Ridge High School has established a comprehensive Student Assistance Program to address the various needs of students and families experiencing such things as child-focused crisis, substance abuse, mental health issues and/or psycho-social stressors. The Student Assistance Program Intervention and Prevention efforts include assessment, short-term counseling, group counseling, referrals and collaboration with parents and other systems.
Ridge Student Assistance Counselors
Mr. Chad Gillikin Ms. Rebecca Tritt
Grades 9 & 12 Grades 10 & 11
(908) 204-2585, ext: 616 (908) 204-2585, ext: 145
cgillikin@bernardsboe.com rtritt@bernardsboe.com
Counseling Suite Counseling Suite
What is Student Assistance?
Today, many schools have Student Assistance Programs. At Ridge, the Program includes many prevention services, as well as confidential counseling services for students. The Student Assistance Program is designed to collaborate with parents in an effort to determine effective strategies to best support their child. The Student Assistance Counselor gets to know students in order to help them manage common adolescent obstacles from a strengths-based perspective. Assessment and short-term counseling is provided. If ongoing therapy is indicated, referrals are made to private practitioners and/or appropriate community agencies.
What kinds of problems does the Student Assistance Counselor deal with?
- Peer and Social Problems
- Drug and Alcohol Problems
- Eating Disorders
- Anxiety and Mood Disorders
- Grief and Loss
- Family Transitions
- Depression and Suicide Prevention
- Self-Injury
- Emotion Management
- Stress Management
All services are confidential.
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.
Local Alcohol and Drug Assessment Centers
Summit Helps
(888) 995-6311
Several locations in NJ
High Focus Centers
3322 US-22 West Suite 1403Branchburg, NJ 08876
GenPsych
(855) 436-7792
Bridgewater, NJ
Acenda Health
Parsipanny, NJ
Mental Health Links
Drug and Alcohol Links
Suicide Prevention
Texting