What is a Student Assistance
Counselor?
What is a Student Assistance
Counselor?
Student Assistance Counselors (SAC) address the needs of all district students and families in education, prevention, intervention, and referral services. SACs promote healthy lifestyles, student achievement, and academic success.
The Student Assistance Counselor is a trained certified intervention specialist. Students who demonstrate academic concerns, attendance problems, and disengagement from activities are often due to underlying issues. The Student Assistance Counselor provides an environment for students to discuss problems they may be experiencing.
Some topics include but are not limited to:
Family concerns
School concerns
Drug/alcohol issues
Vaping/Smoking
Depression
Anxiety
Gender Identity
Bullying/Cyberbullying
Emotional concerns
Relationship/Dating concerns
Suicidal Ideation
High Risk behaviors and/or Self-injury
CONFIDENTIALITY
Adolescents are, as to be expected, quite careful regarding sharing personal issues with adults. Many students worry about their self-image and what the people in their lives will think about them if they disclose personal issues with people such as; teachers, administrators, coaches, peers, and sometimes their family. They worry if certain people know about their issues, it will impact their grades, participation, relationships, or even discipline. Congress recognizes the obstacles adolescents face and has created federal confidentiality regulations (42 CFR Part 2) to protect students seeking confidential treatment from a school-based counselor. The SAC is a trained counselor and interventionist who is knowledgeable in how to communicate the nature of the issue(s) with the student, and their family, develop appropriate treatment plans, and if necessary, connect families with community resources.