Camden County Educational Services Commission has been focused on increasing access to mental health supports for students for several years. Our current initiative is in partnership with Oaks Integrated Care, a private, nonprofit mental health agency dedicated to improving the quality of life for children, adults and families living with mental illness. Through this partnership, and with the funding from a four-year SAMHSA grant (Year 3 will commence on 10/01/2024), we have assembled a network of twenty-four schools/districts throughout Camden County entitled, “Camden County Schools WIN (Wellness Interagency Network).” The Network offers three components:
- Professional Development and training to school staff, parents, and/or students customized to the specific needs of the school/district (e.g., anxiety, depression, eating disorders, suicide ideation, etc.).
- School-based, proactive therapeutic direct services to students in10 of the 24 districts.
- Crisis intervention by outpatient clinicians who provide triage, school clearance, or ED referral to all students who come through the Center.
a. Extended care services for at-risk students.
This initiative has resulted in a significant decrease in the number of students being referred to hospital emergency departments due to mental health concerns.
In addition to our CSSWIN initiative, we offer a fee-for-service option with First Children Services to any district that is part of our general services agreement consortium. That includes all Camden County school districts and some outside of the county. This option provides an alternative/supplement for WIN partners or out-of-network districts for school clearances. The fees for crisis assessments would only apply to uninsured students unless the districts opt to cover the costs.
For further information, please contact:
Nina Longer, Program Manager - Education
Phone: 856-784-2100 x132