Who can participate in SAP?

Easy answer? Anyone and everyone! However, there are often concerns in one or more of these areas: 

• Withdrawing from family, friends and/or school
• Changing friends; no longer spending time with old friends
• Unexplained physical injuries
• Talking about suicide
• Symptoms of depression or anxiety
• Defying authority, at home or school
• Acting aggressively
• Lying
• Sudden drop in grades
• Experimenting with drugs or alcohol
• Family relocation
• Recent loss of a loved one
• Changes in family (divorce, separation, sibling leaving for college, etc.)
• Traumatic events

What happens after my child is referred? 

Whether the referral comes from the family or school, the process is the same: 

1. A case manager will be assigned to the student. 
2. Surveys regarding behavior, personality, observable changes, and other pertinent items will be sent to important figures in the student's academic life (teacher, nurse, principal, counselor). Surveys to additional staff members can also be sent if deemed necessary. 
3. SAP team will review the survey answers and discuss the best ways to help this child succeed. This could include:
   1. Providing information about counseling services.
   2. Offering a parent assessment with the SAP specialist regarding student concerns.
   3. Linking to other community resources. 
   4. Place in a SAP group (with permission). 
   5. Link with a teacher mentor (when available). 
4. Parents will be contacted regarding student progress and any additional concerns that may arise. 
5. SAP case manager will continue to monitor progress and review with team. 
6. Case can be "discharged" at any time when decided upon by the SAP team OR if a parent refuses services. 

Does SAP do anything else? 

Yes! At the elementary level, SAP Specialists provide groups and parent assessments. Once students hit 5th grade, they can receive a SAP assessment themselves, which basically just means that they talk directly to the SAP Specialist about what is going on and what they may need help with. SAP provide drug and alcohol support in the older grades as well through classroom presentations, assemblies, and groups / individual sessions. The district SAP teams and the the Caron Foundation work together closely to determine what services each school would benefit from.