visit this page created by our district SACs.
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.
For more information on Counselors, SAC services and School-based Youth Services, contact Amy Finkelstein, Supervisor of Student Assistance and Wellness at (732) 329-4044 x 5220