Student Assistance Coordinator Certificate

Program Overview

This Rider Student Assistance Coordinator (SAC) Certificate qualifies students to apply for the Student Assistance Coordinator Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing (SAC CEAS) in New Jersey, which is supplied by the NJ Department of Education. For students interested in the school counseling profession, the SAC plays a specialized counseling role in the schools. SACs help students who are coping with social, emotional, and behavioral issues related to substance abuse and typically provide drug and alcohol prevention and intervention counseling services.

Students should consult the NJ Department of Education for the most updated and detailed explanations of the requirements to ultimately qualify for a standard New Jersey SAC certificate.

Curriculum Overview

This certificate is comprised of seven courses or 21 credits. Current M.A. students seeking either the Master of Arts in Counseling Services, (school counseling concentration) or the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, may fulfill requirements for the SAC certificate as they complete their M.A. degree.

For those who are pursuing a 60-credit Master of Arts in Counseling Services, (school counseling concentration) at Rider, they may use elective courses to fulfill SAC requirements. Students should consult with their faculty advisor on elective choices to select courses that meet student career and licensure or certification goals.

For those who are pursuing a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling without a Dance/Movement Therapy concentration, extra courses will be required beyond their M.A. degree requirements. For students enrolled in the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling without a Dance/Movement Therapy concentration, three extra courses are required (two courses may be able to count as electives for the M.A. CMHC program). Students should consult with their faculty advisor on elective choices to select courses that meet student career and licensure or certification goals.

For students enrolled in the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a Dance/Movement Therapy concentration, five additional courses will be required (note that students do not have electives in this concentration).

For those who are not enrolled in one of the M.A. programs listed above and who are interested in obtaining the SAC certificate (such as practicing counselors), please reach out to the program contact listed below for more information. The 21 credits are standard for the SAC CEAS in N.J.; however, a review of student transcripts by Rider faculty and/or by the N.J. Department of Education will likely be required to develop a plan of study. Please note that enrollment is limited for students seeking this option.

Certificate Offered

Rider Student Assistance Coordinator (SAC) Certificate

Contact

Juleen Buser, Ph.D.
Professor and Director of School Counseling and Coaching
Bierenbaum Fisher Hall 218E
609-895-5486
jbuser@rider.edu

Program Website: Student Assistance Coordinator
Associated Department: Department of Graduate Education, Leadership, and Counseling
Accreditation Information: The Rider Student Assistance Coordinator (SAC) Certificate program has been approved by the New Jersey Department of Education and meets the educational requirements for the NJ SAC CEAS.

Related Programs

Counseling Services (School Counseling Concentration) (M.A.)
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
School Psychology (Ed.S.)

Student Assistance Coordinator Certificate Requirements

For Current Master of Arts in Counseling Services (School Counseling Concentration) Students:

(9 credits)

Current Master of Arts in Counseling Services students may fulfill requirements for the SAC certificate as they complete their M.A. degree. One course (CNSC 580, CNSC 581, CNSC 590 or CNSC 591) may be taken as part of the M.A. degree requirements. Two additional courses will also be required; these two courses may be able to count as electives in the M.A. COUN program. At least one of the extra courses must be taken before CNSC 580, CNSC 581, CNSC 590, or CNSC 591 . Currently enrolled students should consult with their program advisors for more information about course selection (including course sequencing requirements) and this certificate option. Students should also consult with their faculty advisor on elective choices to select courses that meet student career and licensure or certification goals.

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Required Courses:
COUN 515	Substance Abuse Counseling	3
COUN 516	Strategies in Addiction Counseling	3
CNSC 580	Elementary School Counseling Practicum and Student Assistance Coordinator Practicum	3
or CNSC 581	Secondary School Counseling Practicum and Student Assistance Coordinator Practicum
or CNSC 590	Counseling Internship I
or CNSC 591	Counseling Internship II
Total Credits		9

For Current Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Students who are not enrolled in the Dance/Movement Therapy concentration:

(9 credits)

Current Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling students who are not enrolled in the Dance/Movement Therapy concentration may fulfill requirements for the SAC certificate as they complete their M.A. degree. Three extra courses will be required; two courses may be able to count as electives for the M.A. CMHC program. Currently enrolled students should consult with their program advisors for more information about course selection (including course sequencing requirements) and this certificate option. Students should also consult with their faculty advisor on elective choices to select courses that meet student career and licensure or certification goals.

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Required Courses:
EDSO 501	Foundations of Counseling in Edu Settings: Referral Sources for Stdnts and Stdnts With Special Needs	3
CNPY 518	Counseling Children, Adolescents and Families	3
or COUN 555	Introduction to Play Therapy
CNSC 580	Elementary School Counseling Practicum and Student Assistance Coordinator Practicum	3
or CNSC 581	Secondary School Counseling Practicum and Student Assistance Coordinator Practicum
or CNSC 590	Counseling Internship I
or CNSC 591	Counseling Internship II
Total Credits		9

For Current Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Students who are enrolled in the Dance/Movement Therapy concentration:

(15 credits)

Current Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling students who are enrolled in the Dance/Movement Therapy concentration may fulfill requirements for the SAC certificate as they complete their M.A. degree. Five extra courses will be required; these courses cannot count as electives as students do not have electives in this concentration. Currently enrolled students should consult with their program advisors for more information about course selection (including course sequencing requirements) and this certificate option.

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Required Courses:
COUN 516	Strategies in Addiction Counseling	3
COUN 515	Substance Abuse Counseling	3
EDSO 501	Foundations of Counseling in Edu Settings: Referral Sources for Stdnts and Stdnts With Special Needs	3
CNPY 518	Counseling Children, Adolescents and Families	3
or COUN 555	Introduction to Play Therapy
CNSC 580	Elementary School Counseling Practicum and Student Assistance Coordinator Practicum	3
or CNSC 581	Secondary School Counseling Practicum and Student Assistance Coordinator Practicum
or CNSC 590	Counseling Internship I
or CNSC 591	Counseling Internship II
Total Credits		15

All Other Students:

(21 credits)

The Rider University Student Assistance Coordinator (SAC) Certificate is an approved program by the New Jersey Department of Education. This certificate is comprised of 21 credits, meets 9 content area requirements, and is completed by taking seven courses. Students should consult with program faculty for more information about course selection (including course sequencing requirements) and this certificate option.

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Required Courses:
COUN 515	Substance Abuse Counseling	3
COUN 516	Strategies in Addiction Counseling	3
COUN 530	Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling and Psychotherapy	3
CNPY 518	Counseling Children, Adolescents and Families	3
or COUN 555	Introduction to Play Therapy
EDSO 501	Foundations of Counseling in Edu Settings: Referral Sources for Stdnts and Stdnts With Special Needs	3
EDPS 503	Human Growth and Development	3
CNSC 580	Elementary School Counseling Practicum and Student Assistance Coordinator Practicum	3
or CNSC 581	Secondary School Counseling Practicum and Student Assistance Coordinator Practicum
or CNSC 590	Counseling Internship I
or CNSC 591	Counseling Internship II
Total Credits		21

Courses and Descriptions

CNPY 518 Counseling Children, Adolescents and Families 3 Credits

This course will emphasize counselor and consultant behaviors that facilitate the helping process with children, adolescents, and their families. Information and activities will be provided that address age, ethnic, and developmental considerations in counseling children and adolescents. Issues and practices related to crisis intervention will be explored.

CNSC 580 Elementary School Counseling Practicum and Student Assistance Coordinator Practicum 3 Credits

A 100-hour supervised experience in counseling and consultation in an elementary school setting. Students will obtain a minimum of forty (40) contact hours with clients. The course will also provide an historical overview of the school guidance and counseling function. Current practices for assessing, organizing, implementing and evaluating school counseling services will be reviewed. Students will develop knowledge and skills in the development of primary, secondary, and tertiary interventions designed to promote the academic and social development of children of elementary school age. Students will apply knowledge and skills developed in pre-practicum experiences in addressing the needs of school children. Students must be supervised by a Substance Awareness Coordinator (SAC).

Prerequisite(s): COUN 515 or COUN 516.

CNSC 581 Secondary School Counseling Practicum and Student Assistance Coordinator Practicum 3 Credits

A 100-hour supervised experience in counseling and consultation in a secondary school setting. Includes seminar discussions, interview analyses, videotape observations, and individual supervision with the faculty supervisor. Provides the counselor in training with the opportunity to develop and practice skills and techniques necessary for the effective delivery of counseling services in the secondary school setting. Reviews current practices for assessing, developing, organizing, implementing, evaluating, and reflecting on counseling services as they address the special needs of secondary school students. Students must be supervised by a Substance Awareness Coordinator (SAC).

Prerequisite(s): COUN 515 or COUN 516.

COUN 515 Substance Abuse Counseling 3 Credits

This course analyzes the development, intervention and treatment of substance abuse. Family dysfunction and its results will be examined with the various addictive behaviors. This course is designed to help students understand addictive behaviors and how they function. Specialized techniques for treatment will be examined along with related elements, i.e., family, parenting, the characteristics of dysfunction, developmental growth problems, physical problems, effects on school and job performance.

COUN 516 Strategies in Addiction Counseling 3 Credits

This is an experiential and laboratory-based experience in which students will learn to implement evidence based counseling techniques that are utilized in the field of substance abuse counseling. Students will be able to expand their basic counseling skills and techniques learned in COUN 550, as well as become exposed to techniques that are unique to addiction counseling. In addition to learning assessment skills, students will learn interventions that include motivational interviewing, relapse prevention, alternative therapies, group counseling, family counseling, and others. This course will also focus on issues of ethics and prevention in counseling.

Prerequisite(s): COUN 550.

COUN 530 Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling and Psychotherapy 3 Credits

Examines and analyzes the legal, ethical, and professional parameters of counseling and psychotherapy. Discusses legal liabilities and malpractice cases arising from constitutional, tort, contract, family, privacy, and criminal laws. Examines client rights and counselor duties and responsibilities. Explores legal, ethical, and professional implications of third party payment, informed consent, medication, case documentation, client termination and abandonment. Advertisement of counseling services, crisis and case management, consultation and supervision, "duty-to-warn" and court appearances of an expert witness will be explored. Special attention will be given to child abuse reporting issues, dual relationships and to regional legal and ethical developments.

EDPS 503 Human Growth and Development 3 Credits

Provides an overview and broad understanding of life span developmental theories and research applied to counseling services with special emphasis on developmental processes, individual differences and mental health. Includes strategies for working with developmental issues across the life span.

EDSO 501 Foundations of Counseling in Edu Settings: Referral Sources for Stdnts and Stdnts With Special Needs 3 Credits

The course provides an overview of the foundations of counseling in educational settings, including the historical roots, current and future trends, roles, and functions in multicultural schools and higher education settings. Students examine the roles and responsibilities of professional school counselors to facilitate student success through the development of a comprehensive school counseling program as an integral component of the total education system.