Student Assistance Program
The Student Assistance Program (S.A.P.) at Norwin School District is available in every building and is designed to provide various support services to meet students' social, emotional, behavioral, and academic needs. The goals of the S.A.P. Program are to facilitate collaboration between home and school and provide interventions to help students overcome barriers to learning. The program is voluntary and parents/guardians are notified and provided with approval forms that must be submitted prior to a student participating in the program.
The Student Assistant Program is comprised of trained school professionals (guidance counselors, teachers, and administrators) who may receive referrals from parents, teachers, students, and other school staff. This team works closely with outside agencies and other counseling and referral services. A list of team members is available in the guidance office of each school.
What is a Core Team?
A core team is a trained team of school personnel that meets regularly to identify and assist students and families in seeking appropriate help through S.A.P. The core team will also include a liaison, representing both the mental health drug and alcohol systems.
What might be a reason to refer someone to the S.A.P. Team?
The Student Assistant Program is comprised of trained school professionals (guidance counselors, teachers, and administrators) who may receive referrals from parents, teachers, students, and other school staff. This team works closely with outside agencies and other counseling and referral services. A list of team members is available in the guidance office of each school.
What is a Core Team?
A core team is a trained team of school personnel that meets regularly to identify and assist students and families in seeking appropriate help through S.A.P. The core team will also include a liaison, representing both the mental health drug and alcohol systems.
What might be a reason to refer someone to the S.A.P. Team?
- Bullying
- Change in behavior or mood (easily upset, sad, angry, fighting, unpredictable, secretive, etc.)
- Drop in grades or school performance (skipping school, not completing home work, etc.)
- Change in friends, appearance or interest
- Physical systems or health problems (fatigue, weight loss/gain, change in sleep patterns, headaches, etc.)
- Defiance of rules at home or school (refusing to do chores, coming home late, avoiding family, taking money, etc.)
- Alcohol or other drug use, no matter how minimal, or misuse of medications
- Expressing hopelessness, worthlessness or helplessness
- Runaway or leaving for extended periods of time
- Expressing desire to punish or gain revenge via harmful means (harasses, threatens others, etc.)
- Personal stressors (relocation, job loss, birth, death, military deployment of family members, etc.)
What is the S.A.P. policy regarding confidentiality?
Confidentiality between all parties involved in the S.A.P. process shall be respected and maintained in the best interest of the student and in accordance with all State and Federal laws protecting the privacy rights of parents and students.
How can I refer someone to the S.A.P. Team?
You may complete the S.A.P. Referral Form S.A.P. referral form and send it to the Guidance Office of the school the student attends. Please do not send form with any student.
Confidentiality between all parties involved in the S.A.P. process shall be respected and maintained in the best interest of the student and in accordance with all State and Federal laws protecting the privacy rights of parents and students.
How can I refer someone to the S.A.P. Team?
You may complete the S.A.P. Referral Form S.A.P. referral form and send it to the Guidance Office of the school the student attends. Please do not send form with any student.
What is the Parents' Role?
Parent involvement strengthens the decision making process about any behavior that is affecting the education, health, safety, or welfare of their child. Active parent support of the S.A.P. process promotes student success. Students are more likely to benefit from S.A.P. recommendations when parents are informed, involved and supportive.
What is the S.A.P. Referral Process?
The Student Assistance Program is conducted on a voluntary basis utilizing the following process.
STEP I - Students are referred to S.A.P. by:
Parent involvement strengthens the decision making process about any behavior that is affecting the education, health, safety, or welfare of their child. Active parent support of the S.A.P. process promotes student success. Students are more likely to benefit from S.A.P. recommendations when parents are informed, involved and supportive.
What is the S.A.P. Referral Process?
The Student Assistance Program is conducted on a voluntary basis utilizing the following process.
STEP I - Students are referred to S.A.P. by:
- School Administrator
- Teacher
- Other School Personnel (Guidance, Counselor, Nurse, etc.)
- Fellow Students
- Self-Referral
- Parent/Family
STEP II - All referrals to the S.A.P. are reviewed by the core team, and a formal information gathering process begins. Data is collected from various sources such as:
- Student Records (academic, school attendance)
- Teachers (classroom behavior)
- Guidance Counselors (special areas of concern
- School nurse
- Other School Personnel
STEP III - Based on information gathered, a determination is made by the core team as to the seriousness of the problem and the level of intervention that is needed. When an in-school screening has been indicated, one is set up with the S.A.P. liaison. Throughout the S.A.P. process, family and core team work together to develop the plan.
STEP IV - The core team and/or liaison then assists the student and the parents/family in developing an action plan. The action plan may consist of:
STEP IV - The core team and/or liaison then assists the student and the parents/family in developing an action plan. The action plan may consist of:
- In-school support services and/or.
- Further evaluation by the mental health system, drug and alcohol system or both to determine the most appropriate level of care needed and/or other professional services outside the school setting
STEP V - The core team monitors the progress of the student to determine the extent to which the identified problems are being resolved through the action plan. If necessary, changes will be made to the action plan.