Download April 2024 SAP Newsletter
SAP Connection April 2024
A monthly newsletter brought to you by PA Network for Student Assistance Services (PNSAS)
SAP Interagency
Department of Drug & Alcohol Programs (DDAP)
PA Department of Education (PDE)
Department of Human Services (DHS)
FAQ Corner
“How Many Different Teams are in Your School?”
How should your SAP team interact and support other initiatives in your
school buildings? How does your district’s threat assessment protocol
interact with your SAP process? The following is an excerpt from the
SAP
Frequently Asked Questions and Best Practice Document.You
can also see theModel
K-12 Threat Assessment Procedures and Guidelines
provided by PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency.
6. Is SAP required if the school has other team-based initiatives
(e.g., MTSS, PBIS, IST, etc.) in place?
Yes, SAP is mandated by Section 1547 of the School Code and 22 Pa. Code
12.42. SAP provides identified students with support and referral to
school and/or community-based interventions when they are experiencing
a barrier to learning. However, there are no regulations prohibiting an
SAP team from being integrated and/or aligned with other team-based
initiatives, such as MTSS, PBIS, IST, etc., provided SAP requirements
continue to be met. If your school or school entity is interested in
working toward integration and/or alignment of SAP with another
initiative, please contact your regional SAP Regional Coordinator for
assistance.
65. How should threat assessment protocols interface with existing
SAP referral protocols?
The Student Assistance Program (SAP), established under section 1547 of
the PA Public School Code, SAP is designed to assist school personnel
in identifying issues including alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, and
mental health issues which pose a barrier to a student’s success.
Pennsylvania requires all school entities (school districts, charter
schools, and cyber charter schools) to have SAP programs for all grades
(elementary and secondary). In addition to SAP, Pennsylvania state law
requires that school entities prepare written plans for implementing
comprehensive K-12 program of student services in the areas of
counseling, psychological services, health services, social work
services, and other student supports.
A student may be referred to the Student Assistance Program for
follow-up and support pending the outcome of the threat assessment.
This may be particularly important to do in lower-level threats
determined not to be an imminent threat to school/others. If the
student has been referred to the Student Assistance Program in the
past, or if there is an open referral in which the SAP team is actively
gathering data related to potential barriers to learning, the SAP team
should consider what relevant data may be able to be utilized by those
with legitimate educational interest that are involved in threat
assessment procedures.
66. What individuals should serve on both an SAP Team and Threat
Assessment Team?
Individual districts/school buildings should determine how to most
effectively engage in a teaming structure that allows for optimal usage
of school personnel. Mental health professionals in the school setting
should be dual members, as should staff with specific training in both
SAP and threat assessments. This could include the nurse, school
administrators, school safety and security coordinator, and
district/building administrators. Given the overlap in membership of SAP
and Threat Assessment Teams, cross-training is recommended.
Specifically, it is recommended that school staff members serving on
Integration with Threat Assessment Teams. SAP teams are trained in and
familiar with the threat assessment protocols. Similarly, it is
recommended that members of the Threat Assessment Team have been SAP
trained.
SAP and Threat Assessment are both vital parts of your schools’
response to concerns about students in your buildings. Finding ways to
clarify the responsibilities of each team or integrate processes will
help streamline and improve your assistance to students and families in
your district! Contact your
SAP
Regional Coordinator for assistance.
Liaison FAQ Corner
“How Can Liaisons Help Teams?”
Many liaisons and agencies have questions about recordkeeping – where
do screening/assessment records physically remain, how long are they
kept, and who should have access? The excerpts below are from the
Liaison Frequently Asked Questions
.
25. How long should agencies maintain screening records?
It is the responsibility of the agency to decide what type of record or
category a SAP screening would be classified. Once determined, the SAP
screening would be disseminated and maintained following the
established agency procedures for those types of records.
27. Where should records from screenings and assessments be kept?
Screening and assessment records should be kept at the agency in a
secure, locked file and should not be kept in a school. Screening and
assessment records generated at the school should be transported to the
agency as soon as possible. While in transit, all records should be
kept in a file box, locked in the trunk or in a locked car.
29. What should liaisons keep as part of a SAP agency record?
• Signed parent/guardian consent form
• Signed parent/guardian refusal form
• Dates and notes from SAP meetings where referred student was
discussed
(i.e. referral reason, grades, etc.).
• Dates/notes from all parent/guardian contacts
• Screening/Assessment
• Recommendations
• American Society of Addiction Medicine(ASAM)/Pennsylvania Client
Placement Criteria(PCPC)
• Confirmation/Denial of services
• Monitoring/progress notes or reports
• Any additional documentation required by the agency
If you have additional questions regarding liaison recordkeeping, you
can reach out to your agency administrator, county funding sources, or
regional coordinator! If you need assistance, contact your
SAP Regional Coordinator
.
News and Information
2023-2024 PDE4092 SAP reporting form instructions are now available.
Visit the
Safe Schools website
to download the updated form and/or updated instructions. Check that the
correct staff have a login and access so you’re ready for data entry due by
June 30th.
2023-2024 SAP Liaison Annual Reporting System will open in May.
Visit the
website
to download a blank form. Check that the correct staff have a login and
access so you’re ready for data entry due by June 30th.
Prevent Suicide PA - Annual PSA Contest winners have been announced.
Visit the
website
to view the selected entries.
Revised SAP Training Pilot -SAP training is being
standardized across the state of PA and the revised training was piloted
January through March of 2024. The updated 2-day training will be
available everywhere starting later this summer. Previously trained
participants do not need to be re-trained, but are encouraged to contact
their Regional Coordinator about future updates that may be available.
Training Opportunities
SAP Training- For upcoming training opportunities, click
here
.
STAR-Center Virtual Conference -To be held 5/10/24 - click
here
for details.
Commonwealth Prevention Alliance Conference -To be held
6/12-6/14/24 - click
here
for details.
Grants
For open PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) grant opportunities,
click
here
.