Student Assistance Program

 

Do You See Your Child Showing Any of These Behaviors? Withdrawing from family, friends, and/or school Changing friends; no longer spends time with old friends Unexplained physical injuries Talking about suicide Depressed Defying authority, both at home and at school Acting aggressively Lying Needing money without an explanation Sudden drop in grades Experimenting with drugs	Are You Concerned About Your Child's Reaction to: Recent death of a loved one Divorce of parents Family relocation A relationship problem Other traumatic event
THE STUDENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM CAN HELP

 WHAT IS THE STUDENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM?

Student Assistance Programs (SAP) were established to assist parents and school personnel in removing these barriers to learning, every public school in the state of Pennsylvania is required to have a program in place to help identify and assist with the mentioned issues above. The SAP team, made up of specially trained school and agency staff, is available to help you in accessing school and community services for your child.

 

Students come to the SAP team in different ways. The following individuals can refer someone to the program if they are concerned about someone.

 

First, know that your child was referred because someone has a genuine concern about observable behaviors/changes they are seeing in your child.

 

Once a child has been referred to the program, the SAP team sends out confidential behavioral checklists to those involved in working with the student (teachers, discipline office, guidance) to find out if others are noticing anything that may be a cause for concern. After the information is collected and presented to the team, contact is made with the parent/guardian to discuss the referral and to request a permission form is signed so the SAP process can begin. Unless a specific school policy has been violated, participation in the SAP process is completely voluntary.

 

Together, you and the SAP team will discuss a plan of action to help your child achieve success in school. This may include services and/or activities available in school. Most often, this plan includes setting up a screening for your child. This is conducted by our SAP agency liaison, the screening is a process designed to help identify any problems/issues/behaviors that may be impeding your child.

 

The screening takes place during regular school hours here in our building and is performed at no cost to the parent. It includes both parent and student (we cannot conduct the screening without a parent being present), and lasts for approximately 1 1/2 hours. Based upon the observable behavioral information collected from the school, personnel and the information gathered from the screening, our SAP liaison will make a recommendation to the student and parent regarding what kind of interventions (if any) might be helpful for your child. Because the program is voluntary (except in cases of school policy violations), it is completely up to the parent and child to decide if you will follow through with the recommendation that is given. Either way, know that the SAP team will continue to monitor your child's progress  and welcomes your support and involvement regarding your child's success in school.