NNews January 2025

4 January 2025 DCF also identified outcomes to achieve: promote positive mental health, foster social-emotional learning and related skill development, foster a positive school climate and strengthen staff ’s wellbeing,” explained Sandra Grebel, LCSW, Vice President, Children and Family Services, Preferred Behavioral Health Group (PBHG). NJ4S is meant to help fill the gaps, not replace any components of the SBYSP. “We hope to provide tools early enough to weather the storm so students might not need counseling later on,” explained Tracy Cappiccille, MA, LPC, ACS, DRCC, Director of NJ4S for Morris and Sussex Counties at Mental Health Association. Of course, counseling is provided and connections to longer-term services are NJ4S and SBYSP Work in Tandem to Prevent and Address Mental Health Challenges for Youth (continued from page 1) Additional Similarities and Differences between SBYSPs and NJ4S made when needed. “We’re bridging the gap by connecting students to ongoing treatment and also filling the gap by providing short-termcounseling until youth get connected to services in the community,” Cappiccille said, noting that there are often long waits for appointments to begin long-termservices. “Our short-term therapeutic services from licensed clinicians aid students and parents in need as some remain on waitlists for long-term support,” emphasizedNicole Hall, HubDirector, NJ4S-V15, Acenda Integrated Health. “SBYSP’s are not eligible to apply for Tier 2 or Tier 3 Services as these services already exist with those schools,” Cappiccille added. There are three tiers of support across NJ4S and SBYSPs. NJ4S provides Tier 1 services for communities at large through social and educational activities, such as communitymovie screenings, readings at public libraries, social-emotional workshops, Parent Point of View (a parent support group) and informational webinars. Of course, information about NJ4S is provided at these events. NJ4S also offers training andworkshops on trauma-informed instruction and techniques to school staff and community youth-based programs, and at New Jersey statewide conferences, such as the New Jersey Education Association andNew Jersey School Boards Association, Hall noted. Both programs provide services in the second and third tiers. Tier 2 includes early identification, focused prevention interventions, low-intensity classroom support for students who Nicole Hall HubDirector, NJ4S-V15 Acenda IntegratedHealth (continued on page 5) “The staff ’s energy is palpable at both NJ4S and SBYSP. It doesn’t falter though students’ acuity levels are high. They leave no stone unturned. They connect youth to food pantries, arrange for primary care, and do somuchmore,” Grebel commented.