Student Assistance Programming
and Your School

Student Assistance Programming

The Illinois Masonic Student Assistance Program is a school-based early intervention approach for students who are having difficulty being successful in school. There are a number of factors that may contribute to student difficulties in school. Among these are problems with:

• Learning
• Socialization
• Substance Abuse
• Changes in the family
• Peer pressure
• School environment

What is the Goal of the SAP?

Student Assistance Programs can positively affect student achievement and health.

The goal of the Student Assistance Program is to identify and assist students whose behavior, attendance, health and /or academic performance indicate that they may have problems threatening their success in school.

Through the SAP process, students are directed to appropriate school or community- based services. Working cooperatively, the school-based core team and community services personnel assist the student and his/her family to receive the necessary help.

Who is on the Core Team?

The core team of the SAP is comprised of a building administrator, two or more classroom teachers, school counselors, social workers, and a school nurse. A district central office administrator is also needed to mentor the program's development.

Ad hoc team members include:

• School psychologist
• Adolescent/child addictions counselor
• Child/family mental health counselor

Program Components

Most Student Assistance Programs have several components, that when implemented comprehensively will help the program be successful. Included in these components are:

1. School Board Policy which is fair and consistently enforced addressing the areas of Substance use/abuse/sale, violent behavior and the role of the Student Assistance Program.
2. Administrative support at both the building and district level
3. Formation of a building-level intervention or core team
4. Staff Development Training - Appropriate and ongoing, for the core team and all staff
5. An internal referral process to identify students that is school-based and school -focued
6. Program Awareness for staff, parents and students
7. Integration with other school based programs and resources
8. Cooperation and collaboration with community based agencies and resources
9. Student intervention resources including support groups and mentoring
10. Program evaluation

How are students actually helped?

Briefly, a systematic, objective and careful process is followed, which includes:

1. Early identification,
2. Data Collection of grades, attendance, parent and student self reports,
3. Intervention plan and implementation to help address the problem, which may involve mentors, joining a group or seeing an community counselor and
4. Follow-up, a collaborative process to monitor the student's progress and need for additional options.