Student Assistance Program (SAP)

Welcome Message

Welcome to the Reading School District’s Student Assistance Program (SAP) page.  We hope that the information provided in the following links is beneficial to you during your visit to our site.

The goal of the District’s Student Assistance Program is to provide an opportunity for students, parents /guardians and staff members to access help for students who are possibly experiencing mental health and / or drug and alcohol issues causing them not to be successful in school.  The Reading School District is dedicated to helping students overcome these barriers to learning through in-school and out-of-school support and referrals to counseling services as needed. SAP trained staff members have contact information regarding outside agencies to whom students and their families can be referred to help them overcome these barriers.

Members of the Student Assistance Program would like to wish all of the students in the Reading School District a healthy, safe and successful school year!

Mission Statement

The mission of the Pennsylvania Network for Student Assistance Services is to provide leadership for developing a safe and drug-free environment and mental health wellness in schools and communities across the Commonwealth. Barriers to learning will be removed and student academic achievement will be enhanced through collaborative prevention, intervention, and post-intervention services.  

What are Student Assistance Programs? 

Student Assistance Programs (SAP) are designed to aid school personnel in identifying and assisting students who may be experiencing problems which may be a barrier to their learning.  At times, these issues may be related to mental health concerns, depression, suicidal thoughts or alcohol and other substance use.  SAP utilizes a systematic process, along with specially trained staff, to intervene and refer students to appropriate in-school and / or community services.

Why do we have a Student Assistance Program?

All school districts in Pennsylvania are mandated to establish and maintain a program to provide appropriate support services for students who experience difficulties in school. SAP has been in existence since 1984.  Statewide, approximately 70,000 students are annually referred to SAP.

How does SAP work in the Reading School District?

SAP consists of a core team of professionally trained staff that may include teachers, administrators, school nurses, school counselors and community agency personnel.  SAP team members meet to review referrals and make appropriate recommendations for services.

Students can be referred to SAP for different reasons: violating the District’s drug and alcohol policy; exhibiting signs of possible mental health problems, including the risk of suicide; displaying behavioral problems or declining in school performance.  It is important to know that students can be referred to SAP by teachers, school counselors, school nurses, administrators, other school personnel, parents, friends or themselves.

Student participation is voluntary and is meant to be a support service for families and their children.  All information regarding students’ involvement in SAP is confidential and maintained in the best interest of the students.

What services are offered by the SAP team?

• Integrated Behavioral Health Assessment

• Case management and monitoring of school progress

• Referrals to Outside Agencies / Services when needed

• Support Groups

• Prevention Services

If you need more information, please contact the following school’s SAP Coordinators at:

Additional SAP Related Information

• Mental Health Crisis / Other Emergency Information

• Making a SAP Referral

• Parents Page

• Students Page

• Local / National Hotlines

• Internet Resources

• Pennsylvania SAP Website

Making a SAP Referral

When should I make a SAP referral?

A referral should be made to the SAP team if you recognize any of these signs:

• Drop in grades

• Cutting school

• Change in appearance / Change in friends

• Erratic behavior

• Depressive symptoms / anxiety

• Known or suspicion of drug / alcohol use

• Change in sleep patterns / eating patterns

• Talk of harm to self / others

Click here for a further list of "Signs of Students At-Risk"

How do I make a SAP referral?

It is important to remember that teachers, school personnel, parents, friends or the students themselves can make a SAP referral.  If you would like to make a referral or receive more information about your school’s Student Assistance Program, please contact the SAP Coordinator:

Parents Page

What are Student Assistance Programs?

Student Assistance Programs (SAP) are designed to aid school personnel in identifying and assisting students who may be experiencing problems which may be a barrier to their learning.  At times, these issues may be related to mental health concerns, depression, suicidal thoughts or alcohol and other substance use.  SAP utilizes a systematic process, along with specially trained staff, to intervene and refer students to appropriate in-school and / or community services.

Why do we have a Student Assistance Program?

All school districts in Pennsylvania are mandated to establish and maintain a program to provide appropriate support services for students who experience difficulties in school. SAP has been in existence since 1984.  Statewide, approximately 70,000 students are annually referred to SAP.

How does SAP work in the Reading School District?

SAP consists of a core team of professionally trained staff that may include teachers, administrators, school nurses, school counselors and community agency personnel.  SAP team members meet to review referrals and make appropriate recommendations for services.

Students can be referred to SAP for different reasons: violating the District’s drug and alcohol policy; exhibiting signs of possible mental health problems, including the risk of suicide; displaying behavioral problems or declining in school performance.  It is important to know that students can be referred to SAP by teachers, school counselors, school nurses, administrators, other school personnel, parents, friends or themselves.

Student participation is voluntary and is meant to be a support service for families and their children.  All information regarding students’ involvement in SAP is confidential and maintained in the best interest of the students.

What services are offered by the SAP team?

1. Integrated Behavioral Health Assessment

2. Case management and monitoring of school progress

3. Referrals to Outside Agencies / Services when needed

4. Support Groups

5. Prevention Services

If you need more information, please contact the following school’s SAP Coordinators at:

Students Page

What can SAP do for students?

SAP is available to all students in the middle and high schools.  If you or another student you know is experiencing difficulties in school or issues with depression, drugs / alcohol, suicidal thoughts or other concerns, please talk to a teacher, school counselor, SAP coordinator, school nurse or administrator about a SAP referral. 

SAP can help identify and determine what services are appropriate to help students who are struggling with barriers to their learning.  This may involve sitting down one-on-one with an outside agency SAP team member to assess what may be causing difficulties in and out of school; having the students’ school progress monitored; participating in a support group or referring the students for outside counseling or treatment.

Is participation in SAP mandatory?

If students violate Reading School District’s drug and alcohol policy, then participation is mandatory.  Otherwise, SAP is voluntary for students who are referred for other reasons.

What about confidentiality?

Names and information about students who are referred to SAP are kept confidential by the SAP team with the best interest of students in mind.  Information about students participating in SAP will not be released to other students.  Only school personnel with a “need to know” will be given information.  Remember, parents need to be notified and written permission must be received in order for SAP services to begin.

Tips for Students

• Be informed about issues affecting you and your peers such as alcohol, drugs, suicide, depression and violence.

• Be open and honest with the SAP team regarding concerns or fears.  Give the team the opportunity to assist you.

• Follow through with the SAP team’s recommendations for further

• services.

• Understand confidentiality issues.

• Supply your school with current contact information, including correct address and phone numbers.

• Make decisions for yourself; avoid peer pressure.

• Keep open lines of communication with your parents and other adults.

• Get involved in your school’s clubs, sports and activities.

• Ask your teachers for help with your academics.

Below are links for further resources:

• Signs of Students At-Risk

• Local / National Hotlines

• Internet Resources

• Making a SAP Referral

Signs of Students At-Risk 

1. Academic decline from earning A’s and B’s to earning D’s and F’s.

2. Decreased attention span / Not staying on task anymore

3. Observing chronic expressions of anger / sadness

4. Observing behaviors such as overheard (first hand) conversations about feeling very sad / depressed or having suicidal thoughts

5. A student’s expressing concern or fear about a fellow student’s mental health

6. Observing a significant weight loss or weight gain

7. Observing a distinct behavior change or change of friends

8. A smell similar to marijuana, nicotine or alcohol on a student or his / her belongings

9. Observing drug-related, satanic related or death related language or drawings

10. Observing behaviors such as overheard (first hand) conversations about using alcohol or other drugs, or parties where drugs and alcohol were or will be present

11. A student’s expressing concern or fear about a fellow student’s use of mood altering substances

12. Observing glassy-eyes, red eyes, agitation, loss of interest in academic and extra curricular activities, frequent cold-like symptoms, rash around the nose / mouth, and / or chemical smell

13. A student tells you he / she wants help

14. Chronic Truancy (unlawful and / or unexcused absences)

Resources

Internet Resources

Local/National Hotlines
 

Alcohol & Drug Abuse
 

Counseling & Referral

Mental Health Concerns

 Family Distress

 Self Mutilation

Eating Disorders

Physical and Sexual Abuse or Assault

To report child abuse:

 HIV/AIDS/Sexual Health

Mental Health Crisis / Other Emergency Information

Mental Health Crisis

If you or someone you know is in a mental health crisis situation, help is available.  We encouraged you to call Service Access and Management (S.A.M.).  It is open to the public and available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.

Telephone:  (610) 236-0530 

You may also call Berks Talk line.  It is manned by trained, experienced listeners from 11 A.M. to 11 P.M.   Calls are free and confidential.

Telephone: (610) 374-TALK

Website:    PRIVATE http://www.berks-talkline.org

Other Emergency Information

Meet the High School Student Assistance Coordinator

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