Chronic Absenteeism and Social Media Safety Are at the Forefront of Educator’s Concerns

With the new academic year underway schools are grappling with lingering mental wellness challenges that stem from the pandemic’s nearly two-year disruption. Two pressing issues – chronic absenteeism and social media safety – are at the forefront of educator’s concerns and are key focuses of the agency’s NJ4S program (New Jersey Student Support Services).

So far in 2024, 71 schools have contacted the agency for help with a range of issues including absenteeism, social media bullying, mental health (specifically anxiety about test taking or social withdrawal) and vaping. “Our prevention team meets with the schools to try to understand other issues going on,” says Bryan Connelly, Director of NJ4S. “From the information obtained in the consultations, we recommend one of our evidence-based programs that aligns with their needs.

“Curriculum that works for one school may not work for another,” says Bryan. “Our clinicians have ongoing conversations with school administrators to gain a deeper understanding, which enables them to see the ongoing trends in each school. We offer a menu of curriculums based on each district’s needs in the community they work with.”

Children’s Aid and Family Services was chosen in 2023 as one of 15 state providers to implement NJ4S, a program addressing the mental health needs of students within schools and communities. NJ4S services are administered in 3 tiers: Universal supports such as school assemblies and informational programs for the community at large; group-based prevention at school; and early clinical intervention.

“School absenteeism has become a major symptom of what happened to schools, collectively, after the pandemic,” says Bryan. “It’s not a new thing but now students who were more comfortable learning from home are not able to acquire those much-needed social skills from being in school and are struggling.”

The agency partners with four local mental health agencies, CarePlus, West Bergen Mental Healthcare, CBH Care, and Vantage, working with the 79 school districts in the county, allowing them to request services through a state-supported online platform.

For more information, visit www.nj4sbergenhub.org.