Student Assistance Program (S.A.P.)

Help Kids BEFORE They Get Into Trouble! The Howard County Public Schools are dedicated to student success! If a student has a problem that interferes with their progress in school, HCPSS is there to help. The Student Assistance Program (SAP) is specifically designed to help students who may be using tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs. The SAP consists of a school-based team in each school that offers support to students, parents and teachers. The SAP provides a systematic approach to early identification, intervention, referral, and follow-up of students whose behavior indicates patterns that may be related to the use of tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs.

How does it work?
1. Initial Referral: Any teacher, other adult, or student may make a referral of a student whom they are concerned about. The referral may be made anonymously to protect the relationship between the "referrer" and the "referee". For example: Cindy is an 11th grader whose friend, Chris, has begun drinking alcohol regularly. Cindy confides in her mom, who feels uncomfortable speaking to Chris or calling Chris' parents about the situation, but is concerned for Chris' health and safety. Cindy's mom can fill out the simple SAP Referral Form (below) and send it anonymously to the school SAP team, who will follow up discreetly on the situation.

2. Information collection: The SAP team sends a confidential checklist form to Chris' teachers and other school personnel to ask if they have observed any difficulties with Chris' progress in school or general health and attitude. The reason for the inquiry is not given, to protect Chris' confidentiality. Information received back is reviewed by the SAP team.

3. Intervention: If there is documented reason for concern, the SAP team will contact Chris' parents and request a meeting to discuss the concerns. Hopefully, Chris' parents are receptive and will meet with the SAP team. It is the SAP program's experience that some parents are already aware that there is a problem, and may be relieved to get help and support. Other parents are unaware of their child's problem.

4. Referral to Services: If the situation warrants, the SAP team will recommend to parents that they seek appropriate services for their child in the school or the community. The SAP team maintains a list of available services. In the case of Chris, whose drinking behaviors are evident, a referral is made to a licensed adolescent addictions counselor who can offer evaluation and treatment. In Howard County, the school system has an agreement with the Howard County Health Department (HCHD), where, if referred by the SAP, they will receive a free assessment. Private providers are also available. At this point, the issue is in the parents' hands. Once the school has made a recommendation, the parents may choose to act upon it or not.

5. Follow-Up: Follow-up is different in each case. The goal of this step is to provide the student and family with appropriate support in order to enhance the chances for success. It is up to the parent and the student how much information is shared with the school about outside services sought or received. However, the school may continue to offer a variety of strategies including support groups, faculty mentoring, and peer support groups to support the student in the school setting.

Do you have questions about the Student Assistance Program (SAP)?
Call Dan Burdette, Pupil Personnel Worker for HCPSS (410-313-7056) or Mary Ann Warnke, Adolescent Services Supervisor at HCHD (410-313-6281). Please remember that use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs by students is illegal and a violation of school policy.

If a student is caught in possession or under the influence of any of these substances at school or at any school-related event, disciplinary and legal action will follow. The Student Assistance Program seeks to prevent these steps by identifying and helping students early.

S.A.P. Referral Form

School Policies & Programs

HCPSS follows mandatory State of Maryland regulations concerning administration of medications at school. However, each County sets its own policies concerning the consequences of violating these regulations. On October 1,2004 the Howard County Board of Education's revised Policy #3451: Alcohol, Other Drugs, Prescription Medication and Over-the Counter Products went into effect. This all sounds complicated - and it is! - but we will try to summarize here what you need to know. If you require more details, please read the entire HCPSS policy on their website at www.hcpss.org

Highlights of the revised policy:
Possession and/or Use of Prescription Medication and Over-the-Counter Products in the absence of or inconsistent with a written medication order.

First Offense
a. Suspension for up to thirty (30) school days.
b. A lesser consequence than suspension may be considered it:
     - The medication or over-the-counter product can be clearly identified, and
     - The student has a current prescription for the medication or the student's parent has authorized the use of the over-the-counter product; and
     - The medication or product was taken by the patient, as prescribed.
c. Any consequences must include a parent/guardian-student conference regarding requirements of administering prescription and OTC medications.

Second Offense
a. Suspension for up to thirty (30) school days.
b. Suspension from extracurricular and school-related activities for thirty (30) school days or the course of the suspension.
c. Participation in a parent/student conference with an administrator before re-admission. a. Mandatory assessment, counseling, and/ or education through a licensed addictions program.
b. Referral to Student Services for follow-up of compliance with any recommended treatment plan.
d. If an administrator assigned a lesser consequence for the 1st offense, the administrator may consider the following consequences:
     i. Suspension for not more than 10 days.
     ii. Suspension from extra-curricular and school-related activities over the course of the suspension.
     iii. Parent/guardian-student conference with an administrator prior to returning to school.

Third and subsequent offenses will be met with increasingly severe consequences, including suspension for up to 45 school days. And these are just the consequences for use by a student of OTC or prescription drugs! "Intent to distribute and/or distribution of these substances" result in longer suspensions or expulsion.

Policy #3411- Student Use and Possession of Tobacco Products:
First Offense- Saturday School Tobacco Management Class
Second Offense- Suspension up to 10 days and Tobacco Management
Third Offense- Suspension up to 30 days and Tobacco Management
After Third Offense- May be expelled

Copyright © 2008 Howard County Drug Free
10451 Twin Rivers Rd., Suite 404, Columbia, MD 21044
Phone & Fax: 443-325-0040
hcdrugfree@yahoo.com

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