The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #72542

Cynthia Peck, Four Wings, Inc., 1400 Quail Street, Suite 180, Newport Beach, CA 92660, 949-759-9309, peck_cynthia@hotmail.com and Charity Cason, MS, Educational & Community Initiatives, WestEd, 801 N. Parkcenter Drive, Suite 110, Santa Ana, CA 92705.

There is a wide and diverse use of the term Student Assistance Program (SAP) in the K-12 environment. SAPs were originally modeled after Employee Assistance Programs in the workplace and focused on the treatment of middle and high school students concerning alcohol and drug use. Today the programs and processes that make up SAPs in K-12 settings fall along a broad continuum of prevention, intervention and treatment addressing many health and behavior problems. This presentation will examine the historical and philosophical evolution of SAPs into a number of current day models along this continuum and overlay the variables for selecting a SAP model within the context of staffing, resources and desired outcomes. Progress in evaluating SAPs may also guide SAP program selection. Participants will be able to examine a number of variables within a continnum of philosophical and programmatic issues in selecting an appropriate SAP model for their K-12 environment.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Understand the historical background of student assistance programs (SAP) that has led to a wide range of SAP models in the K- 12 school environment.
• 2. Define a continuum of model practices that make up SAP programs along developmental, philosophical and research based paradigms.
• 3. Choose an appropriate SAP model for the developmental and treatment needs of the population based upon available resources and intended outcomes.
• 4. Understand staffing, community and treatment partnerships required for each model on the continuum.

Keywords: Prevention, School-Based Programs

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Handout (.ppt format, 237.0 kb)