High School Student Assistance Program
What is the Student Assistance Program (SAP)?
The Benton Area Student Assistance Program is designed to assist students, parents, and school personnel with identifying issues or concerns. These issues may include: alcohol, drugs, or mental health concerns which pose barriers to a student's learning and school success.
Our Student Assistance Team composed of professionally trained individual subject teachers, counselors, principal, and school nurse will not serve as a treatment program at school. Instead, the team will guide the student and family through a systematic process to receive help. The team will use effective professional techniques and utilize school resources when appropriate.
The team will gather data from teachers when a student is referred. If the problem is beyond the scope of our school resources, the team assists the family and the student with information for accessing services within the community.
Do You See Your Child Showing Any of These Behaviors?
Withdrawing from family, friends, and/or school
Changing friends; no longer spends time with old friends
Unexplained physical injuries
Talking about suicide
Depressed
Defying authority, both at home and at school
Acting aggressively
Lying
Needing money without an explanation
Sudden drop in grades
Experimenting with drugs or alcohol
If your child is having trouble in or out of school, we can help. There may be times when you just don't know how to help your child. That's okay; someone else may know how to help.
What if Someone Has Already Referred My Child to the Program?
First, know that your child was referred because someone is concerned about observable changes they are seeing in your child. Perhaps a teacher or friend has noticed changes in behavior and habits that you may or may not have noticed at home.
The SAP Team will request that you sign a permission form for your child to become involved in the program. Once you sign the form, the SAP Team will begin to work with you and your child. If you feel you need more information before making a decision, please let your SAP Team know. If you do not sign the permission form, the SAP Team cannot work with your child.
Participation is voluntary.
Resources for Assistance
In the School:
Student Assistance Team Members:
Mrs. Stacy Getz (Teacher)
Mrs. Cathy Hartman (Administrative Assistant)
Mrs. Kelly Kocher (Guidance Counselor)
Mr. John Gavlick (Guidance Counselor)
Mrs. Krista Weaver (School Nurse)
Ms. Tammy Miller (Social Worker)
Mr. Emerson Noss (Teacher)
Ms. Amanda Robbins (Teacher)
Ms. Jill Bruder (CMSU SAP Liaison)
In the Community:
CMSU Main Office: (Mental Health/Drug & Alcohol Services)
570-275-4962Center for Substance Abuse: (Treatment Hotline)
1-800-662-HELPChildline: (Child Abuse Hotline)
1-800-932-0313TAPLINE: (Mental Health Crisis Hotline)
1-800-222-9016Alcoholics Anonymous: 570-654-0488
Narcotics Anonymous: 570-988-7177
All referrals are kept CONFIDENTIAL. Referrals can also be submitted through paper copies and placed in the referral boxes located in the Library and Locker Rooms.