Happy First Day to all of our Fellow Student Assistance Counselors/Coordinators.

We hope and trust you all are doing well and that you are still enjoying the last weeks of Summer. We also hope that you all took time to relax, recharge, and connect with family, friends, and also reconnected with yourselves.

While our 2020-2021 School Year looked nothing like we imagined, as an Organization or as SAC's, it certainly taught us how to adapt, think outside the box, and lean on each other all while making it work for the greater good of the students we serve. While virtual learning and virtually counseling our students may have been difficult at times, they still kept us connected to them.

This 2021-2022 School Year, let's continue to build upon those lessons that we've learned, continue to network with your fellow SAC's to share ideas and resources, and remain positive. Most importantly, continue to take care of yourselves all while doing what we are so passionate about.

We are excited about a few new things that ASAP-NJ will be rolling out this year. Stay tuned for those announcements. If there are any new county chairs, please let us know so that we can update our Chair Roster, and make sure that they are included in any correspondences. Also, please be on the lookout for an email from Membership and our Treasurer Jeanna.

We look forward to seeing and hearing from you all soon and Happy 2021-2022 School year.

Pam and the Executive Board

Pamela L. Felder

President, ASAP-NJ

www.asapnj.org

Tweets by @ASAPNJ_SAC

How do I become a member of ASAP?- Association of Student Assistance Professionals NJ?

Click Here for the Membership Link

Click Here to visit ASAPNJ.org

Role and Responsibility with specific regard for the federal laws of confidentiality. Click Here

• State of NJ (NJDOE) Student Support Services.

Click Here to Launch to the Membership Page of Asapnj.org

Existing members, you will get an email from RefSec with your personal PIN; make sure to update your personal information and pay your dues by no later than October 31, 2021.

If you have any questions that pertain to membership, please contact our Membership Chair Andrea Saladino directly. asapnjmembership@gmail.com

Bill was integral in helping Student Assistance Counselors as it relates to confidentiality and 42CFR (the law protecting the confidentiality of substance abuse patients). Bill always presented at the annual ASAP-NJ conferences. Bill will be missed and is just a phone call away. He has made tremendous contributions to our organization. Thank you to him and we hope he enjoys his retirement.

• Meeting updates
• Links to County Websites
• Directory
• Website Resources

National Recovery Month (Recovery Month) is a national observance held every September to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the emergence of a strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and community members across the nation who make recovery in all its forms possible. Click Here for more information.

Please Click Here for TIPS and other resources for resiliency.

This September, for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, learn about resiliency, help yourself and others develop resiliency skills, and help prevent suicide among young adults. Check out our tips and resources to help build resilience.

Click Here to Register for Sept 30th 11am- 3:15pm

Keynote Susan Tellone

Topics: Affirming LGBTQ individuals, BIPOC Mental Health, and Family Treatment

Brought to you by the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide and BCBS NJ

Here's a link to Tom’s River’s open public council meeting where Alysa Fornarotto-Regenye spoke on the topic of the devastation the sale of marijuana will have in Tom's River. Feel free to share to educate others.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Click Here

The Society of the Prevention of Teen Suicide (SPTS) Click Here

Mental Health Association of NJ Click Here

New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services Suicide Prevention Click Here

New Jersey Hopeline Website (for immediate help call the hotline)

NJ Resources for Suicide Click Here

NJ Hopeline Posters and Brochures Click Here

COVID-19 has had a profound negative effect on the mental health of the nation. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Mental Health America (MHA) has witnessed increasing numbers of people experiencing anxiety, depression, psychosis, loneliness, and other mental health concerns. As the nation strives to mitigate the public health crisis introduced by COVID-19, there is even more responsibility to ensure a fast and coordinated response to address these mental health concerns, so we are not left with a mental health crisis long after the virus itself is under control. Click Here for the Guide regarding Covid-19 and risk.

Walking meditation is an active practice of conscious awareness and movement in the environment rather than a traditional sitting meditation. Take a break and boost your mood with a 10-Minute Walking Meditation! Practice alone, with another person, or in a group.

Benefits include: lowering stress levels, reducing anxiety, improving sleep, making exercise more enjoyable, & connecting with nature.

"Every path, every street in the world is your walking meditation path". -Nhat Hanh

Article- This is the Teenage Brain on Social Media

Article- How Depression Affects Learning

Article-Why We're All Addicted to Texts, Twitter and Google

Article- 8 Hidden Ways Depression Affects You at School

UCLA Scholarly Article- The Difference Between online learning and social media is DOPAMINE.

Trauma Informed Classroom- Click Here to learn how to support students. The Pandemic is Trauma!

Our New Jersey public Division of Children and Family offer a great deal of free monthly training. Many of them are related to SEL and self care in addition to specific topics of abuse and neglect. or more...CLICK HERE FOR THE DATES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Know anyone who is in need of referral to treatment?

Click here to access our online help-tool. Or, call the statewide Addiction Access Center at 844-276-2777.

Intentional or accidental overdoses can occur when someone you know takes too much of a drug — even if it's the first time taking the drug, and whether the drug is illicit, prescription, or over the counter.

If you suspect someone has overdosed, getting medical attention can save their life! Call 911, give accurate details about what happened, and make sure you provide first responders or emergency medical personnel with as much information as possible.

• What drug(s) did he or she take?
• How long ago were they taken?
• How much was taken?
• Who else should be contacted immediately?

Be up front with the medical professionals who ask questions about your loved one. The medical staff must know as much as they can to treat him or her properly.

To find out if your state has a Good Samaritan Law, you can check on your state government’s legislative website.CHECK NOW >

Still feel a little iffy about calling 911? Many states have a "Good Samaritan" law, which provides limited immunity from arrest or prosecution for minor drug law violations for people who get help at the scene of an overdose.

Good Samaritan laws do not protect people from arrest for other offenses, such as selling or trafficking drugs. But they do protect the caller and overdose victim from arrest and/or prosecution for simple possession, possession of paraphernalia, and/or being under the influence.

If someone is overdosing on an opioid (heroin, fentanyl, prescription-based opioids) you can use the opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone, which is available without a prescription at many pharmacies across the country. Learn more about it.

YEAR ROUND DRUG DISPOSAL Click Here for a location near you.

Safely disposing of expired or unused medicine is critical to helping protect your kids, family and home. And it decreases the opportunity for visitors in your home, like your kids’ friends, to abuse medicine as well.

For More Information Contact: Jennise Nieves

Assistant Principal of Student Wellness & Prevention Programs

Student Assistance Counselor (SAC), Bilingual

K.E.Y.S. Academy Recovery High School

(Knowledge Empowers Youth & Sobriety)

Matawan Aberdeen Regional School District

Matawan (732) 705-4082; fax (732) 705-4094, BCC (732) 224-2645

CPC Addiction Recovery Services staff Julie Edwards, Ken Pecoraro and Nicole Tierney are presenting online for continuing education through Rutgers Center of Alcohol and Substance Use Studies. The Seminar is Thursday 9/23/21 from 9:00am to 4:00pm - Click for more details and registration information: https://ce-catalog.rutgers.edu/coursedisplay.cfm?schID=84148

Class 1: "Teen Dating Abuse":

• Thursday, October 14, 2021 from 10:00AM to 1:00PM
• Wednesday, December 15, 2021 from 10:00AM to 1:00PM

Class 2: "Children & Teens Exposed to Domestic Violence":

• Tuesday, November 9, 2021: 10:00AM to 1:00PM
• Tuesday, January 11, 2022: 10:00AM to 1:00PM

How to Register:

• Email DATA@APartnershipforChange.org
• Be sure to let us know the school you're from and the date you want.

Click Here to Register for the Evolution of Trauma presented by Rutgers Behavioral Health.

10/13/21 10am

Presented by Dr. Robert Macy from the Traumatic Loss Coalition of New Jersey

Transgenerational Trauma and other essential elements of traumatic response.

Panorama has modules to watch from a variety of vendors that give professional development certificates of attendance. This will give a range of topics from character education to ways to combat covid stress. Click Here and scroll down for all the opportunities available for free.

Click Here to join the newsletter

Public safety, public health, and behavioral health stakeholders giving access to timely and accurate information about the drug environment at the community level & prioritize outreach efforts, assess the impact of local strategies, and monitor the evolving nature of the drug environment.

Click Here for the Webinar

Workshops available with these topics: Contact

RoseannCervelli rcervelli@cjfhc.org,

DebbieRiscica driscica@cjfhc.org,

SarahSkrocki sskrocki@cjfhc.org

Current trends of substance use & effects on developing brains

Stress management & coping skills to decrease risky behaviors

Mindful self-compassion & self-care

Any topic related to addictions tailored to meet your needs

If you are a SAC or other Prevention Specialist/ Counselor this is a valuable newsletter from the Wellspring Center for Prevention. They tailor their programming for families, children and adults. Access to this newsletter will give you so much support and resources to share. Click Here to Join the list.

The DEA is beginning our Red Ribbon Week preparations for this year! Join us in our mission to help keep America’s communities drug-free.

Are you interested in receiving Red Ribbon Week content this year? Yes, please!

This website from the National Drug Enforcement Agency is called Get Smart About Drugs. On this site you will find so much information about drugs, policy and support.

CLICK HERE for the link.