Gloucester schools outline mental-health supports: counselors, Care Solace referrals and Hope Squad peer program

Gloucester County Public Schools presented a midyear update on student mental-health and wellness supports that cited school counselors, four full‑time school psychologists, community partnerships and referral services as core elements of the district’s system.

Associate director of student services Katina Keener told the board every school has a full‑time counselor and that counselors spend approximately 80 percent of their time in direct student work and 20 percent on program planning. Keener described partnerships that place therapists in schools through the community services board (CSB) and military family life counselors at elementary schools. Keener also said the district uses the DECA universal screener at the elementary level and provides links to social‑emotional learning guidance and curriculum on the district website.

Staff highlighted Care Solace — a free referral platform for students, families and staff — and reported 243 individual referrals made through the service since the district began using it. School psychologists described the SOS suicide-prevention classroom program (provided via CSB funds) and a student-led Hope Squad that trains peer mentors and helps run mental-health awareness activities. Hope Squad currently has 16 active members, the high-school counseling director said.

High‑school counseling staff described recently added supports: a substance‑abuse intervention and prevention specialist funded through opioid-abatement funds, and an LPC hired to provide therapeutic services to students. The LPC has opened cases for 49 individuals with 29 still active. Counselors and administrators credited these investments with improved school climate and substantial decreases in discipline incidents over recent years, and they said work will continue to expand targeted prevention and in-school support.