PROGRAM CRITERIA

Student Assistance Program Training Will:

· Assist students with physical, emotional, social, or substance abuse problems.
· Improve the quality of education in schools and the school environment.
· Use existing human resources rather than require new professional staff.
· Enlist the support and involvement of all professional staff members.
· Focus on education rather than on resolving major social problems.

Desirable Components of Student Assistance Training:

· Time Line for Implementation
· Administrative Support
· Board of Education Support
· Central Office Coordinator
· Policy Review and Revision
· Core Team Selection and Training
· Common Planning Time for Team Members
· Faculty In-Service
· Establishment of Student Groups
· Relationship with Service Providers

Potential Team Members:*

· Central Office Administrator (ad hoc member)
· Building Level Administrator
· School Guidance Counselor
· School Nurse
· Classroom Teachers, including Special Education
· School Social Worker

Criteria for Team Selection:

· Balance of male and female members (where possible).
· Someone with seniority within a school or school district.
· Someone respected by peers and students.
· Someone who respects students.
* A District can enroll one or several persons, but a Team is most desirable!

Keys to Success

We know that preparation and commitment are the keys to successful program implementation.

Participating school buildings are encouraged to:

· Identify Core Team members
· Provide time for weekly one hour team meetings
· Provide 3-7 hours of faculty in-service within the first year of program implementation
· Support from school superintendents and local providers of mental health, drug & alcohol, and other community services is essential for the program to be fully successful.

Also ...

Participants need to make a total commitment of their time for all three days of the seminar. The hours will be from 8:00 a.m. to approximately 5:00 p.m. for the first two days, and from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the final day. All meals will be served on site. As meals and training are tightly scheduled, participants should not go off campus.

Continue on to
MASONIC MODEL STUDENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
TRAINING AGENDA