Download January 2025 SAP Newsletter
SAP Connection January 2025
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)
This year’s SAP articles will focus on the four phases of SAP. The PA Network for Student Assistance Services has updated SAP training. These articles will review essential tasks in each phase
and highlight any changes in the new training model. The four phases of SAP are: referral, data collection, action planning, and follow-up.
Family engagement is a cornerstone of
the Student Assistance Program (SAP) process, but it becomes especially vital
during the data collection phase. This stage lays the groundwork for
understanding a student’s needs, so incorporating the family’s voice ensures a
more accurate and comprehensive picture of the student’s experiences and
challenges.
Remember that families are the experts
on their children. They provide insights that are not always visible to
educators, such as behaviors at home, previous interventions, and cultural or
contextual factors that influence their child. Including families in this phase
honors their expertise and reinforces their role as partners in their child’s
success.
Family engagement starts during data
collection by building trust through conversations with the parent/guardian.
The initial discussion should focus on building rapport, explaining the SAP
process, and gathering information about the child. Remember to use plain
language free of jargon. Also, clearly explain why their child was referred,
focusing on observable behaviors rather than judgments. Make sure to actively
listen to the family’s concerns, insights, and potential barriers.
Family input is essential when
collecting data, such as input on their perception of academic and behavioral
experiences at school. Also, gather their thoughts about data from the
behavioral checklists. Ask for additional things such as, health concerns,
significant life changes, or cultural factors. Engaging families in these
discussions provides a more holistic view of the student’s circumstances.
Written consent is required before proceeding
with SAP. Think of the parent/guardian conversation as an opportunity to ensure
consent and transparency by explaining the importance of their role in shaping
recommendations, reinforcing the voluntary and confidential nature of SAP, and
clarifying how their input will be used to guide decisions. Demonstrate that
the family’s input is valued by summarizing key points at the end of the
conversation. Highlight strengths and actionable insights they provided. This
reinforces the family’s role as active contributors to the process and
strengthens trust.
While families may initially
participate by simply providing requested data, SAP teams should strive for
deeper engagement. This means collaborating with families to interpret data,
identify root causes of challenges. Work to create solutions by continuing to
involve families in the action planning and follow-up processes, inviting
families to share their perspective on behavior trends and progress, discussing
how school and home strategies can align to support the student.
During the data collection phase, the
family’s voice can transform the SAP process into a true partnership. By
prioritizing trust, transparency, and collaboration, SAP teams can lay a strong
foundation for the action planning phase and ensure families feel empowered to
support their child’s success throughout follow-up.
For additional resources and guidance
on family engagement, see the Collaborating with Parents section of the SAP
Teams page on the PNSAS website or reach
out to your PNSAS Regional Coordinator for assistance.
Text originally generated by OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT
(October 19 version) [Large language model]
Edited for style
and content
Announcements
PASAP Conference Registration is Open - The Pennsylvania Association of Student Assistance Professionals is hosting their annual conference on February 23-25, 2025 in State College. Registration is now open and more
information can be found by clicking here.
SAP Retraining & Refresher - PNSAS is pleased to announce that over 1,000 individuals have participated in SAP Retraining & Refresher sessions!
Trainings were held both statewide and locally.
If you are interested and were unable to register before sessions closed, please reach out to your Regional Coordinator to inquire about availability of additional sessions.
2023 PA Youth Survey Data - 2023 County and Statewide PAYS reports are available here. You can also request local PAYS data from your Superintendent. Monthly webinars on using PAYS data and other PAYS resources are offered
by EpisCenter through 1st Wednesday at 1pm Webinar series. Register to attend these webinars or access other PAYS Resources here.
2025 PSA Contest for Youth Suicide Prevention - Prevent Suicide PAis
excited to announce the 13th annual PSA contest for high school students. This
is a great opportunity to engage students in a dialogue around suicide
prevention, the importance of positive messaging, and communicating
effectively. The 2025 contest ended Friday,
December 20th, 2024. School-wide voting will begin on 1/20/25 and runs through
1/27/25. Public voting will then be open from 1/27/25 - 2/17/25. Winners will
be announced in early March 2025.All the winning and honorable mention
PSAs from previous years are available for free public use including 2024
winners here. These are great resources to use during
Suicide Prevention Month (September) and throughout the year.
New 2023-2024 SAP Infographics Now Available - The SAP PDE 4092 Infographic data shows SAP teams in PA received 96,518 referrals in 2023-2024. Of those referrals, 33.1% of referrals were at the elementary level, with referrals peaking in 9th grade. The top referral sources reported were Instructional Staff and School Mental Health Professionals. The top referral reasons reported were Externalizing and Internalizing Behaviors.
The SAP Liaison Services Infographic data shows liaisons participated in 30,444 SAP team meetings in 2023-2024. A total of 20,462 students were screened or assessed for suicidal ideation. Liaisons completed 15,220 screenings and 17,028 assessments in 2023-2024. Of those completed liaison assessments, 72.5% were Mental Health assessments, 11.5% were Drug & Alcohol assessments, and 16.0% were Co-Occurring Assessments.
Both infographics are located on the PNSAS website at www.pnsas.org/data.
Training Opportunities
SAP Training - For upcoming training opportunities, click here.
Grants
For open PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) grant
opportunities, click here.