The Department of Education in collaboration with the Department of Health and Public Welfare administers student Assistance Programs in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth’s Student Assistance Program (SAP) is designed to assist school personnel identify issues which pose a barrier to a student’s learning and school success. SAP is not a treatment program; rather, it is a systematic process using effective and accountable techniques to mobilize school resources to remove the barriers to learning, and where the problem is beyond the scope of the school, to assist the parent and the student with information so they may access services within the community. The student assistance team members do not diagnose, treat or refer for treatment; but they may refer for an assessment for treatment.

The core of the program is a professionally trained team, including school staff and liaisons from The Coad Group, who process issues based upon state guidelines, professional standards and polices and procedures. Professional training for team members in all phases of the student assistance process, which is consistent with the state guidelines and conducted by a Commonwealth Approved Trainer, is required to ensure the appropriateness of recommended services, effective interagency collaboration and compliance with state and federal laws protecting the privacy rights of students and parents.

The Coad Group's Student Assistance Program (SAP) department aids Chester County, Pennsylvania school systems in the following ways:

• Aids SAP teams with support and technical assistance when working with students and their families
• Identifies and refers students with academic and social concerns to a multidisciplinary, problem-solving and case management team
• Provides assessment services, education, emergency crisis assistance, provisions for treatment and aftercare planning for students with substance abuse and/or mental health issues
• Co-facilitates educational support groups

SAP Training Information
Upcoming SAP Training Dates


Departmental Contact Information

For more information about the Student Assistance Program please contact us.

Phone: 610-363-6164
Email: sap@coadgroup.com

Related Links

• PA Student Assistance Program www.sap.state.pa.us
• PA Association of Student Assistance Professionals www.pasap.org
• National Association of Student Assistance Professionals www.nasap.org
• PA Department of Education (PDE) www.pde.psu.edu
• Chester County (PA) Intermediate Unit - Find Your School www.cciu.org/FindYourSchoolDistrict
• PDE Safe and Drug Free Schools Program www.pde.state.pa.us/sdfsc
• Center for Safe Schools www.center-school.org/index.html
• PA Department of Health www.health.state.pa.us
• National Clearinghouse for Alcohol & Drug Information www.health.org
• Partnership for a Drug-free America www.drugfreeamerica.org
• SAMSHA's National Mental Health Information Center www.mentalhealth.org
• US Department of Education Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS
• National Organization for Victim Assistance www.try-nova.org/
• PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency www.pccd.state.pa.us
• PA Liquor Control Board www.lcb.state.pa.us