Quick Links: Important Information | Parent Advisory Group | Homeless Students | PRISEDocuments
MRSA | H1N1 | Crisis Services | County Vaccine Program

 

Health & Wellness Resources

PerformCare - a resource for parents who are concerned about their children’s mental health

Mental Health and Wellness Resource Guide

Red Raider Wellness Center

 
 
Other Resources:

 
 
 
 
 
 

NJ Agencies/Resources

Fare Free Transportation
Offering same day service to all Cape May Residents (beginning 4/1/21)

Cape May County Department of Human Resources
(609) 465-1055

Cape May County Office of Disability Services
(609) 465-4117

Cape May County Special Olympics

Center for Independent Living
(732) 571-3703

Community Mental Health Agency
(800) 382-6717

NJ Bureau of Guardianship Services

NJ Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired
(973) 648-3333

NJ Commission on Higher Education
(609) 292-2955

NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities (NJ DDD)
(800) 832-9173

NJ Division of Disability Services (NJDDS)
(609) 292-7800

NJ Division of Youth and Family Services (NJ DYFS)
(800) 331-3937

NJ Transit Access Link
(800) 955-2321

Social Security Administration (SSA)
(800) 772-1213

 

Important Information:

Child Find
Project Child Find is a free referral service and public awareness campaign to assist in the identification of unserved/underserved youth with a delay or disability from birth through 21 years of age. It also develops and distributes information to the public about early intervention services and special education programs throughout New Jersey. The toll-free number for Project Child Find is 800-322-8174.

Infants and Toddlers (Birth to Age 3): If you are concerned your infant or toddler is developing or learning differently, you can call an Early Intervention Service Coordinator. For Cape May County residents, the number to call is 609-465-1202. For Atlantic County residents, the number to call is 609-645-7700, extension 4390. When you call, a service coordinator will talk with you about your concerns and offer referral information if needed. If a developmental evaluation is indicated, the service coordinator will work with you to schedule a multidisciplinary evaluation of your child's developmental levels and needs. This evaluation service is provided at no cost to parents. If appropriate, certain early intervention services may be recommended.

Preschool Children (Ages 3 to 5): If you are concerned that your preschool child is developing or learning differently, you can call the Ocean City Preschool Assessment Person, Lorraine Baldwin,  at 609-399-3191, extension 6522. A meeting will be arranged to discuss your concerns and conduct a screening to determine if an evaluation is warranted. If that is the case, and the findings support Special Services, implementation of these recommendations and program planning would be completed with you. Your written consent would be required before any such services would begin. All these services are provided at no cost to parents. 

School-Age Students (Ages 5-21): If you are concerned that your school-age child is developing or learning differently, you can talk with your child's school guidance counselor, who may refer the matter to the Intervention and Referral Services Committee (I&RS). You also have the right to request a child study team evaluation for consideration of special education and related services. Any such request would need to be in writing and directed to: Dr. Lauren Gunther, Director of Special Services, 501 Atlantic Avenue, Ocean City, NJ 08226.

 

Special Education Parent Advisory Group (SEPAG) Members:

President
Jodee Wagner

SEPAG English Brochure

SEPAG Spanish Brochure


Homeless Students

The Ocean City School District is cognizant of the variety of difficulties many families face when they find themselves in a situation in which they have no fixed, regular and adequate night time residence.  This would be considered “homeless” and below is a link to the McKinney-Vento Act that further defines what the federal government considers homeless and the services that must be provided by school districts to these students.

The Homeless Liaison for the Ocean City School District is Dr. Lauren Gunther, Director of Student Services – 609-399-1290 ext. 8753 or lgunther@ocsdnj.org   

https://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/briefs/reauthorization.pdf

Parental Rights In Special Education (PRISE)

Click Here for More Information

MRSA

What is it?

MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus) is a type of staph bacterium that is resistant to antibiotics, making it more difficult to treat. It usually appears as a skin infection, but may lead to pneumonia or blood infections.

Who can get it?

Although previously found in hospitals and nursing homes, MRSA is now appearing in schools and daycare centers.

What does it look like?

Staph or MRSA infections usually appear as skin infections such as pimples, pustules and boils, which are red, swollen, painful, or have puss or other drainage.

How is it spread?

MRSA is almost always spread by direct physical contact. It can also spread when people contact contaminated objects such as towels, clothing, and gym or sports equipment.

How can we prevent it?

Simple measures such as proper hand washing, showering after working out and laundering clothing in hot water can help avoid contamination. If you have an opening in the skin it is important to keep it covered. Do not share equipment that is not cleaned regularly.

**Contact your Doctor if you have any suspicious skin lesions.

For more information on MRSA

H1N1 Flu Information

Action Steps for Parents to Protect Your Child and Family from the Flu this School Year:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends 4 main ways you and your family may keep from getting sick with the flu at school and at home:

1) Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.

2) Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.  If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder; not into your hands.

3) Stay home if you or your child is sick for at least 24 hours after there is no longer a fever or signs of a fever (without the use of fever-reducing medicine). Keeping sick students at home means that they keep their viruses to themselves rather than sharing them with others.

4) Get your family vaccinated for seasonal flu and H1N1 flu when vaccines are available.

If flu conditions become MORE severe, parents should consider the following steps:

Extend the time sick children stay home for at least 7 days, even if they feel better sooner. People who are still sick after 7 days should continue to stay home until at least 24 hours after symptoms have completely gone away.

If a household member is sick, keep any school-aged brothers or sisters home for 5 days from the time the household member became sick. Parents should monitor their health and the health of other school-aged children for fever and other symptoms of the flu.


Follow these steps to prepare for the flu during the school year:

Plan for child care at home if your child gets sick or their school is dismissed.

Plan to monitor the health of the sick child and any other children in the household by checking for fever and other symptoms of flu.

Identify if you have children who are at higher risk of serious disease from the flu and talk to your healthcare provider about a plan to protect them during the flu season. Children at high risk of serious disease from the flu include: children under 5 years of age and those children with chronic medical conditions, such as asthma and diabetes.

Identify a separate room in the house for the care of sick family members.

Update emergency contact lists.

Collect games, books, DVDs and other items to keep your family entertained if schools are dismissed or your child is sick and must stay home.

Talk to your school administrators about their pandemic or emergency plan.

For more information:
Visit: https://www.flu.gov/

Contact CDC 24 Hours/Every Day
1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636)
TTY: (888)232-6348

cdcinfo@cdc.gov

Centers for Disease Control Flyer

Crisis Services

To view this helpful PDF containing quick contact information for crisis services, click here

County Vaccine Program Information

To download the attached PDF for more information, click here

Additional Documents:

Documents