![]() The Student Assistance Program (SAP) is a confidential, school-based program to support students who may be struggling due to their social, emotional or behavioral concerns. SAP team members work with school staff, parents and students to address learning and school success issues through the process of removing barriers to learning and supporting student resilience and success in academics and life. A referral is made to the SAP team when teachers, administrators, or other school personnel notice a problem in a student. Referrals are anonymous and can be submitted by any school personnel, including but not limited to counselors and classroom teachers. When a referral is received, the SAP team will gather information from all school personnel who have contact with the student. This information includes student performance, attendance, behavior and other identifying factors. The SAP team will also consult with the parent and student to help determine the presenting problem and its impact on the student’s learning and school success. Once the team has gathered and discussed the relevant data, they will develop a plan for intervention that will include strategies for removing the barriers to learning and promoting the student’s academic and personal success to include in-school and/or community-based services and activities. The team will then work with the student and family to implement the plan to promote a successful return to school. SSSP offers several programs and events during the academic year to support entering freshmen, continuing and transfer students who are in need of guidance, mentoring or tutoring to improve their academic standing. These programs provide an opportunity to meet and interact with upper division students who can share their experiences, knowledge, skills and resources. The SSSP Cultural Diversity Program provides students with an opportunity to express their cultural identity through the presentation of art, food or music from their own culture. Faculty-led sessions are also offered to promote student appreciation and understanding of the cultures of others. Student Assistance Program Awards are available to qualifying New York State students studying full-time or part-time at approved colleges and universities throughout the state. Award amounts vary depending on family income, number of family members attending college full-time and the size of the annual appropriation for TAP. Families with a New York State NET taxable income of $80,000 or less qualify for TAP awards. TAP awards are not a loan but a grant, which does not have to be paid back. TAP is one of the many grants and scholarships programs offered through the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation. To find out if your school is approved for TAP, visit the HESC website. If you are a high school senior who wants to attend college next fall, apply for TAP now. You can do this online at the TAP website and you will receive an email when you have been accepted to receive TAP for your college. TAP will cover the cost of tuition at any New York State approved public, private or independent college or university for eligible families. TAP is available for full-time and part-time students who are enrolled in at least 12 credit hours per semester. For more information related to this topic, click here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuition_Assistance_Program.
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![]() When your employees are dealing with personal problems that affect their health and work performance, it’s critical to invest in a reliable employee assistance program. These programs are a vital part of your workplace wellness strategy, helping you attract and retain the best talent, boost employee engagement, and improve overall productivity. Whether you’re looking to add an EAP to your existing benefits package or start one from scratch, there are many things to consider when choosing an option that works for your needs and budget. First, you’ll need to decide if you want to create your own internal program or outsource it to an external service provider. Then, you’ll need to determine if you want to provide your employees with a hotline and/or an online portal to access services and resources or if you prefer to offer them on-site counseling. The decision you make will depend on how much time and money you have to invest in employee assistance programs, as well as your company’s health insurance policy and drug-free workplace policy. Some employers opt for a combination of both models: they create an internal program and then outsource or hire a third-party provider to handle the administration. This allows you to keep costs down and retain control of the program while providing your employees with a high level of support and services. A great Employee Assistance Program should offer a wide range of services, from short-term counseling to referrals to follow-up services. They also typically maintain a network of experts who can help your employees and their eligible family members with various issues, such as legal firms, childcare professionals, elder care specialists, nutritionists, fitness professionals, and more. You can also opt for a provider that offers bundled payments, where you pay a lower fee for a specific number of sessions. This helps you build a long-term relationship with the provider and keep your costs down while still getting quality service. Your employees may need assistance with a variety of personal issues, including mental health concerns, financial difficulties, and relationship problems. Some EAPs have specific areas of focus, such as alcohol or substance use disorders. With an EAP, your employees can call a confidential line anytime and get immediate answers and support. They can even speak with a counselor from home, if they feel more comfortable. Having a program in place also reduces the risk of workplace violence and can make your workers more productive. In a study by Harris Interactive, 51% of employees said they would stay with an employer that had an EAP program in place. In addition, a study by the National Business Group on Health found that an employee assistance program reduces presenteeism and absenteeism in the workplace, which leads to fewer work-related injuries and reduced workers’ compensation claims. Regardless of your company’s size or industry, the right employee assistance program can be a significant and cost-effective addition to your company’s overall benefits package. These programs offer a variety of support services for individuals, couples and families, and can help your employees cope with challenging situations like COVID-19. To get more information related to this topic, Check this page: https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/economics-business-and-labor/businesses-and-occupations/employee-assistance-programs. ![]() Student Assistance Programs (SAPs) are a systemic approach that mobilizes school resources to remove barriers to learning. Whether a concern is related to alcohol and drug abuse, mental health problems or social issues, SAPs are designed to identify students who have a barrier to academic success, assess their needs, and provide them with intervention services. SAP Services Student assistance team members are trained to recognize problems, determine if the issue is within the scope of the school and make recommendations to assist parents and children with accessing services in the community when needed. While the SAP team cannot diagnose or treat the presenting issue, they may refer for a screening or assessment to a substance abuse or mental health agency. The Student Assistance Program team is a group of professional teachers, administrators, counselors and support staff who work with students and their families to address concerns that affect their educational progress. They are responsible for removing non-academic barriers to learning, improving communication with parents and students and helping the school district to achieve its goal of ensuring that all students have the opportunities to be successful in school. SAP Training Standards & Procedures The Commonwealth Student Assistance Program has developed and adopted guidelines to ensure that all team members are well trained and have the competencies to meet accountable standards. These guidelines are reviewed and updated annually. They are used to provide accountability and reassurance to board of school directors, parents, students and community stakeholders that all SAP team members are properly trained to serve as effective student assistance advocates. Involving the Student and Parent in all Phases of the Process Every 29 seconds, another American child gives up on schooling, which is why SAP programs are aimed at eliminating those barriers to education that result in high dropout rates. In Union City Area Schools, the SAP team helps students who are at risk for dropping out of school by removing the barriers that prevent them from being successful. Planning - The team collects objective data about a student's performance in school from all school personnel that interact with the child and from the parent. This information is then used to develop a plan that includes strategies for removing learning barriers and promoting the student's academic and personal success. Intervention - The team will help link the student to in-school and/or community-based services and activities to help them improve their academic and social skills. They may recommend a referral to an alcohol and drug or mental health assessment. E-Hall Passes - If the parent approves, the student and a member of the SAP team will be able to meet with the student one-on-one in an e-hall. This will give the student time to work on their individual skill domains in a supportive setting. The SAP team also offers Educational Peer Support groups which provide a space for student who are struggling with similar issues to come together and share their experiences and challenges and learn from each other. This will help them to build the social and emotional skills that they need to be successful in school. Open this link for more information about this topic: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuition_Assistance_Program. |