What is a Student Assistance Program?

A comprehensive program providing prevention, intervention, support and instructional services for students implemented by the Student Assistance Counselor (SAC). The SAC offers assistance to students facing familial, emotional, social, legal, physical, sexual, or substance abuse challenges. They also serve as a structured, organized liaison between the school, parents/guardians, and outside agencies.

The SAC promotes healthy, safe, and drug-free lifestyles along with strength-based approaches in working with youth. They utilize existing resources within the school to address school-based concerns, and link students and their families with community resources to provide specialized services, such as outside psychiatric and drug/alcohol evaluations.

Initiatives and Programming

The Student Assistance Program includes activities and in-class lessons that cover a variety of topics that may include, but not limited to:

• Suicide Prevention

• Self Care

• Drug Misuse: Prevention and Treatment

  • Summit Public Schools Drug Abuse Policy (5530)
  • Summit Public Schools Drug Abuse Regulation (5530)

• Diversity / Unity / Kindness

• Red Ribbon Week

• Drug and Alcohol Fact Week

• Consent and Dating Violence Awareness

• Challenge Day

• OM3D: One Moment 3 Decisions

• After the Fire - Resiliency and Self-Preservation

• Mental Health Awareness and Supports

  • Mental Health Awareness Month
  • Students Helping Students, The Mental Health Awareness Club