Student Assistance Program

 

The Student Assistance Program (SAP) at CSL Charter School has been developed to identify and refer students who are believed to be experiencing barriers to learning. These barriers may include a change in attendance, grades, and/or behavior due to struggles with mental health and/or substance use. 

The SAP Team consists of trained school staff and a SAP Liaison from an outside mental health agency called The Council of Southeastern PA. The SAP Team is available to assist the student and family in identifying issues that impact the student's ability to function in school, and offer referrals to community resources through a SAP assessment and screening process. 

What is the purpose of the SAP assessment? 

The purpose of the SAP assessment is to determine if the student has a problem or barrier to learning, and, if so, what could be done to help alleviate the situation. The SAP assessment consists of two or more confidential interviews with the assessor and is free of charge to any student referred by a school SAP team. Both students and their parents(s)/guardian(s) will be interviewed to gather information concerning the student's past and current functioning. The assessment is provided through The Council of Southeastern PA. 

At the conclusion of the assessment, the assessor will provide the student and parent(s)/guardian(s) with recommendations and an appropriate referral for further treatment, if necessary. 

When can a student be referred to the SAP team? 

Anyone can make a referral (teacher, parent, fellow student). Perhaps they may see:

● a sudden drop in grades 

● withdrawing from friends or family 

● unexplained physical injury 

● talk of suicide 

● depression 

● defying authority 

● acting aggressively or acting out 

● experimenting with drugs or alcohol 

● recent death of a loved one or another traumatic event 

The SAP team can help you find services and assistance with resources within the community. We do not diagnose, treat, or refer your child for treatment. Rather, we will provide you with the information; you make the choices. Our goal is to help your child succeed. 

What if someone refers my child to the SAP team? 

If this happens, it is because someone is concerned about observable behaviors they are seeing in your child. Perhaps a teacher or administrator has noticed changes in school 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 choose not to sign, the team will not become involved. The only time the process is mandatory is when and if your child is involved with a drug or alcohol violation in school. At this time, an informal hearing with the administration will begin the mandatory process. 

If you feel that your child may need help, please contact your child’s school counselor, and ask about the SAP program: 

Eman Saleh - esaleh@cslcharter.org / ext. 135 

Jill Downing - jdowning@cslcharter.org / ext. 136