SAP COUNTY COORDINATION UPDATE
September, 2014
Prepared by: PA Network for Student Assistance Services (PNSAS)
www.sap.state.pa.us
Pennsylvania Network for Student Assistance Services Interagency Update
New DDAP Representative to SAP Interagency Committee
Lonnie Barnes, who served as the DDAP representative for the SAP Interagency Committee, retired in July. Until that vacancy is filled, the DDAP representative on the SAP Interagency Committee will be:
Grace Kindt
Division of Prevention & Intervention
PA Department of Drug & Alcohol Programs
Bureau of Treatment, Prevention & Intervention
02 Kline Village
Harrisburg, PA 17104
Voice: 717-736-7458
Email:
SAP K-12 Bridge Training Completed
Last year, the Pennsylvania Network for Student Assistance Services (PNSAS) developed an integrated SAP K-12 training for both elementary and secondary Student Assistance Team (SAP) team members. For those who were trained and certified as a SAP team member under either the elementary or secondary model before the development of the integrated K-12 SAP Training, a free Bridge Training was available until August 31, 2014. Over 853 participants
successfully completed the training modules and post tests and were awarded SAP K-12 Bridge Training certificates. Congratulations to those who completed the training! The completion of the training will allow these individuals to serve on elementary through high school SAP teams. Thank you to Northeastern Education Intermediate Unit 19 for hosting the training on their website.
SAP Team Highlights
Looking for some fresh ideas for your SAP team This section of the SAP County Coordination Update is for you! We want to feature what teams across the Commonwealth are doing in their efforts to reach students and families. What ways do you market your SAP team to students, staff, and the community? Does your SAP team sponsor any events in your school? Have you found an effective and creative way to engage parents and families? Share your ideas with SAP colleagues across Pennsylvania by contacting your regional coordinator (see the regional map and contacts here).
SAP BACK TO BASICS
Informing Everyone About Your School’s SAP Team
“Mar-ket-ing noun \ˈmär-kə-tiŋ\: the activities that are involved in making people aware of a company’s products, making sure that the products are available to be bought, etc...the process or technique of promoting, selling, and distributing a product or service” (Webster, n.d.).
Marketing is an essential element to an effective Student Assistance Program (SAP) team’s functioning as they work to promote the positive results that can stem from the SAP process. Why is it an essential component? A well-functioning team needs to share information and understanding about the purpose of the SAP process with stakeholders, including parents, students, educators, staff, and the community.
From the parent aspect, parents need to be partners in the SAP process working with the school’s SAP team to support the student once an issue has been identified. Parents also need to know that the SAP team is a viable option for support and assistance at the school and be familiar and comfortable with team members in order to establish a level of trust and comfort to work effectively with the team. Marketing the SAP team to parents can include creating an inviting, easy to access web page connected to the school website, possibly containing a team member’s email address to easily communicate concerns to the team member; a mini presentation by team members at a school’s open house night with an informational brochure for parents to keep on the refrigerator should need arise throughout the year; and team members attending school functions to become easily recognized and reachable by parents.
Students on the other hand need to know they are not alone and when they need assistance or know of a friend or classmate that may need assistance; they know who they can reach out to in the school. Marketing the SAP process to students may take the form of having an original SAP logo created and displayed outside each team member’s door to alert students to those educators who are trained to provide support through the SAP process; including a SAP presentation at the beginning of the year to inform students of who and what the SAP team is; and utilizing and advertising the ways that student SAP referral can be made in the school, through a frequently visited mailbox located in the school or easy access email monitored by a SAP team member.
While marketing the SAP process to parents and students is important, educating all school educators and staff is also essential. Marketing the process includes in-servicing teachers and staff on the SAP process, the SAP team members, and how to make referrals; defining the process and access to forms for ease in referring students in need; and providing opportunities for all staff members to be trained in the SAP process, as funding allows, to demonstrate the importance and overall process of the program.
Finally, marketing the SAP process to the community through presentation, brochures, and websites can help to build community support for the overall health and well-being of all stakeholders in creating environments and situations that are beneficial to the safety, health, welfare, and education of all children. What ideas do you have for marketing your SAP team? What’s been most successful? Contact your SAP Regional Coordinator if you have SAP marketing success stories to share. Maybe your SAP team can host the refreshment stand at the next parent/teacher night or home football game!
Marketing. (n.d.). Retrieved August 22, 2014, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/marketing
RESOURCES
SAMHSA Launches Podcast Series for National Suicide Prevention Week
From September 8-13, SAMHSA will release a new podcast each day related to a topic in suicide prevention. The podcasts will be available for download from the Suicide Prevention Resource Center's collection of SAMHSA webinars.
Go here for more information.
World Suicide Prevention Day
World Suicide Prevention Day is September 10, 2014. More information and suggested activities are available at www.iasp.info/wspd/pdf/2014/2014_wspd_brochure.pdf . Specific resources for faith-based organizations are available here.
Suicide and Bullying
The Relationship between Bullying and Suicide: What We Know and What it Means for Schools is available here from the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Centers for Disease Control (CDC). This publication provides tips for educators based on the questions: What do we know from research? What can school personnel do?
Know Bullying App
Research shows that as little as 15 minutes a day of focused conversation with a child about issues related to bullying can help build self-esteem and prevent bullying. These discussions can strengthen relationships and promote a feeling of connectedness, helping children develop effective strategies for facing bullying – whether children are being bullied, engaging in bullying or witnessing bullying. KnowBullying, a new mobile app by SAMHSA, encourages dialogue between you and your children and helps you start a conversation.
The app is a helpful resource and reminder for parents and caregivers to start a conversation that their kids will remember when it counts. It also reminds children that they can go to their parents if they have a problem.
KnowBullying by SAMHSA includes:
· Conversation Starters: Start a meaningful discussion with your child.
· Tips: Learn ways to prevent bullying.
· Warning Signs: Know if your child is affected by bullying.
· Reminders: Find the right time to connect with your child.
· Social Media: Share tactics and useful advice.
· Section for Educators: Prevent bullying in the classroom.
The KnowBullying app is available for Android™ and iPhone®. It is a free resource for mobile devices provided by SAMHSA, in conjunction with the StopBullying.gov Federal partnership. Put the power to prevent bullying in your hand by learning more and downloading the app here.
Report Addresses Protective Factors to Overcome Youth and Family Trauma.
The Department of Health and Humans Services’ Administration on Children, Youth and Families has released “Promoting Protective Factors for In-Risk Families and Youth: A Brief for Researchers.” This report explores factors that help youth and their families cope with trauma, focusing on five populations who are often victimized. View and download the report here.
Supportive School Discipline Initiative Resources Available Online
OJJDP has released an online brief on the Supportive School Discipline Initiative (SSDI), a collaboration between the Departments of Education and Justice in coordination with OJJDP, the Department of Health and Human Services, and other federal partners. SSDI supports school discipline practices that foster safe, supportive, and productive learning environments and keep students engaged in school and out of courts. The brief provides information about SSDI and features links to research, data collection, funding, and related resources, including the school discipline guidance package. Read more about the Supportive School Discipline Initiative.
Violence Prevention
Preventing Youth Violence: Opportunities for Action, outlines effective strategies for action and prevention. It is available here from the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, CDC.
TRAINIng Opportunities
National School Mental Health Conference: School Mental Health: Enhancing Safe, Supportive and Healthy Schools”
September 18-20, 2014
Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown
Pittsburgh, PA
Program and registration information is available at
http://csmh.umaryland.edu/Conferences/AnnualConference/index.html
2014 Safe Schools Conference
“Keeping Our Children Safe: Strategies for Schools and Communities”
Oct 8-9, 2014
Holiday Inn Harrisburg/Hershey, Grantville.
Sponsored by the Center for Safe Schools.
More information/registration at
http://www.safeschools.info/professional-development/2014-safe-schools-conference
Pennsylvania Suicide Prevention Conference
Oct. 15-16, 2014
Ramada Inn and Conference Center,
State College, PA
Sponsored by the PA Adult/Senior Adult Suicide Prevention Coalition and the PA Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative.
Keynote speaker: Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas, a clinical psychologist, mental health advocate, and survivor of her brother’s suicide.
The first day will feature a choice of breakout sessions, while the second day will feature extended trainings on QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer), Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk, and Youth Mental Health First Aid.
Program and registration information is available here.
Safe Dates Implementation Training
November 5, 2014
Center for Safe Schools,
275 Grandview Avenue, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania 17011
Safe Dates is an evidence-based program for preventing dating abuse among adolescents. It consists of the following five components:
1. A ten-session dating abuse curriculum
2. A play about dating abuse
3. A poster contest
4. Parent materials, including a letter, newsletter, and the Families for Safe Dates program
5. An evaluation questionnaire
Safe Dates can be used as a dating abuse prevention tool for both male and female middle- and high-school students. Safe Dates would fit well within a health education, family life skills, or general life skills curriculum.
This one-day event is being offered for those individuals who wish to support their schools in the implementation of the Safe Dates Curriculum. A school counselor can offer Safe Dates as part of a support group or counseling/education program or it can be used in after school, community youth enrichment, and faith-based youth programs. Safe Dates can also be used as an intervention tool at domestic abuse or crisis centers, in juvenile diversion programs, and with victim support groups.
For additional information and to register please click on this link: http://www.safeschools.info/professional-development/2014-safe-dates-implementation-training
Pennsylvania Conference on Juvenile Justice
Nov. 5-7, 2014
Harrisburg Hilton and Towers, Harrisburg.
Sponsored by the Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission and others.
SAVE THE DATE
The 25th Annual PASAP Conference
February 22-24, 2015
Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel
State College, PA
Do Something Remarkable
April 8-9, 2015.
Sheraton Harrisburg-Hershey Hotel,
Harrisburg, PA
Sponsored by Pennsylvania Council of Children, Youth and Family Services.
Deadline for presentation proposals is September 15, 2014.
For further information go to http://pccyfs.org/Spring_Conf.html
NEWS
Pennsylvania Passes New Youth Suicide Prevention Bill
On June 26, 2014, Governor Corbett signed Act 71 into law. This bill codifies school-based suicide prevention and
requires school entities to adopt an age-appropriate youth suicide awareness and prevention policy, and provide training in youth suicide awareness and prevention to professional educators in grades 6-12. It also requires the Department of Education to develop a model youth suicide awareness and prevention policy, develop a model youth suicide awareness and prevention curriculum and make it available to all school entities, and compile, develop, and post online guidelines and materials for training educators and resources and age-appropriate educational material. The Act also includes requirements related to child exploitation awareness education. The PA Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative supported this bill and will continue to work with the Department of Education to assist in developing youth suicide awareness and prevention curriculum and providing other related resources. The complete text of the bill is available at http://tiny.cc/p4cgjx
Educating Health Care Providers about Self-Injury
Noting that non-suicidal self-injury (NNSI) is a widespread problem associated with increased suicide risk, and that many patients do not disclose their self-injury behaviors to their health care providers, researchers conducted a study to evaluate the effect of training in this area for health and mental health professionals. A study of medical and mental health professionals from Belgium revealed that those who had been trained about NSSI felt more knowledgeable about it, more empathetic toward those who self-injure, and more comfortable working with NSSI patients than those who had not received any training. Among those who had not received any training, mental health professionals felt more knowledgeable about the topic and more comfortable working with NSSI patients than did social workers or medical nurses. The authors suggest that educating mental health professionals about NSSI and providing mental health training to physicians, nurses, and social workers might improve the quality of care for NSSI patients and thereby increase their willingness to seek care. Read more here.
FDA Consumer Advice on Powdered Pure Caffeine
The FDA is warning about powdered pure caffeine being marketed directly to consumers, and recommends avoiding these products. In particular, FDA is concerned about powdered pure caffeine sold in bulk bags over the internet.
The FDA is aware of at least one death of a teenager who used these products. These products are essentially 100 percent caffeine. A single teaspoon of pure caffeine is roughly equivalent to the amount in 25 cups of coffee.
Pure caffeine is a powerful stimulant and very small amounts may cause accidental overdose. Parents should be aware that these products may be attractive to young people. Symptoms of caffeine overdose can include rapid or dangerously erratic heartbeat, seizures and death. Vomiting, diarrhea, stupor and disorientation are also symptoms of caffeine toxicity. These symptoms are likely to be much more severe than those resulting from drinking too much coffee, tea or other caffeinated beverages.