Guidance & Counseling

• Social, Emotional and Academic Learning (SEAL Team)
• Community Outreach
• Counseling Plan
• Student Based Intervention Counselor

Social, Emotional and Academic Learning (SEAL Team)

The Greater Johnstown School District prioritizes students’ mental health with investments in SEAL Team resources. Students in need can receive personalized assistance from building psychologists, social workers, behavioral specialists, and counselors.

Learn more about the SEAL Team and how it provides personalized assistance to students in need.

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Community Outreach

The objective of the Community Outreach Specialist is to work with administration, faculty and support staff at the secondary level to create opportunities for connections and relationships that will serve to improve student engagement in alignment with district-level goals

About

The Community Outreach Specialist (COS) is to support family engagement and involvement for the benefit of student learning and academic success. The COS will also continue in the planning, implementation, monitoring, communicating and evaluation of activities, potential programs, and outreach services for families and students in conjunction with other community members within the school District and beyond its walls.

• Serve as a resource to students, parents and community members regarding community agencies, events, and activities.
• Assess the needs of students, families and community members.

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Counseling Plans

Elementary Level

View the Johnstown Elementary Schools Counseling Plan.

Middle School Level

Please contact the Knox Middle School Guidance & Counseling Department to view the Counseling Plan.

High School Level

Please contact the Johnstown High School Guidance & Counseling Department to view the Counseling Plan.

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Student Based Intervention Counselor

School-based counseling services to middle school and high school students who exhibit social, emotional and/or behavioral issues that place them at risk of school failure, delinquent behaviors, and possibly dropping out.

Services Include

• Individualized Education Program (IEP)
• Counseling
• At risk counseling
• Crisis intervention and management

Contact Information

Johnstown Jr./Sr. High School
1 Sir Bills Circle
Johnstown NY, 12095

Cassey Knowlton
Community Outreach Specialist

Phone: (518) 762-4661 ext. 2151

Cassey can also be reached at cknowlton@thefamilycounselingcenter.org.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

• Fact: 1 in 5 children ages 13-18 have or will have a serious mental illness.
• Fact: 50% of all cases of mental illness begin by age 14 and 75% by age 24.
• Fact: 37% of students with a mental health condition age 14 and older drop out of school – the highest dropout rate of any disability group.

Learn the Warning Signs:

• Feeling sad or withdrawn for more than 2 weeks
• Trying to harm or kill oneself or making plans to cause harm to self or others
• Severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships
• Out of control, risk-taking behaviors that can cause harm to self or others
• Sudden overwhelming fear for no reason, sometimes with a racing heart or fast breathing
• Not eating, throwing up or using laxatives to lose weight; significant weight loss or gain
• Repeated use of drugs or alcohol
• Drastic changes in behavior, personality or sleeping habits (waking up early and acting agitated
• Extreme difficulty in concentrating or staying still that can lead to failure in school
• Intense worries or fears that get in the way of daily activities like hanging out with friends or going to classes

How to get help:

• Talk with your doctor
• Get a referral to a mental health provider
• Work with your school
• Connect with other families

This document cites statistics provided by the National Institute of Mental Health www.nimh.nih.gov.

Life at RCIL Living Independently is For Everyone
(518) 842-3561

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