Student Assistance Program

2020-2021

Getting the most out of your school's Student Assistance Program

What is SAP?
The Student Assistance Program in your school is provided by The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania.

The SAP team within your school consists of SAP trained and certified; school counselors, teachers, social workers, administrators, and the SAP Counselor (from The Council). The team meets regularly to discuss students who may have been referred to the SAP team for various reasons. The goal of the team is to identify barriers that may be preventing the student from being successful in school and to implement the needed support services to assist him/her.

“It is next to impossible to expect teaching and learning to occur in a crisis without attending to our emotions.” -Christina Cipriano, Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence

Have you noticed recent changes in a student's behavior?

Emotional Concerns:

Inappropriate responses
Death of a family member or friend
Writings or drawings that reflect death
Negative attitude
Appears sad or withdrawn
Sudden outbursts of anger
Overly critical of self
Blames others
Expresses uselessness/hopelessness

Physical Concerns:

Appears tired
Poor hygiene
Falls asleep in class
Complains of nausea or headaches
Noticeable change in weight
Unsteady on feet
Disciplinary action
Frequent cold like symptoms
Self-abuse (self-harm, ex. cutting, burning)

Social Concerns:

Social Isolation Overly critical of peers
Difficulty with peer relationships
Inattentive to social cues
Change in friends
Lacks age-appropriate social skills

Behavioral Concerns:

Negative attitude
Disruptive or attention seeking
Bullying, fighting, or threatening
Defies rules
Openly expresses drug/alcohol use
Defensive or argumentative

Virtual Concerns:

Does not regularly participate
Does not seek additional help (and should)
Does not reply when called upon
Does not appear engaged in the lesson
Makes inappropriate use of the chatroom
Seems distracted by home environment during class
Is frequently late to class or attendance throughout class is sporadic
Does not participates in breakout room group activities
Truancy

What The Student Assistance Program Offers:

Short term 1:1 Problem Solving Services (Does not require a formal SAP referral)

Support for re-entry (if a student was recently in treatment and is transitioning back to into school)
Follow up from a crisis
Follow up on a former SAP case
Substance use policy violation
A bridge for a student awaiting counseling services

Group Facilitation Services(Does not require a formal SAP referral)

Psychoeducational
Age appropriate
Topics include Healthy Choices, Friendship Skills, Anger Management, Coping Skills, Addiction Education, Grief & Loss, and Children of an Addict/Alcoholic

Assessment Services (Requires a formal SAP referral)

Face to face services with the student and family to identify supports to assist in reaching goals
All assessments are behavioral health assessments
SAP counselor will support families in identifying resources within insurance networks

When you address social & emotional needs, academic improvement will follow

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The SAP Process- after a referral has been made

1. Anyone can make a referral. Contact the student's school counselor to do this.

2. After a student gets referred to SAP, the SAP team will meet and gather objective information about the student's performance in school to help determine what supports may be needed for academic success.

3. The SAP Counselor will meet with the family and the student to review data that was collected and work together to identify supports for personal and academic success.

4. A SAP Screening and Behavioral Health Assessment (Mental Health and/or Drug & Alcohol) may be recommended. The purpose of a SAP Screening and Behavioral Health Assessment is to identify what supports within the educational system and the community the student may need to be successful.

5. After the screening and assessment, the SAP Counselor will continue working with the family and student and follow up on any services that were recommended.