A SAP GUIDE FOR PARENTS AND FAMILIES

What is the Student Assistance Program (SAP)?

In Pennsylvania, every school must have a Student Assistance Program (SAP). A SAP team, made up of school and community agency staff, is here to help you access school and community services.

A specially trained team, (Student Assistance Team, Elementary Student Assistance Team) made up of school and community agency staff, is here to help you access school and community services.

Centennial is in the vanguard of making student assistance services available to all students, K-12.

Do you see your child showing any of these behaviors?

• Sudden drop in grades
• Frustration over failure to master key grade-level skills
• Withdrawing from friends; no longer spending time with old friends
• Unexplained physical injuries
• Talking about suicide
• Depression
• Defying authority, both at home and at school
• Acting aggressively or acting out
• Lying
• Needing money without an explanation
• Experimenting with drugs or alcohol

Are you concerned about your child's reaction to:

• Recent death of a loved one
• porce of parents
• Family relocation
• A relationship problem
• Other traumatic event

If your child is having trouble in or out of school, we can help you. There may be times when you just do not know how to help your child. That is okay; someone else may know how to help.

Do not feel embarrassed or uncomfortable about asking for help. When extra help is needed, knowing how and where to find help can be overwhelming.

How does my child become involved in the program?

Your school's Student Assistance Team will help you find services and assistance within the school and, if needed, in the community. We do not diagnose, treat, or refer your child for treatment. Rather, we will provide you with information; you make the choices. Remember, you are part of our team. Our goal is to help your child succeed in school.

Students come to the team in different ways. Anyone, including you, can refer a student to the team. Some students are referred by teachers and other school personnel. Any school staff member, a student's friend, or family member can let the team know that they are worried about someone. The students themselves can even go directly to the team to ask for help. This is not a punitive process, so the referred student cannot get in trouble; however, the team will not get involved without parents' permission.

What if someone has already referred my child to the program?

First, know that your child was referred because someone is concerned about observable changes they are seeing in your child. Perhaps, a teacher or a friend has noticed changes in behavior and habits that you may or may not have noticed at home.

In collecting data about your child, your observations of your child at home are important.

The team will request that you sign a permission form for your child to become involved in the program. Once you sign, the team will begin to work with you and your child. If you feel that you need more information before making a decision, please let your team know. If you do not sign the permission form, the team will not become involved. Participation is voluntary.

What happens after I give my permission?

There are several steps that the team will take after you sign the permission form:

1. The team will gather specific information about your child's performance in school from all school staff that has contact with your child.A team member will also talk with you either in person or by phone about your observations, your child's strengths, and your concerns.

2. Together, you and the team will develop a plan of action to help your child achieve success in school. The plan might include services and activities in school and/or services from a community agency. If necessary, the team will talk with you about services in the community and give you information on how to contact others who may be able to help.
3. The team will continue to work with and support your child. The team will monitor your child's academic, health, attendance, and behavioral performance for a period of 90 days. They will make a follow-up telephone call to you at that time to get your assessment on your child's progress. Your continued involvement is very important.

Contacting your school's Student Assistance Program

If you feel that your child may need help, call your child's school and ask to speak with a member of the Student Assistance program. Someone will be there to help.

Privacy

The SAP team and the school will respect your child's and your privacies at all times.

CONTACTS

Listed below are phone numbers for the Centennial School District Elementary Student Support Program and the Secondary Student Assistance Program:

Davis Elementary
215-364-5970
Ms. Lavonda Daniels
[email protected] 

McDonald Elementary
215-441-6157
Mr. Ernesto Ortiz
[email protected]

Willow Dale Elementary
215-441-6093
Mrs. Cathy Perkins
[email protected]

Klinger Middle School
215-364-5950, Extension 13040
Guidance Secretary will take your name and number
or e-mail [email protected]

Log College Middle School
215-441-6075, Extension 14040
Guidance Secretary will take your name and number
or e-mail: [email protected]

William Tennent High School
215-441-6181
Leave a message or e-mail:
[email protected]

AFTER-HOURS EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Police Emergency-Dial 911

Mental Health Crisis/Emergency Services
Lenape Valley Foundation
1-800-499-7455 or 215-345-2273

Bucks County Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Drug and/or
Alcohol Emergency Hot Line
1-800-221-6333