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Social / Emotional Wellness

Astor Services

As the school year begins we would like to remind you of a unique service provided within our District – The Astor Satellite Mental Health Clinic. We have renewed the contract with Astor Services for Children & Families to provide fee-based individual and family therapeutic services. This year we will continue to incorporate Substance and Alcohol abuse responsibilities within the Astor contract. 

School based services will include group work, such as “Banana Splits,” anger management and social skills groups, and various intervention responsibilities. Confidential sliding-scale fee based services (based on income) include individual and family therapy, psychiatric consultation, medication review, and a wide range of supportive interventions routinely available in all Astor clinics. Much of the cost related to therapy services
provided to families last year was billed through Medicaid and health insurance companies. Each of the therapists are available at least one evening weekly to accommodate families who cannot access services during the school day. Astor therapists receive weekly clinical supervision. 

The clinic must follow all the regulations required by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). Each of the therapists usually has a full caseload by mid- to late-November. This project has been recognized as a model program by the NY State Education Department and the Department of Mental Hygiene.

To access the Astor Services for Children & Families services at each building, please contact:

Cold Spring Early Learning Center and Seymour Smith Intermediate Learning Center:
Elizabeth Yoder, LMSW EYoder@astorservices.org 518-398-3000 ext. 3322

Stissing Mountain Jr. Sr. High School:
Emily Sullivan, LMSW ESullivan@astorservices.org 518-398-7181 ext. 1334
Site Supervisor – Cassidy Robishaw, LMHC crobishaw@astorservices.org

Astor Services continues to be a positive support to children and families within the Pine Plains Central School District. You may also obtain information about Astor at www.astorservices.org.

Information from the School Social Workers

As the School Social Workers, our goal is to support students’ academic, emotional and social growth. We are available to provide mental health counseling, crisis support, and supportive assistance to our students and families. We work on multidisciplinary teams to ensure student success by monitoring and supporting student wellness. We can connect students and families with community resources and are available to work with your student(s) to explore, understand and process emotions while identifying positive skills to manage them. Together, we identify barriers and pro-social solutions that are important for academic success and social/emotional well-being.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Cruickshank, Ms. Rennie, and Mrs. Duncan

*If your family is experiencing difficulties at home, We would like to provide additional support at school. We understand that you are not always able to share details and that’s okay. If your child is coming to school after a difficult night, morning or weekend, please contact us “Handle with Care.” Nothing else will be said or asked. This will let us know that your child may need extra time, patience, or help during the day. We appreciate your partnership as we work to best support your student.*

Additional Support

Contact Us

Phone: (518) 398-7181
Fax: (518) 398-6592

JANINE BABCOCK

Dir. of Pupil Personnel Services
Email: j.babcock@ppcsd.org
Ext. 1310

CHRISTOPHER BOYD

Stissing Principal
Email: c.boyd@ppcsd.org
Ext. 1300

SARA VON BURG

Assistant Principal
Email: s.vonburg@ppcsd.org
Ext. 1300

LINDSEY LOWRY

School Psychologist
Email: l.lowry@ppcsd.org
Ext. 1323

BRITTANY CRUICKSHANK

School Social Worker
Email: b.cruickshank@ppcsd.org
Ext. 1333

GRETA ANDERSON, RN

School Nurse
Email: m.anderson@ppcsd.org
Ext. 1336

JULIANA ZENGEN, RN

School Nurse
Email: j.zengen@ppcsd.org  
Ext. 1335

JULIE ROBERTS

Principal
Email: j.roberts@ppcsd.org
Ext. 3102

AMBER RENNIE

School Social Worker
Email: a.rennie@ppcsd.org
Ext. 

JENNIFER FUNK, RN

School Nurse
Email: j.funk@ppcsd.org
Ext. 

KRISTEN FISCHETTI

Cold Spring Principal
Email: k.fischetti@ppcsd.org
Ext. 2201

ELIZABETH MURRAY

School Psychologist
Email: e.murray@ppcsd.org
Ext. 

AMY DUNCAN

School Social Worker
Email: a.duncan@ppcsd.org
Ext. 

JENNIFER HEATH, RN

School Nurse
Email: j.heath@ppcsd.org
Ext. 

Physical Address: 
2829 Church Street
Pine Plains, NY  12567