Student Assistance Program

The High School Student Assistance Program is a school-based network that links students with problems or concerns to appropriate school and community resources.  The Student Assistance Specialist offers a yearly class, which teaches students how to be peer helpers.  A variety of mental health services are available to support the trained student peer helpers.  The Student Assistance Specialist also offers consultation/education services to school personnel, parents, and community members. Counseling and classroom education are also available.

The overall goals of the Prevention Program are to:

1. Increase student and staff awareness of the helping resources available within the school and the community.
2. Encourage an attitude that conveys the message that “it is okay to seek help”.
3. Reach students who might “fall through the cracks” or who are resistant to seeking help.
4. Provide information and instruction regarding effective coping skills to students.
5. Promote early identification and intervention for students whose school performance deteriorates.
6. Provide early problem identification and intervention, thereby enhancing responsible decision making, improving coping skills, linking students, parents and school personnel to appropriate community resources, and providing support and guidance as reinforcement to achieving goals of customers.
7. Increase awareness of substance abuse and mental health issues and services.