Mission Statement

Counseling, ADAP & Psychiatric Services (CAPS)

VISION STATEMENT

Within the Division of Student Affairs and in partnership with Rutgers Student Health Services, it is our vision to become a comprehensive mental health resource center for the campus community. We aspire to offer helping resources of the highest quality to enhance students’ academic and personal progress, to educate and support faculty and staff about mental health concerns, and to work in tandem with other departments and community resources to offer the highest caliber of training for aspiring mental health practitioners.

MISSION STATEMENT & GOALS

The Center’s primary mission is to be an essential resource for students who seek assistance in dealing with mental/emotional difficulties ranging from mildly troubling concerns to life threatening crises. Secondarily, the Center supports the educational mission of the University by providing advanced training for aspiring mental health practitioners, and by establishing partnerships with faculty, Deans, student organizations and off-campus resources. Finally, in partnership with the Graduate programs in the mental health related disciplines (Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, Social Work, School of Education etc.) the Center supports research and training on best practices of prevention, intervention and follow- up support for students.

Overarching Goals

1. To contribute to student retention, academic performance, University communal life and to personal mental/emotional safety and well being by providing professional, state of the art resources to assist students with a wide range of personal/psychological needs.

2. To establish and maintain a program of assessment and continuous improvement designed to enhance the quality of all programs and services.

3. To establish the Center within the newly re-organized University community as a primary resource for students in mental/emotional crisis, and to intervene and appropriately share information to diminish risk in potentially life threatening situations.
4. To respond to the unique needs of the Rutgers University multicultural student body including students from all racial and ethnic backgrounds; international students; adult learners; first generation university students; students diagnosed with disabilities; gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students; and economically disadvantaged students.

5. To offer mentorship and to serve as a model organization for trainees to learn about the practice of multicultural work in the mental health professions.

6. To establish and maintain accreditation with the appropriate governing bodies associated with Student Health Services, CAPS and the CAPS Pre-doctoral Psychology Internship Program.

7. In consort with the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, and other mental health graduate training departments on campus, to build upon the existing skills of an experienced staff and encourage training and ongoing professional development for all staff members.

8 To establish and maintain liaison relationships with key faculty and staff groups throughout the University.