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SAP Connection April 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.

Follow-up is a very important phase of the SAP process because it helps to ensure the action plan is implemented and that the services/supports being provided to the student are actually successful in helping the student reach the set goals.

Ongoing status check-ins will happen with the student, the family, school staff and other community agencies providing supports to help determine if services and supports have been accessed and measure progress (as indicated in the action plan). During the check-ins, determine if they have accessed the services/supports and inquire about any barriers/challenges. The student or family can share progress made, changes in their needs or situation, or other input they may have that would help determine if the action plan needs revised.

Follow-up is also needed with school staff and service providers implementing supports to gather feedback on whether the supports are successful. If a referral came from a school staff, it is helpful to check-in with them determine if there have been any changes in observable behaviors.

Who conducts the follow-up will vary based for each student and their action plan. Follow-up may be conducted by the SAP Team Case Manager, but it can also be done by other team members. Ensure that someone is assigned to do follow-up with the student, family and service providers. This person is identified in the action plan.

In addition to these check-ins, you’ll also need to more formally monitor and evaluate progress toward goals outlined in the action plan. To do this, your team should continue to collect data such as checklists and other school data to measure progress towards goal(s). The action plan will have student goals as well as indicators of progress. As a team, you’ll monitor the goals to see if the plan is successfully helping the student attain them. Even if a student has been referred to outside community supports, it is still important to do follow-up to identify if progress is being made. If the data indicates substantial progress, continue to monitor and follow-up. If the data indicates partial progress, it means some things are working, but others aren’t. Consider revising the plan and replicating successful strategies when possible. If the data indicates little or no progress, revise the plan. Consider modifications to existing supports or identify new supports that may be a better fit for the student and family.

Before closing a SAP case, the team should engage the family to assess if services have been implemented and evaluate progress made towards goals. A case can be closed if goals are achieved, even if services/supports are ongoing. Once the team has closed a case, a student can be referred to SAP again if new concerns emerge or previous concerns reemerge. At the end of the school year, some cases may still be open. It is recommended to close these cases, even if the action plans are still in progress. Some of these closed cases may be re-opened at the start of the next school year if significant concerns are present, if observable behaviors persist, or at the parent’s request. Contact the parent to discuss reopening the case and obtain a new parent permission. For students moving to a new building or school, it’s important to have a meeting or process to transition the files to the new building’s SAP team in accordance with the school’s records policy.

Reach out to your PNSAS Regional Coordinator for assistance.

Announcements

STAR Center Conference - The 2025 STAR Center Conference will be held virtually on Friday May 9, 2025. The annual conferences strive to disseminate what has been learned about best practice clinical care into practical guidelines for educational and community settings. STAR Center is devoted to providing training opportunities for students and psychiatric residents as well as contributing to the future development of research designed to study the pressing issues related to child and adolescent suicide. The topic of the conference this year is "Creating Partnerships for Just and Inclusive Schools."Click here for the full program of keynote addresses and skill development workshops.

Children’s Crisis Symposium - Hosted by OMHSAS in collaboration with Temple University Harrisburg, this inaugural event focuses on enhancing crisis intervention services for children, youth, and young adults. Join us for two days of educational sessions, state updates, clinical best practices, and networking opportunities designed to support counties, providers, and families in navigating behavioral health crises. Information is available here.

Dates:

Tuesday, April 29, 2025 - 9:00am-6:00pm
Wednesday, April 30, 2025 - 9:00am-3:30pm

Location: Hilton HarrisburgCost: $45Registration is located here.

2025 PSA Contest for Youth Suicide Prevention -The 2025 Prevent Suicide PA PSA Contest winners have been announced and posted on the PSA website! Head to 2025 Contest Winners – PSA Contest to see the winners, honorable mentions, and notables in the poster and video categories. All of the PSAs are available for public use.

2024-2025 SAP Data Entry -2024-2025 PDE4092 data entry is now available. Visit the Safe Schools website to download the forms or view instructions. Ensure the appropriate staff have a login and access so you‘re ready for data entry due by June 30th.

The 2024-2025 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 July 31st.