Dear Families:
Last month, Mr. Bennett shared a message regarding the vaping problem at our middle and high schools. One of the ways we’re trying to address this is through a substance prevention program at school.
What are we doing?
A substance prevention counselor will be in school twice per week for the next few months to offer support services to students. The counselor will be available to provide whole class lessons and individual counseling surrounding responsible decision-making about vaping, drugs, alcohol, and positive life choices. Individual counseling will help students develop coping skills, strengthen communication, learn self-advocacy, and build peer relationships/supports.
How does a student work with the prevention counselor?
Counselor Recommendation: Statistically, when students have behavior referrals, attendance issues, and are failing one or more courses, it could indicate that the student is facing substance abuse challenges. In this case, the PPS team can refer a student to the prevention counselor.
Student Anonymous Counseling: Any student, at any time, can ask to meet with the prevention counselor.
Discipline Referral: An administrator can refer a student who has been caught with a vape, drugs, or alcohol at school.
Are the counseling services confidential?
The prevention counselor requires consent from either the student or the parent/guardian prior to services beginning. Once the consent form is signed, student conversations with the counselor are protected under HIPAA and are kept confidential. This means the information discussed will not be shared with anyone at Greenville, or with the family. The only information that can be shared is how often the student is being seen. Like our staff here at Greenville, prevention counselors are mandated reporters and will report any indication of self-harm or harm to others.
What is this service supposed to accomplish?
We recognize that having a prevention counselor on campus will not solve the vaping problem at school. However, prevention services can be a step in the right direction toward helping the students currently, or on the verge of, facing addiction problems.
Over the next few months, as we trial this free service, we hope to see a difference in the behaviors of some of our students. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me directly.
Sincerely,
Melissa Macaluso
District Principal
macalusom@greenvillecsd.org