Student Assistance Counselor

 Student Assistance Counselor

Ms. Blair Didio

bdidio@marsd.org

(732) 705-5305

 

The Student Assistance Counselor (SAC) maintains an important and effective place in public schools. The SAC assists with the implementation of the district's drug/alcohol awareness program through the school. In addition, the SAC's role is to help students resolve such personal, emotional and social problems as these may interfere with the adjustment to school and the students' capacity to enjoy the fullest benefits of the education offered to them. The SAC is uniquely positioned to provide both individual, group, and school-wide services that directly impact on classroom instruction, behavior management, student safety, family support, and community relations. Direct services include individual student assessment, counseling and referral, and student-specific input and collaboration with the family and other faculty. School-wide services include development and adherence of policies (and facilitation of in-service trainings) on state-mandated topics (substance abuse, suicide, physical/sexual abuse, and sexual harassment policies). 

 

The New Jersey Administrative Code (§18A:40) requires policies for suspicion of substance use among students. This policy is predicated on a knowledgeable staff—both in terms of familiarity with common drugs of abuse and their related symptoms, as well as response procedures. The SAC is specifically trained in all mandated subcomponents of these statutes, including staff training on current trends, signs and symptoms of abuse, knowledge of local and community organizations that are available for the prevention, early intervention, treatment and rehabilitation of individuals who show symptoms of substance abuse, legal guidelines for the implementation of substance abuse policies, and the ability to interview students suspected of abuse in order to assess a student’s current level of drug/alcohol involvement.