What is the Student Assistance Program (SAP)?

The Pennsylvania Student Assistance Program (SAP) is a systematic team process used to mobilize school resources to remove barriers to learning. SAP is designed to assist in identifying issues including alcohol, tobacco, other drugs and mental health issues which pose a barrier to a student's success. The primary goal of the Student Assistance Program is to help students overcome these barriers so that they may achieve, advance, and remain in school. While Student Assistance Programs assist in other areas of the country, the structure and operation of the program in Pennsylvania is a unique expression of an integrated model serving the needs of Pennsylvania, families and students.

There are four phases to the student assistance process:

Referral- Anyone can refer a student to SAP when they are concerned about someone’s behavior -- any school staff, a student’s friend, a family member or community member. The students themselves can even go directly to the SAP team to ask for help. The SAP team contacts the parent for permission to proceed with the SAP process. At Shikellamy, referrals are completed electronically. Referral forms are accessible to all staff and students via a QR code displayed in classrooms, hallways and offices throughout the building.

• Referrals may be made based upon the following but are not limited to: mood, behavior, academic performance and/or attendance concerns, peer/social problems, drug and/or alcohol concerns, grief and loss and/or student displacement.

• To make a referral, please contact your SAP team leader by building:

1. Lara Swartz, LCSW - High School Social Worker - swartzl@shikbraves.org
2. Shelby Crawford - Middle School Counselor - crawfords@shikbraves.org
3. Danielle Finn - Chief Shikellamy School Counselor - finnd@shikbraves.org
4. Jessica Spaide - Oaklyn and Priestly Elementary Schools Counselor - spaidej@shikbraves.org

Team Planning– The SAP team gathers objective information about the student’s performance in school from all school personnel who have contact with the student. Information is also collected from the parent. Together, a plan is developed that includes strategies for removing the learning barriers and promoting the student’s academic and personal success to include in-school and/or community-based services and activities.

Intervention and Recommendations– The plan is put into action. The team assists in linking the student to in-school and/or community-based services and activities. The team might recommend a drug and alcohol or mental health assessment.

Support and Follow-Up– The SAP team continues to work with and support the student and their family. Follow-up includes monitoring, mentoring, and motivating for academic success. It is the parent’s right to be involved in the process and to have full access to all school records under the applicable state and federal laws and regulations.