Student Assistance Resources Guide

#TalkTheyHearYou
Student Assistance Resources Guide 2

Purpose

This guide serves as a tool for school administrators and student assistance teams to use the Substance 

Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) “Talk. They Hear You.”® campaign 

resources. It describes the campaign’s student assistance resources and provides tangible ways that 

school administrators and student assistance teams can implement the strategies. It also encourages 

school leaders and student assistance teams to increase awareness of student assistance services in their 

communities.

About the Campaign

The goal of SAMHSA’s “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign is to provide parents and caregivers with the 

resources they need to address the issue of alcohol and other drugs with children under the age of 21. 

Specifically, the campaign seeks to:

• Increase parents’ awareness of the prevalence and risk of underage drinking and substance 

use;

• Equip parents with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to prevent underage drinking and 

substance use; and

• Increase parents’ actions to prevent underage drinking and substance use.

SAMHSA has expanded the campaign’s substance use messaging beyond underage drinking prevention 

to include other substances such as marijuana and opioids. SAMHSA has also broadened its audience 

to include others, such as school leaders and educators, who influence the growth and development of 

youths under 21 years of age.

1 www.underagedrinking.samhsa.gov

Talking to Kids About Alcohol and 

Other Drugs: 5 Conversation Goals

Research suggests that one of the 

most important factors in healthy child 

development is a strong, open relationship 

with a parent. It is important to start talking 

to your children about alcohol and other 

drugs before they are exposed to them—as 

early as 9 years old.

Show you disapprove of 

underage drinking and 

other drug misuse.

Over 80 percent of young people 

ages 10–18 say their parents are the 

leading influence on their decision whether 

to drink. Send a clear and strong message 

that you disapprove of underage drinking 

and use or misuse of other drugs.

Show you care about your 

child’s health, wellness, 

and success.

Young people are more likely to listen when 

they know you’re on their side. Reinforce 

why you don’t want your child to drink or 

use other drugs—because 

you want your child to be 

happy and safe. The 

conversation will go a lot 

better if you’re open and you 

show concern.

Show you’re a good 

source of information 

about alcohol and other 

drugs.

You want your child to make informed 

decisions about alcohol and other drugs 

with reliable information about its dangers. 

You don’t want your child to learn about 

alcohol and other drugs from unreliable 

sources. Establish yourself as a trustworthy 

source of information.

SAMHSA developed 5 Conversation Goals for parents and caregivers while 

talking with their kids about alcohol and other drugs. The goals encourage 

parents to:

1. Show they disapprove of underage drinking and substance use; 

2. Show they care about their child’s health, wellness, and success;

3. Show they’re a good source of information about alcohol and other drugs;

4. Show they’re paying attention and they’ll discourage risky behaviors; and

5. Build their child’s skills and strategies for avoiding underage drinking and 

substance use.

Student Assistance Programs

In reality, almost every student will face some level of difficulty or be at risk for alcohol and substance 

use, bullying, violence, or mental health issues at least once during his or her academic career. As the 

most universal, natural setting for children and adolescents, schools are uniquely positioned to provide 

programs and services that promote student health and support students with assistance needs.

Research indicates that students’ social, emotional, and behavioral functioning directly affects their 

academic outcomes.1,2 Student assistance services promote positive social, emotional, and behavioral 

functioning through a variety of strategies, including (1) improving family–school connections, 

1 Mandell, D., Hill, S., Carter, L., & Brandon, R. (2002). The Impact of Substance Use and Violence/Delinquency on Academic Achievement for Groups of Middle and High School Students in 

Washington. Seattle, WA: University of Washington.

2 Fleming, C. B., Haggerty, K. P., Catalano, R. F., Harachi, T. W., Mazza, J. J., & Gruman, D. H. (2005). Do Social and Behavioral Characteristics Targeted by Preventive Interventions 

Predict Standardized Test Scores and Grades? Journal of School Health, 75, 342–349.
Student Assistance Resources Guide 3

(2) offering skill-building to students in core competency areas such as problem-solving and positive 

coping, (3) building on behavioral self-management or self-control, (4) improving relationship skills, and 

(5) understanding responsible decision-making.

As part of a broad array of integrated prevention and early intervention services, student assistance 

programs help reduce risk factors for mental health and substance use challenges and have been shown 

to decrease:3,4

• Disruptive behaviors that may interfere with learning;

• Dropout rates, school truancy, and poor attendance;

• Alcohol and drug use;

• Discipline referrals, with as few as 4 percent of students reporting alcohol and drug violations after 

participating in school assistance programs;

• Drinking and driving; and

• Other behavioral problems.

Student Assistance Team

When implementing student assistance 

services, schools frequently form a student 

assistance team. This team is usually 

multidisciplinary, comprising, but not limited 

to, interested and willing administrators, 

teachers, school counselors, nurses, social 

workers, and addiction and mental health 

counselors who will be responsible for making 

decisions on how to best serve students with 

mental health and substance use needs at 

their school. The student assistance team 

should meet regularly to review student 

assistance referrals and determine what program or services an individual student may need, as well as to 

monitor and assess the progress of students who are already receiving services.

Please consult the Student Assistance Guide for School Administrators for more information on student 

assistance programming. This resource provides the education system, and specifically student assistance 

professionals, with the guidance needed to create the infrastructure for more integrated prevention, 

intervention, and treatment services across the school system.

Student assistance teams are uniquely positioned to be a critical component of the success of the “Talk. 

They Hear You.”® campaign. Each team serves as a focal point to develop a complete picture of what’s 

going on with a student and assist the student and/or the student’s family members to engage both inand out-of-school resources to address the concerns. A coordinated effort among parents, caregivers, and 

student assistance teams is critical to this effort, and increasing parents’ and caregivers’ understanding of 

the role of student assistance programs will facilitate earlier intervention when a student needs help.

3 Grunenfelder, D., Johnson, M., Maike, M. M., & Schutte, K. (2012). Washington’s Student Assistance Prevention-Intervention Services Program: Program Manual. Retrieved from 

https://www.k12.wa.us/sites/default/files/public/preventionintervention/pubdocs/sapispmanual2012.pdf.

4 Vermont Agency of Human Services, Vermont Department of Health, Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Problems. (2011). Student Assistance Program Outcomes 2010. 

Retrieved from http://www.asap-vt.org/documents/Legislative/SAP_SummaryAndOutcomesFY10.pdf.
Student Assistance Resources Guide 4

Student Assistance Team Resources

The following “Talk. They Hear You.”® campaign resources are available for use by school administrators 

and student assistance teams to encourage conversations with parents, caregivers, and students about 

alcohol and other drugs, and increase awareness of the important role student assistance teams play in 

supporting students and providing assistance services when needed:

• “By Your Side” discussion starter video

• “Helping a Friend” public service announcement (PSA) 

(:30 and :60)

• Student Assistance Team Posters

See “More About the Student Assistance Team Resources” 

for a detailed description of each.

Suggested Ways To Use the Resources

These resources can be used in a variety of ways to engage with school staff members of all levels, 

parents and caregivers, and community partners, and educate them about the role of the student 

assistance team. Below are some suggestions on how you can use the resources.

Train-the-Trainer 

Use these tools to reach school staff of all levels, as well as parents 

and caregivers, and empower them to further convey the information. 

Consider distributing a toolkit with materials such as the “By Your Side” 

discussion starter video, “Helping a Friend” PSAs, and Student Assistance 

Team Posters.

Community Meetings 

Meetings with other community groups, such as health departments, 

school districts, and law enforcement agencies, are an ideal forum to 

share updates and resources such as the discussion starter video and 

posters. These partners can use the video and resources in their own 

prevention efforts.

PTA and Faculty Meetings 

Show the discussion starter video at PTA and school faculty meetings, 

and make additional resources available to school staff, parents, and 

caregivers. Ensure the Student Assistance Posters are displayed in staff 

rooms and administrators’ offices.

Parent Orientation/Open House or Back-to-School Nights 

Work with school administrators to secure a time slot during orientation 

or open house to talk about prevention efforts with parents and 

caregivers. Show the discussion starter video to demonstrate the role of 

the student assistance program and make toolkits available.
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More About the Student Assistance Team Resources

Below is more detail on each of the student assistance–specific resources available through SAMHSA’s 

“Talk. They Hear You.”® campaign.

“By Your Side” Discussion Starter Video About School Student Assistance Services and 

Preventing Underage Drinking 

This video pulls together characters from previously produced 

“Talk. They Hear You.” PSAs in a long-form depiction of the role 

the student assistance professional plays, and provides practical 

examples of when and how school professionals should engage 

the student assistance team. (NOTE: The previously produced 

PSAs do not need to be viewed prior to the discussion starter 

video.)

Video Summary 

Ninth-grader Lily started the school year doing well academically, being involved in extracurricular 

activities, and spending time with close friends her own age, including Jasmine, the daughter of Rick. 

Recently, though, Lily’s behavior has been changing—she hangs out with juniors and seniors, friends 

of her older brother Kyle (a boy kicked off a team for drinking in a prior PSA); her grades are slipping; 

and she’s lost interest in extracurricular activities she once loved. A teacher, Jillian, who has noticed 

some of these changes, worries about Lily and shares her concerns with fellow teacher Rick. After 

talking, Rick suggests that Jillian meet with Rob, the school’s student assistance professional. In her 

meeting with Rob, Jillian learns more about the role of the student assistance professional as a focal 

point for developing a complete picture of what’s going on with a student and assisting the student 

and/or the student’s family members in engaging both in- and out-of-school resources to help 

address the concerns. Rob thanks Jillian for bringing Lily’s behavioral changes to his attention and 

explains that he has set up a meeting for later in the week to talk with Lily and her mom about what’s 

going on.

“Helping a Friend” (:60 and :30) PSA Videos About Parents’ and Caregivers’ Role in Student 

Assistance Services 

The “Helping a Friend” PSA, another tool specific to the 

student assistance team’s role, can be useful in illustrating the 

collaborative network of support in action and the importance 

of engaging everyone who has touchpoints with a student who 

needs assistance.

This PSA is shorter than the discussion starter video and can be 

used for brief presentations, trainings, or meetings (with links 

to the discussion starter video and posters being provided as 

supplementary materials).

PSA Summary 

Rick and his daughter, Jasmine, are preparing dinner in their kitchen. A tone sounds on Rick’s phone 

and he glances at it, seeing an email from school. He lets Jasmine know that it’s a message to all 

parents about the incident that occurred at school that day. Viewers are not given additional details 
Student Assistance Resources Guide 6

about what happened, but it’s clear that it was something bad and involved Derrick, a friend of 

Jasmine’s. The email prompts Rick to talk with Jasmine about being aware of what’s going on around 

her in school, including changes in other students’ behaviors, and to tell a trusted adult—him or 

Jasmine’s mom, a teacher, a coach, the school’s student assistance professional, or someone else—

about any concerns she may have. Rick points out that as much as he and other adults—as teachers 

and parents—try to stay aware, it’s the kids who are often the first ones to notice potential problems. 

Sharing one’s concerns is the very best way to help a friend who may need support.

Student Assistance Team Posters

Three “Talk. They Hear You.”® campaign posters target school administrators, student assistance 

professionals, and teachers to help them become aware of the role student assistance professionals play 

in student success.

Additional “Talk. They Hear You.” Campaign Resources

In addition to the student assistance resources, the campaign offers a diverse suite of products on www.

underagedrinking.samhsa.gov. Consider distributing a supplementary toolkit with materials such as fact 

sheets for parents, infographics, and digital resources for partners.

Below are a few products that can be paired with the student assistance resources:

• Discussion Starter Video:

A 4-minute video designed to be a resource for 

communities to engage parents and caregivers 

on the importance of talking with their children 

from an early age about the dangers associated 

with underage drinking. It highlights parent-toparent conversations to help inspire parents to 

talk to their children about avoiding alcohol.

• Discussion Starter Video Guide:

A practical guide to incorporating the Discussion Starter Video into a community event, parent–

teacher night, or other parent or caregiver gatherings. This resource includes tips for presenting the 

video, such as when to pause it, and some suggested areas of discussion.

• 5 Conversation Goals:

A handout for parents and caregivers with tips to help them talk with their kids about alcohol and 

other drugs.

• Mobile Application:

A mobile-friendly tool for parents and 

caregivers to help them practice having 

conversations about underage drinking 

with their kids. The app features an 

interactive simulation that helps parents 

and caregivers practice bringing up the 

topic of alcohol, learn the questions to ask, 

and get ideas for keeping the conversation 

going.
• Soundtrack: 

The “Talk. They Hear You.”® soundtrack features original songs 

from Eren Cannata, Richie Cannata, Chris Clark, Liberty DeVitto, 

Julio Fernandez, Tony Tino, and other musicians. This group of 

musicians has been inspired to create a soundtrack that amplifies the 

campaign’s powerful underage drinking and drug use prevention 

message. Use the soundtrack as an opening or closing anthem 

during your prevention-focused community event.

SAMHSA also produces resources on the prevalence of underage drinking, which may help localize the 

prevention message in your community.

• National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH): NSDUH 

is a nationwide study that provides up-to-date information 

on tobacco, alcohol, and drug use; mental health; and 

other health-related issues in the United States.

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• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Data Archive 

(SAMHDA): SAMHDA is a public resource funded by the 

Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ), 

SAMHSA. CBHSQ promotes the access and use of the 

nation’s substance misuse and mental health research 

data through SAMHDA. SAMHDA provides public use data 

files, file documentation, and access to restricted-use data 

files to support a better understanding of this critical area 

of public health.

• Monitoring the Future: An annual survey of 8th, 10th, and 

12th graders conducted by researchers at the Institute 

for Social Research at the University of Michigan, Ann 

Arbor, under a grant from the National Institute on Drug 

Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health. Each year, 

a total of approximately 50,000 8th-, 10th-, and 12th-grade 

students are surveyed (12th graders since 1975, and 8th 

and 10th graders since 1991). In addition, annual follow-up 

questionnaires are mailed to a sample of each graduating 

class for a number of years after their initial participation.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 

5600 Fishers Lane

Rockville, MD 20857

877-SAMHSA-7 (877-726-4727)

800-487-4889 (TDD)

underagedrinking.samhsa.gov

#TalkTheyHearYou

HHS Publication No.: PEP20-03-01-078—Student Assistance Resources Guide