Student Assistance Programs (SAP) provide a comprehensive model for the delivery of K-12 prevention, intervention and support services. Student assistance services are designed to reduce student risk factors, promote protective factors and increase asset development.  The nine SAP components described below are recommended, as the minimum requirement needed to reduce barriers to learning and ensure student success in safe, disciplined and drug-free schools and communities.

• School Board Policy  - To define the school's role in creating a safe, disciplined and drug-free learning community and to clarify the relationship between student academic performance and the use of alcohol, other drugs, violence and high-risk behavior.

• Staff Development - To provide all school employees with the necessary foundation of attitudes and skill to reduce risks, increase protective factors and foster resilience through SAP services.

• Program Awareness - To educate parents, students, agencies and the community about the school policy on alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, disruptive behavior and violence, and provide information about SAP services that promote resilience and student success.

• Internal Referral Process - To identify and refer students with academic and social concerns to a multidisciplinary problem-solving and case management team.

• Problem Solving Team and Case Management - To evaluate how the school can best serve students with academic or social problems through solution-focused strategies.

• Student Assistance Program Evaluation - To ensure continuous quality improvement of SAP services and outcomes.

• Educational Student Support Groups - To provide information, support and problem-solving skills to students who are experiencing academic or social problems.

• Cooperation and Collaboration with Community Agencies and Resources To build bridges between schools, parents and community resources through referral and shared case management.

• Integration with Other School-Based Programs - To integrate SAP services with other school-based programs designed to increase resilience, improve academic performance and reduce student risk for alcohol, tobacco, other drugs and violence.