Spectrum recognizes that each school community is different with respect to structure, readiness, need, and capabilities. The Spectrum Youth & Family Services Student Assistance Program (SAP) is designed to work with individual school communities to assess their needs, interests, and capabilities and to design a customized Student Assistance Program.  The Student Assistance Counselor, in collaboration with all of the school stakeholders responsible for the continued development and implementation of the program.

Program Goal

The goal of the Student Assistance Program (SAP) is to provide and develop an effective program based on the school communities' individual needs to provide a basis for substance use prevention and intervention services. The primary task of an SAP counselor is early identification, intervention, and referral.

Services Available

As an active part of the school community, the Student Assistance Program counselor can offer a broad range and combination of services. The SAP counselor participates in school teams such as Student Support Teams to assist with screening and needs assessment, referral and coordination of services for students who may be presenting with alcohol or other drug or mental health problems. The counselor can also provide individual early identification and intervention with students who self-refer. Group psycho-education, skills training and other intervention and prevention activities can also be part of a Student Assistance Program.

Additionally, counselors provide training for staff, parents and anyone identified as part of the school community.  Topics generally include but are not limited to: general prevalence of substance related problems, signs and symptoms of drug/alcohol related problems, intervention skills, as well as information about the continuum of community treatment services. In coordination with the school administration, the Student Assistance counselor also provides coordinated case management, follow-up, and tracking for youth who have violated the school alcohol and drug policy.

For More Information

Spectrum Youth & Family Services Student Assistance Counselors work in elementary, middle and high schools throughout the area. For more information please call (802) 862-5396 x 310.