Student Assistance Program

THE MISSION:

The Student Assistance Program is designed to provide a means for early identification, intervention, and referral for students who are considered “at risk.”

THE GOALS:

The Student Assistance Team works toward early identification of alcohol/drug abuse problems as well as behavioral and mental health concerns, including but not limited to, anxiety, depression or other issues. The overall goal is to identify and address these problems in a timely manner. The hope is to assist students in their personal growth while also fostering a successful school experience. The Team will assist in the following ways: 

• By offering an intervention plan that may include a recommendation for further evaluation.
• By sharing any results and recommendations with each student and his family.

THE PROGRAM (How it Works):

If a parent, fellow student, faculty member, community person, or the student himself has a concern, a referral can be made by one of three ways:

    1) The online referral form is linked via the red button at the top right of this page.

    2) A SAP referral form can be filled out and dropped of in the referral boxes located at the
    school store and in the hallway near the main office. Referral forms are available in the main
    office, counseling office, or through any SAP team member. 

    3) Referrals can be made in person by discussing questions and concerns with any of the SAP
    team members listed below.

All referrals will be handled confidentially, following the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). When a referral is made, parental permission is needed to continue with the process and to conduct an evaluation. All school-based SAP evaluations are provided by Pennsylvania Counseling Services at no cost to the family. Once a referral is made, the team will collect data to aid in the identification of a potential problem. Based upon the results of the fact-finding, the team will then make a decision regarding intervention. Recommendations may include counseling, therapy or another form of treatment. It is also possible that the SAP Team feels no action is necessary in a particular case. A referral for further evaluation and/or in-school or out-of-school treatment programs may also be recommended.

THE TEAM:

The Student Assistance Team is comprised of a group of trained teachers, counselors, nurses, and administrators who strive to provide support to students “at risk.” If the Team is notified that a student’s education may be in jeopardy, they will intervene in an attempt to identify ongoing problems. The overall purpose is to assist students who may have been negatively affected by life situations.  Of note, the Team is not intended to provide treatment nor to discipline students. It is dedicated to helping students recognize potential dangers and to provide options for change and/or recovery. We believe in the right of the individual and his family to decide on their personal course of action. The team has successfully accomplished their mission when a student and his family have an awareness of a problem and recommendations have been given to assist the family to resolve the problem. The decision to seek that assistance rests with the student and his family.     

High School Team Members:

Matt Wincek

Alicia Kirkpatrick

Brock Edwards

Lindsey Spencer

Danielle Hannon

Sherry Harvatine

Sandy Voegtlen

Ellen Minnier

Kelly Gilroy

Cory Hodgdon

Henry Laboranti

Elementary School Team Members:

Melissa Bennet

Carrie Dickson

Jessica O'Connor

Brent Keyes

Dana Otis

Yvonne Kelly

Mark Wright, Primary Contact

Evaluations provided by:

• Cory Hodgdon, Bradford County Outreach Worker