Back to School: Know Your School’s Student Assistance Program (SAP)

As your child heads back to school, there’s one resource worth knowing about before you ever need it: your school’s Student Assistance Program (SAP).

In Pennsylvania, Student Assistance Programs help identify concerns that may be getting in the way of a student’s success and connect students and families with helpful school or community resources.

Your child’s school may not call its program “SAP.” Schools may use a different name for their student assistance program or team, so it’s worth asking what this support is called at your child’s school.

You may never need it. But if something changes during the school year, knowing this resource exists can give you another place to turn.

Sometimes, you notice the change first

Maybe your child who used to enjoy school suddenly doesn’t want to go.

Or perhaps, getting out the door becomes a daily struggle. Their grades change. They’re having a harder time socially. Or you’ve noticed a change in their behavior or emotional well-being.

Sometimes you know something is different before you know exactly what it means.

You don’t need to have all the answers before you start asking questions.

And here’s something parents may not realize: parents can make a referral to SAP, too.

You don’t have to wait for someone at school to raise a concern first. If you’re concerned about how your child is doing, you can ask your school about its Student Assistance Program or team.

Your perspective matters

The people at your child’s school know what they see during the school day. You know your child.

You know their history, their strengths, what motivates them, what has helped before, and what you’ve been noticing outside of school. That information matters.

Knowing about SAP gives you one more resource you can ask about if you notice your child is having a hard time.

Learn about SAP before you need it

If you’ve never heard of a Student Assistance Program, you probably have questions.

What is SAP? What kinds of concerns can it help with? What happens when a referral is made? What role do I have in the process?

We created a resource to help Pennsylvania parents better understand Student Assistance Programs and what parents can expect from the process.

Take a few minutes to learn about SAP now. You can also ask your child’s school what its student assistance program or team is called, how its process works, and who you can contact if you have concerns about your child.

You don’t need to wait until there’s a crisis to learn what support is available.

[Learn More About Student Assistance Programs (SAP) →] https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/what-is-sap