What is the S.A.P. Team?
The Governor Mifflin S.A.P. (Student Assistance Program) team consists of teachers, counselors, and administrators who have been trained to understand chemical dependency and to identify mental health concerns and behavioral difficulties. In addition, a S.A.P. coordinator from the Caron Treatment Centers serves as the liaison between the programs and the schools.
The basic purpose of the program is to identify and help students whose use of alcohol or other drugs has had a negative impact on their ability to learn. Likewise, we equally recognize students with problematic mental health and behavioral difficulties. The goal is to aid the student before problems become unmanageable.
The S.A.P. team attempts to identify students who may have substance abuse and/or mental health problems. The team then provides alternate approaches to help the students deal with their problems and supports students and parents in the program in and out of school.
If a parent, student, faculty member, or a community person has a concern regarding a student, he/she should submit a referral form to a S.A.P. member or contact a guidance counselor or the school nurse. In strict confidence, the team will establish a profile of the student's behaviors. Research has shown that much of dysfunctional adolescent behavior is closely linked with alcohol and drug use. It is not the function of the team to diagnose chemical dependency or to determine treatment programs. The function is to identify patterns of behavior, which are associated with usage. When such patterns are discovered, the student is referred to a professional agency for formal diagnosis and possible treatment.
Whom do I contact?
Mrs. Kathy Heller is the S.A.P. coordinator for the Governor Mifflin High School and Middle School. She can be reached by contacting the high school guidance office at: 610-775-5089.
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