Webinar #2: Standing Up Student Assistance Program Services | How to Get Started

“Talk. They Hear You.” Campaign SAP Webinar Series

December 9, 2021, 1 p.m. ET

Robert M. Vincent, M.S.Ed.

Associate Administrator for Alcohol 

Prevention and Treatment Policy,

SAMHSA

Erin L. Wick, M.B.A., SUDP

Senior Director, Behavioral 

Health and Student Supports, 

Capital Region ESD 113

Amity Noltemeyer, Ph.D., NCSP

Associate Dean of the Graduate School, 

Professor of Educational Psychology, 

Miami University
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Guest Experts

Emily M. Eckert, 

LPCC-S 

Assistant Director, Office 

of Whole Child Supports, 

Ohio Department of 

Education

Valerie Connolly-Leach, 

OCPS 

Behavioral Health/Prevention 

Administrator, Office of 

Prevention, Ohio Department 

of Mental Health & Addiction 

Services

Brock Maxfield

Principal

Hoquiam High School,

Washington 

Izzy Chavez

Student Assistance 

Professional 

Capital Region ESD 113,

Washington
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Today’s Session

Today’s session will cover:

• Funding history and opportunities 

• Integration with other school initiatives like multi-tiered systems 

of support, school climate improvement, violence prevention, 

and safety planning 

• Challenges and barriers you’ll need to overcome to achieve 

school commitment

• Creating a SAP team

• Selecting the right service delivery model
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SAP Webinar Series Overview

 Webinar #1: Student Assistance Programs

• Webinar #2: Standing Up SAP Services

• Webinar #3: Assessing Needs and Building Capacity

• Webinar #4: Planning and Implementing

• Webinar #5: Program Evaluating and Improving
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Polling Questions

This presentation contains four short polls to help us learn 

more about today’s webinar participants.

• All answers will be presented as totals or percentages, and no one will be 

able to tell by name who answered what question.

• By answering the questions, you agree to have your answers 

anonymously included in the totals as percentages.
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Poll Question #1

What is your current role?

A. School administrator

B. District administrator

C. Student assistance program (SAP) professional

D. Educator

E. Health department employee

F. Prevention coalition staff member

G. Other (please specify)
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Poll Question #2

Do you currently have an active SAP?

• Yes, we currently have an active SAP.

• No, we used to have an SAP, but it’s no longer active. 

• No, but we are currently in the process of developing an SAP for 

implementation.

• No, but we plan to develop and implement an SAP at some point.

• No, and we don’t plan to develop and implement an SAP.
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Poll Question #3

How did you hear about this webinar?

A. Talk. They Hear You. Newsletter/E-blast

B. SAMHSA Facebook

C. SAMHSA Twitter

D. SAMHSA LinkedIn

E. Other (please specify)
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Poll Question #4

Did you attend SAP Webinar #1?

A. Yes

B. No
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Review: 9 Critical Components of Effective SAPs
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Funding Information and Opportunities

Information Dissemination – Clearinghouse/information resource centers

– Resource directories

– Media campaign public service announcements

– Brochures

– Speakers Bureau radio/TV appearances

– Information lines

Education – Classroom and/or small group sessions

– Peer leader/helper programs (peer conflict 

mediation programs)

– Bullying programs

– Education support groups for children of 

substance abusers; others at high risk of use, 

suicide, violence, etc.

– Parenting and family management classes

Alternatives – Drug-free dances and parties 

(Operation/Program Graduation) 

– Youth/adult leadership activities

– After-school programs

– Community recreation and drop-in centers 

(Boys & Girls Clubs)

Problem Identification and Referral – Student Assistance Programs (referral and 

problem-solving/case management components)

– Employee Assistance Program

– Intervention programs associated with disciplinary 

offenses, juvenile court complaints, or DUI 

convictions

Community Capacity Building – School-community team training

– Systematic community planning

– Multi-agency coordination and collaboration

Community Norms and Policies – Establishing and periodically reviewing school 

policies pertaining to violence, alcohol, tobacco 

and other drug use

– Policies used by school, law enforcement, and 

juvenile court

– Modifying alcohol and tobacco advertising 

practices

– Merchant and vendor training to prevent 

underage access to alcohol
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Funding Example: Ohio

• Plan with sustainability in mind.

• Explore varied and braided funding sources, such as these:

Federal Examples

• Project AWARE

• Safe Schools 

Healthy Students 

(SSHS)

• Department of 

Education 

• ESSER

State Examples

• Governor’s K–12 

Prevention and 

Education Initiative

• Ohio School 

Wellness Initiative 

(OSWI)

Local Examples

• Levy dollars

• Philanthropic dollars
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Funding Example: Washington State

We have focused on building an adolescent behavioral health 

system of care that is sustainable.

Federal Examples

• SAMSHA

oSystems of Care

oProject Aware

oFederal Block Grant

•Department of Education 

oElementary and Secondary 

School Emergency Relief 

(ESSER) funds

State Examples

•Office of Superintendent of 

Public Instruction ESSER 

funds

•Health Care Authority 

•WA State Department of 

Health 

• Managed Care Organizations 

(MCOs)

Local Examples

•District Contracts

• Local County Health 

Departments

• Community-Based 

Foundations
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SAPs and Integration with Other School Initiatives

SAPs function collaboratively with other 

school initiatives, including these:

• Multi-tiered Systems of Support

• Positive Behavioral Interventions and 

Supports

• School Climate Improvement

• Violence Prevention and Safety Planning

• Trauma-Informed Practices

• Social-Emotional Learning

What can you do and how 

do you leverage what you 

already have?
Washington Student Assistance Program: MTSS

Tier 3: 

Behavioral Health Service (Treatment)

Tier 2:

Targeted Interventions 

(Selective/Indicated)

Tier 1:

School-Wide Practices 

(Universal)

ALL

SOME

FEW

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SAP Integration Example: Ohio
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SAP Integration Example: Ohio

“Their SAP coordinator really saw it as 

just another piece of their MTSS puzzle 

and is trying to find ways to make it the 

other side of their already existing IAT 

(Academic Focused) interventions...”
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Logistical and Other Considerations:

• Space in school and timing

• Personnel resources

• Block scheduling (might be incompatible with some treatment 

programs)

• Support from the district- and school-level administrators, prevention 

specialists, and licensed health professionals

Challenges to Getting School Commitment 
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School Commitment Examples: Ohio

“I do believe everyone sees this as important 

work; however, finding time, and for many 

the energy, to do the work is challenging. “

Biggest challenges: 

Time (for planning, teaming, PD) and 

staff availability

How we are addressing:

Pacing guide, accessible training 

options, technical assistance bundle, 

responsive expectations and 

timelines, exploring ways to secure 

funded coordinator positions 
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SAMHSA Strategic Prevention Framework: 5-Step Planning Process

There are many ways to get 

started depending on your 

existing infrastructure, 

resources, need, etc. 
Establishing a Student Assistance Team (SAT, aka SAP Team)

The SAT receives referrals, gathers 

information, develops strategies to 

remove barriers to learning, links 

students to interventions or services, 

and provides support and follow up.

Components:

○ Regular team meetings to 

review cases

○ Team members offer each 

other mutual support

○ Clear roles and processes

Ohio School Wellness Initiative; Virginia SAP Manual; PA SAP and PBIS Integration
Building Your SAT in a Snapshot

Create SAT and 

integrate and 

align with other 

teams.

Determine 

team roles.

Plan SAT 

meetings and 

processes.

Identify and 

analyze concerns 

and involve 

caregivers.

Develop and 

implement 

intervention 

plan.

Complete case 

management.

Evaluate 

effectiveness of 

intervention.

Ohio School Wellness Initiative (2021)
Guided Support 

Services

 

SAT Tasks 

+ + + + i 

Early

Identification Referral Problem Solving Intervention Planning 

+ + + + i 

Plan training and 

awareness activities 

Recommend SAP 

Receive referral 

Assign a case 

manager 

Review referral 

Identify the concern 

and determine if 

barrier to learning 

Brainstorm 

intervention and 

services that match 

need and reduce 

barriers to learning 

Provide case 

management and 

regular monitoring 

Troubleshoot 

barriers to 

referral when Develop intervention or 

appropriate Gather initial Conduct screening intervention and services 

Discuss students 

identified on 

information 

Partner with 

for services and 

interviews to analyze 

the problem 

monitoring plan 

Refer to services 

(when appropriate) 

Provide re-entry 

support if necessary 

universal screening caregiver (when Invite stakeholders Partner with student 

Review progress 

monitoring data, 

or early warning appropriate) to meetings and caregiver on determine if fade, 

system Determine level of 

intervention 

planning or referral 

continue, or modify 

supports 

need 

Ohio School Wellness Initiative (2021) 
Factors Contributing to a Successful SAT

Administrative support

Regular SAT meetings

SAT coordinator provided with 

release time

Early caregiver involvement

Adoption of team meeting agreements 

Clear referral process

Credibility of SAP process among staff, 

students, caregivers

High level involvement of staff beyond SAT 

members 

Written policy to address students at risk and 

consistent implementation of the policy with 

all students 

Ongoing training of all staff

Ongoing planning, implementation, 

evaluation, and refining of the SAT

Sharing information appropriately 

Ohio School Wellness Initiative (2021) Adapted from SAMHSA, 2019 & Grunenfelder et al., 2012.
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SAP Service Delivery Models

Externally based: Schools develop contractual relationships with addiction and mental health 

specialists from the community to implement school-based prevention, intervention, and 

treatment and support services within the school or through referrals to the community 

agency.

Internally based: Service models composed of addiction and mental health specialists are 

employed by the school district to deliver prevention and intervention services on a full- or 

part-time basis.

Core team: An on-site school team composed of administrators, teachers, school counselors, 

school psychologists, social workers, coaches, student assistance professionals, and other 

trained personnel is charged with identifying and providing services to students.
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SAP Service Delivery Models: Externally Based

Externally Based Model

Advantages Disadvantages

• Provides distance from the 

school and any internal 

politics 

• Gives student assistance 

professional clinical supports 

and training

• Does not add more liability to 

school

• Requires strong commitment 

from school personnel

• Discontinuity and changes in 

staffing and service quality

• Potential exclusion of school 

personnel in service delivery 

decisions

• Confidentiality regulations
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SAP Service Delivery Models: Internally Based

Internally Based Model

Advantages Disadvantages

• Student assistance 

professional viewed as part of 

the team 

• Expertise provided by 

addiction/mental health 

specialist 

• Cost effective 

• Minimizes confusion related 

to referrals

• Competing demands on student

assistance professional

• Discontinuity of services if staff 

leave 

• Limited school ownership and 

input 

• Restricted information sharing 

due to confidentiality
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SAP Service Delivery Models: Core Team

Core Team Model

Advantages Disadvantages

• School’s buy-in and ownership 

of program services 

• Inclusion of school-based team 

members 

• Broad-based training and 

awareness 

• Continuity and availability of 

service providers 

• Ability to use a systems 

approach

• Amount of training needed for 

school staff 

• Time allocation 

• Financial support needed for 

programs and services to be 

effective
Washington Commitment and Collaboration Are Key

Source: OSPI. (2012). Washington’s Student Assistance Prevention-Intervention Services Program: Program Manual 29 https://www.k12.wa.us/sites/default/files/public/preventionintervention/pubdocs/sapispmanual2012.pdf

Role of the SAP Role of the School Role of the Coalition

• Prevention education

• Behavioral health 

promotion and awareness

• Participation on school 

multi-disciplinary team

• Screen students for 

behavioral health concerns

• Early intervention 

support services

• Behavioral health 

treatment

• Referral and resources

• Policy development and 

enforcement

• Provide confidential 

office space for SAP

• Refer students to the 

SAP

• Convene and participate 

in the school multidisciplinary team

• Promote SAP services 

within the school 

community

• Establish community 

norms that foster 

healthy behaviors

• Community-based 

behavioral health 

promotion, awareness 

and education
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SAP Delivery and Integration Examples: Washington
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Service Delivery Model Examples: Ohio

SAP service delivery model n %

Externally based 22 51%

Internally based 9 21%

Core team 29 67%

Other 1 2%

School SAP Delivery Model, SAP Needs Assessment, May-July 

2021 (n = 43)

Note: Participants were able to select more than one option, resulting in a 

percentage total greater than 100%

“School leaders should consider the advantages and disadvantages of 

all three service delivery models relative to their own unique local 

practices, needs, and resources....Schools may elect to implement a 

single service delivery model or may choose to utilize a combination of 

service delivery models, based on careful consideration of the level of 

student need for services, training and expertise of current staff, 

desired level of school ownership of program services, the availability 

of community-based resources, and the amount of funding allotted to 

establish and maintain substance use and mental health services 

across the continuum of care.” – Guidance to Schools in OSWI Manual
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Q&A
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Student Assistance: A Guide for School Administrators

Purpose: This document provides school leaders and 

administrators with key information about student assistance 

services for substance use and mental health initiatives.
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Student Assistance Resources Guide

Purpose: This document describes some student assistance 

resources and provides tangible ways school administrators 

and student assistance teams can implement the strategies.

It also assists school leaders and student assistance teams to 

increase awareness of student assistance services by 

providing guidance on resources available for this critically 

important work.
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Student Assistance Discussion Starter Video

Purpose: This video describes some student assistance resources and provides tangible 

ways school administrators and student assistance teams can implement the strategies.

It also assists school leaders and student assistance teams to increase awareness of 

student assistance services by providing guidance on resources available for this 

critically important work.
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Other Helpful Resources

• “Talk. They Hear You.” Campaign SAP Resources

Includes guides, a discussion starter video, public service announcements, fact 

sheets, and posters

• Prevention First Student Assistance Guidebook

• Pennsylvania Network for Student Assistance Services Website

• School Mental Health Quality Guides (e.g., Needs Assessment &

Resource Mapping Guide, Early Intervention and Treatment

Services & Supports guide)

• School-Wide Universal Screening Guidance
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What’s Next

Webinar #3: Assessing Needs and Building Capacity

• Policies and procedures

• Assessing needs and building capacity

• Staff development/teaming

• Program awareness

• Partnerships

Date: January 2021
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