Skip To Main Content

Logo Image

Logo Title

CHPS Mental Health Initiatives

 Current Activities

CHPS Mental Health Initiatives

As of March 25, 2019

Behavioral Screening (Behavioral Health Works)

  • Conducted at High Schools East and West. Requires parental consent as New Jersey is an active consent Results may initiate follow up by an internal or external provider.

  • Screening is administered on a web-based system with 13 domains and instantly generates a report for review.

S12 Procedure

  • Addresses suicidal ideation or homicidal threats.

  • The S12 procedure requires parent notification and clearance from a mental health professional.

  • Mandatory re-entry meeting to return to school.

Student Assistance Coordinators (SACs)

  • In the middle and high schools, SACs provide targeted counseling and remediation for students in crisis.
     

Effective School Solutions (ESS)

  • An important goal of ESS is to assist in providing teaching staff with the knowledge and skills needed to work effectively with students with emotional and behavioral problems. To this end, ESS provides on-site professional development for district teachers.

  • Provides additional emotional/behavioral support for special education students.
  • Services are available at AHS, East, West, Rosa, and Harte.
  • Additional spaces are allotted for general education students at East and West who demonstrate a need for clinical support.
     

School Guidance Counselors

  • As of the 2017-2018 school year, full time guidance counselors are located in every school in the district.
     

Mental Health Task Force

  • District committee generated in 2003 as a result of suicides that occurred in the community. The district committee meets twice a year.
     

Intervention and Referral Services (I&RS)

  • I&RS provides for a coordinated system in each school for the planning and delivery of services that are designed to assist students who are experiencing learning, behavior or health difficulties. I&RS also assists staff who have difficulties in addressing students’ learning, behavior or health needs.
     

Pupil Services Supervisor New (as of July 2017)

  • Newly added and responsible for pupil services not related to special education, which includes mental health supports.
     

Student Advocates

  • Full time Student Advocates are housed at high schools East and West. They are responsible for ensuring that all students have equitable access to educational opportunities for success and monitoring the progress of at-risk students.
  • Although the advocates are located at each high school, they are available districtwide.
     

District Psychiatrist – Contracted Service

  • Contracted psychiatrist is in district one day a week to provide clinical services and consultation. Psychiatrist is available to see students in emergent cases.
     

Question, Persuade, Refer Training (QPR)

  • QPR training addresses myths and facts about
  • The training along with the Signs & Symptoms Workshop is mandatory for all new staff and completed annually at
  • A QPR review is also completed at the building level with all returning
     

Peer Leadership Program

Exists in several schools in the district, below are a few examples:

  • At CHHS West, the peer leadership program consists of 40-50 students. The Peer Leaders interview during their Junior year, participate in a 2-hour training/bonding/team building session in June, and participate in a 3-day peer retreat in August. Throughout the year, the students on the Peer Leadership Executive Board work with faculty to develop lessons that will be taught by the peer leaders to the freshman students in homeroom. The goal of the program is for the seniors to mentor the freshman. There are five faculty who consistently work with the peer leaders and more faculty are involved as needed.
  • At Rosa, the Peer Leadership Program is open to all 7th and 8th grade students. Currently, there are 22 peer leaders at Rosa. The students participate in two retreats during the school year, which focus on helping and developing their mentoring and leadership abilities. Meetings occur twice a month, sometimes meeting more frequently depending on their projects.
  • At Carusi, there are currently 24 peer leaders. 7th and 8th grade Peer Leaders meet once a month. On March 12th, the Carusi Peer Leaders will have a presentation from the Camden County School and Youth-Based Program on leadership, effective communication and assertiveness. The peer leaders will also attend the Education Extravaganza on May 31st with peer leaders across the state of NJ.
  • At Kingston, approximately 20 5th graders participate in a peer leadership program. Trained by teachers, the peer leaders meet weekly in preparation for their periodic school wide classroom/character trait lessons and service activities. Outside of the academic day, usually on weekends, the peer leaders complete service-learning activities each month.
  • Second Step- Elementary School counselors piloted this Social and Emotional Learning school curriculum for the 2018-19 school
  • CAP: NJ Child Assault Prevention. Grant funded by NJ Department of Children and Families presented to 4 schools this year.
  • Lifelines Suicide Prevention Curriculum: Trained SACs, Health &PE teachers, as well Counselors and Nurses on the prevention and interventions on
     

WeTip

  • WeTip is an anonymous Tip Line used in School Districts. WeTip provides a personalized program that mitigates, deters and controls inappropriate and dangerous WeTip targets those who will not contact law enforcement directly because they fear reprisal.
     

STOPit

  • A mobile app that provides an anonymous incident-reporting platform, most commonly used in school districts to offer anonymous HIB