Skip To Main Content

Student Assistance Program (SAP)

The Student Assistance Program (S.A.P.) is a way to help teenagers who are having school-related problems. Problems which can create barriers to learning may include drug and/or alcohol abuse, social and emotional concerns, and those associated with mental health issues. The S.A.P. is also a method for intervening and referring these students to appropriate community services. It is an intervention, not a treatment program.

The S.A.P. is a systematic process which makes it possible for school personnel to determine which students may be having problems and refer them for help. The heart of the program is a Student Assistance Team, which is a core group of school personnel who are specially trained to work with these students.

Any student can be referred to the S.A.P. team. Referrals can be made by the school staff, a student's parent or guardian, peers, or by the student them self. Referrals are made when a student is not meeting academic success due to the possibility of emotional or social concerns. Once a referral is made, the core team collects information from other members of the staff who have contact with the student. An interview is conducted with the student after receiving written permission from the student's parent/guardian to present recommendations.
 
The core team, based upon all information that has been received, contacts the parent/guardian. The core team continues to monitor the student, provide support for the student, and evaluate the recommendations that were made. All S.A.P. records are confidential, and are not filed with school records. Federal law prohibits the disclosure of drug and alcohol assessment results without written permission from the student.

confidential referral form

Clicking the button above will take you to the online confidential referral form.

1. What is the Student Assistance Program?
  • The role of SAP is to intervene with students who are experiencing barriers to their learning.
2. What are some barriers to student learning?
  • Barriers to learning may include:
  • Drug and alcohol abuse
  • Mental health issues
  • Social and emotional concerns
3. Who should you refer to SAP?
  • You should refer any student that shows signs of emotional and social concerns often in addition to poor academic success.
4. What is the academic team's role in the SAP process?
  • Before making a SAP referral, it is suggested that the academic team of teachers :
    • Contact the student's parent by phone to discuss the concerns regarding concerns.
    • Meet with the student as a team.
    • Meet with the parent of the student in question, addressing concerns at that time.
    • Meet with both student and parent regarding the student's barriers to learning.
    • Set up a meeting for the counselor to talk with the student.
5. What happens when a referral does not receive parent and student permission to participate?
  • When a referral is made, but permission is not received from the parent(s) and the student, the student remains on a monitor status. Treatment services cannot take place without the consent of the student and parent.