ASAP-NJ June 2022

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

YOU CAN BEGIN REGISTERING NOW~

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

• Directory
  
• Website Resources

On behalf of ASAP-NJ and the Executive Board, we would like to thank you all for your commitment to not just this organization, but to the school districts that each of you serve. You have been a beacon of light to students, parents, your communities, as well as your staff. Please know that your work does not go unnoticed and for that, we want you to know that you all are valued and greatly appreciated.

Please take time this summer to enjoy yourselves and reset. You deserve it. So get outdoors and embrace all that the summer months hold while you can.

All the best,

Pam and the Executive Board

Thank you Liz for your commitment to ASAP-NJ. the students you serve and your dedication to helping your fellow Student Assistance Counselors thrive.

Congratulations!

The Southern Region would like to wish Jan Vizzico, Highland High School, the very best in her retirement. Congratulations Jan! We will miss you!!

Follow @ASAPNJ_SAC on Twitter

Providing advocacy, leadership, and expertise to promote effective and responsive Student Assistance Coordinators and programs for NJ youth and their families.

Follow asapnj_sac on Instagram- ASAP NJ The Association of Student Assistance Professionals of New Jersey

Any Social Media Posts cand be sent to ASAPNJPR@gmail.com

Starting this Memorial Day weekend, entry to all New Jersey State Parks, forests, and recreation areas will be free of charge this summer. Park entrance fees will be waived for all visitors, regardless of residency.

Click Here for the website and the list of fun activities!

Month

LGBTQ Pride Month

Men’s Health Month

PTSD Awareness Month

Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month

Tourette Awareness Month – May 15-June 15

Week

National Men’s Health Week (Jun. 13-219)

Day

Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Day (Jun. 20)

International Day of Yoga (Jun. 21)

International Day Against Drug Abuse and Trafficking (Jun. 26)

PTSD Awareness Day (Jun. 27)

• Virtual Pride Programming.

• Asbury Park Pride - Sunday, June 5, 2022 – 12:00PM to 6:00PM NJ’s annual statewide LGBTQ pride celebration at the Jersey shore. The 30th Anniversary. Enjoy the fabulous pride parade, headline performers, great food, arts and crafts, exhibits and community information, activities for the entire family, and the best in entertainment. The festival features 150 artisans, crafters, and organizations, and a diverse Food Court. Fun for all ages in the “Family Zone”. Located at 5th and Ocean Aves.

• Padlet of Supports

“Parents Who Host, Lose the Most: Don’t be a Party to Teenage Drinking” is a national campaign that is taking place right here in our community. Our message to parents and teenagers is to not serve or allow alcohol use before, at, or after prom, as well as the ever-popular beach house weekends. Click Here to read about liability and safety.

Parent Party Tips

• If you are going away for a few days, know that word will travel fast among teens. Alert the police that you will be out of town so they can check your home.

• Set rules ahead of time such as no alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs. Set a start and end time for the party.

• Make sure you are home and refuse to supply alcohol or allow underage drinking in your home or on your property.

• Put your phone number on the invitation and welcome calls from parents.

• Let attendees know that if they leave the party, they cannot come back.

• Make regular and unobtrusive visits to the party area with sensitivity to teens’ needs for privacy and independence.

• Talk to other parents about not providing alcohol when hosting parties.

You play a crucial role in the daily lives of our students. Never underestimate the power YOU have to make a positive difference. You set the tone. Remind the students they are safe. Below are resources and articles to help support you and your students.

• Chalk Beat - Simple ways to support children
• Where should parents start the conversation?
• Youth mental health experts say it's crucial to address the Texas school shooting with children
• Website from the Traumatic Loss Coalition
• Parent information following a mass shooting
• Talking Points from Rutgers

Key Facts About 988 (Established through the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act)

· 988 is the first nationwide number to offer 24/7 behavioral health crisis call services.

· Scheduled to go live July 16, 2022.

· Expected to receive 24 million calls, texts, and online chat requests by 2027.

· States are now largely responsible for implementing the number—including building the infrastructure, training staff, and integrating it with 911 and other emergency services—but the federal government has given them little funding or guidance to do so.

· The federal legislation authorizes states to pass legislation to establish state financing streams similar to 911, and allows for the revenue generated by state fees to go toward funding local crisis centers and wrap around services.

· All 50 states will have to pass legislation relating to the implementation of 988 and its financing. As of Oct. 12, nine states (Illinois, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Colorado, Indiana) had passed legislation related to 988. See this resource for more information.

· This resource providers an overview of the federal 988 legislation, outlines state-level activities, and offers suggestions for an “ideal” system (including 24/7/365 crisis call centers, mobile outreach teams and stabilization centers, flexible and sustainable funding options, public education and awareness campaigns, and robust admin and reporting infrastructure

Register your school and get signed up to receive a Between the Bells program kit that helps you spark conversations on your campus and spread a message of hope and help. Teachers and advisors are given access to a week-long guide of unique activities and resources to lead the conversation on campus. This includes instructions on how to get your pack(s), participate in our daily action steps, and share the Between the Bells video. Click Here for the Program Kit.

Our New Jersey public Division of Children and Family offers 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...The June Calendar is out

Click Here for CSOC Training

Historically, the number of LGBTQ youth who reach out to Trevor increases every June. To some, it might feel like the whole world is celebrating while they’re struggling. Please click here for support.

This is a comprehensive listing of food resources and help.

https://hungerfreenj.org/help/ you will find a comprehensive list of resources for food and meals as organized by the group “Hunger Free New Jersey”. Note that the link for the 2-1-1 Directory has six options listed and these include “home-delivered meals” (see “Older Adults” and “Individuals with Disabilities”) and Formula/Baby Food (see “Immediate Food” and “Infants and Children” ).

Thank you for sharing this within your network of contacts as may be appropriate.

Director of NJ 211, “we're committed to making it easy to get help when it’s needed most”.

More information on the partnership, income limits, and applications is online. While some individuals and families may not be eligible for some utility assistance programs, community resource specialists can help explore other local resources.

A new study finds almost 10% of edible marijuana products resemble snack foods that are appealing to children. Click Here for the resource page.

Take the first step in recovery. Contact a treatment provider today to learn more about alcoholism treatment facilities nearby.

Click HERE for the Guide

Before starting the treatment process, a person must first recognize their condition and have a desire to quit drinking. Sometimes, an individual may acknowledge they have a drinking problem on their own. Other times, family members or friends may stage an alcohol intervention. This involves loved ones expressing their concerns about the person’s excessive drinking patterns. An intervention also helps to start the discussion about treatment and support options that are available.

FREE, CONFIDENTIAL, MULTILINGUAL PHONE COUNSELING:

Call the NJ Quitline at 1-866-NJ-STOPS
(1-866-657-8677) to talk to a Quit Coach.

​

A trained Quit Coach who has years of counseling experience will listen – without judgment – and help you to create a plan for quitting, including how to cope with cravings and ways to avoid slips and relapse.

Quit Coach Hours:

Monday-Friday 8 AM-9 PM

Saturday 8 AM-7 PM

Sunday 9 AM- 5 PM

​Web-enrollment is available 24/7 and someone will reach out.

• Fax-to-Quit from provider;

• Toll free 1-866-NJ STOPS;

• www.njquitline.org (web-enrollment)

These guides do a great job of addressing this key issue for people of color *and* their allies:

• Live Another Day - Extensive information on mental health and substance use resources for people of color. Their mission is equal access to life-saving resources. They have guides for black, Latinx, Asian, and native people.
• Detox Local - A great resource with information on safely quitting drugs and alcohol. They have an extensive list of mental health and substance use resources specifically for the AAPI (American Asian and Pacific Islander) community.

Click Here for the information

The resources below provide key points from the NIOSH recommendations for how First Responders can protect themselves from exposure to illicit drugs, including Fentanyl. It is amazing to see what the first responders risk while offering front-line response.

Seven Steps to Take if you Suspect- Click Here for the Steps

If you’ve just discovered or have reason to believe your child is using nicotine, alcohol or drugs, the first thing to do is sit down and take a deep breath. We know this is scary, but you’re in the right place. Take a beat and prepare for the important conversation ahead. Some brief preparation now can lay a foundation for more positive outcomes ahead.

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.

Link to the article about the new ban on Menthol Cigarettes.

After more than a decade of discussing a ban on menthol in tobacco products, the FDA finally proposed rules to eliminate menthol additives in cigarettes and all flavors other than tobacco in cigars.

Fentanyl Use Article Click Here

According to Melinda Moyer, "Today, we’re going to talk about fentanyl. This is a darker topic than I usually tackle for the newsletter, but it’s a crucial one for us all to understand and discuss. Drug overdose deaths reached record highs in the United States last year, among both adults and teens — even though, according to surveys, the use of illicit drugs other than marijuana has actually declined in recent years among adolescents. These devastating deaths are largely caused by the potent synthetic opioid drug fentanyl. Why is this drug so deadly? How can you ensure that your loved ones, including your children, stay safe? I spoke with experts to get answers."

Every Brain Matters is a community of support, advocacy, and science. Click Here for their website and a valuable resource page for the negative effects of Marijuana on the body. Join us, as we call for a cultural change by encouraging the use of EBM merchandise. Our logo unites us and symbolizes both “freedom from marijuana and the drug culture expansion” and optimal brain and environmental health. The public has been deceived and misled regarding marijuana products and their effects, which has led to a public health crisis. No matter what decisions are made or how much the drug culture expands, we will “Keep On Keepin On”, because we wholeheartedly know that Every Brain Matters.

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.

Click Here for the Five-Part Series about Healthy Eating Habits.

Healthcare is in critical condition, with too little focus on how nutrition and lifestyle impact health.

I saw this urgent problem firsthand during more than 25 years in practice. We founded the nonprofit Gaples Institute to address this crucial gap.

—Stephen Devries, MDExecutive Director
nonprofit Gaples Institute

Things such as simple kindnesses were done by Pam Felder- Sending "thank you" water bottles and snacks for wellness to support the faculty and staff, served by a cart and a special bulletin board of encouragement.

Mt. Saint Mary's in Watchung SAC, Kathleen Ketofsky organizes a leadership group to bring small bags of self-care items to their school & community.

Lauren Sacs in Hazlet enjoyed bringing the "Between the Bells" program to her students along with great swag, cards, and post-its to spread wellness.

Cranford had a mental health fair and continues to organize and bring resources to their community. This organized event was called "Parent Academy: Mental Health Awareness Month and the Benefits of Self Care Practices." It was a great success.

Visit NJ School Jobs or the School's Website for deadlines and updates.

• Clifton Elementary SAC Counselor
• Hillsborough Township SAC
• Washington Two, Gloucester Co. Sewel, NJ -SAC Position
• Student Assistance Coordinator, North Plainfield, NJ
• Carrier Clinic, East Mountain School, Belle Meade, NJ
• Paterson- Student Assistance Coordinator
• Student Assistance Coordinator/ Social Worker Union County Education Services Commission
• Bellmawr Public School District- Middle School SAC Counselor