Substance Misuse Prevention in Schools

Can Second Start’s Student Assistance Program (SAP) Help?

The Student Assistance Program (SAP) is an alcohol and other drug education/prevention program designed to help students make positive choices about healthy lifestyles. It consists of school-wide prevention messaging, classroom education, theme-centered groups, individual student, parent, faculty consultations, and parent and staff presentations/training. Second Start serves Merrimack Valley Middle and High School, Hopkinton Middle/High School, Concord High School, Rundlett Middle School, and Andover Elementary/Middle School This prevention model is also offered as part of the programming at Second Start’s Alternative High School.

• EXPERIENCE: qualified counseling staff have been providing services since 1986; operating in local elementary, middle and high schools throughout the greater Capital Region of N.H..
• FLEXIBILITY: half day to five days per week programming available; programs are tailored to fit your needs.
• SCOPE: administrative policy support; staff training; direct intervention with students, parent support and education

Student Services

Intake Assessment, Crisis Counseling, and Referral Services

• Counselors meet individually with students to assess their risk factors for substance misuse and other risky behaviors as well as to identify strengths that can be used to help them build connections with school, family, and community.
• Students are offered ongoing individual and/or group SAP services, as appropriate, to help them manage obstacles, explore solutions, and build skills related to emotional regulation.
• Counselors help students and their families build bridges.to in-school and community resources as needed.

Educational Discussion Groups:

• Students are invited to attend themed groups which are catered to help address specific obstacles to their success and decrease their sense of isolation.
• Students learn how to build trust, accept support, work with others and develop coping strategies which will better prepare them to focus on academic demands.
• Students learn about risk factors that may make them vulnerable to substance misuse and other risky behaviors.
• Students learn about the impact problematic alcohol and drug use can have on individuals, families and society.

Classroom Presentations:

• Students learn about the support services available in their school, and how and when to seek help.
• Topics include the changes and stress experienced during adolescence, alcohol and drug disorders, the dynamics of healthy friend and family relationships, and skills for coping with emotions.

Environmental Initiatives

Students are exposed to themed environmental messaging on a variety of topics throughout the year. Environmental messaging clears up misperceptions surrounding the dangers of high risk behaviors, such as substance misuse, provide information to enable students to develop resistance, and offer resources for further information and support.

Educator and Parent Services

Training for Professionals:

• Educators gain an understanding of how trauma and family/personal substance misuse impacts a students’ ability to learn.
• Educators learn how to recognize students who may carry risk factors for alcohol and other drug use and other risky behaviors.
• Staff learn methods to effectively communicate with students who are at risk and carry triggers brought on by a history of trauma.

Parent Education and Support:

• Seminars present information to parents and guardians about the nature of teen substance misuse and other risky behaviors.
• Parents learn how to help their children resist the pressure to conform to peer pressure.
• Parents are offered support and guidance in lowering the risk factors for substance misuse and other risky behaviors for their children.
• Parents are offered referrals to additional resources in their community, both for themselves and for their family members.