The Student Assistance Program, or "SAP," is designed to help students who may have an issue with alcohol or other drugs. A professionally-trained and certified SAP Counselor works in each school at least two days a week. The counselor's responsibilities include:

• training school staff, students and parents on the SAP process;
• supporting individual and groups of students who are affected by their own or someone else's use; and
• increasing awareness of alcohol and other drug-related problems through classroom and parent presentations.

There is an important distinction between the role of an SAP Counselor and the role of a Guidance Counselor at school. With that said, however, SAP Counselors do take a broad brush approach to prevention, particularly at the middle school level. Typically, the use of drugs--either by students themselves or by people close to them--will be tied to many other issues such as depression, relationships, family problems, etc. SAP Counselors work to address these issues, as they are often contributing factors that place youth at risk for substance abuse.

Click to meet the SAP Counselors working in the Chittenden South Supervisory Union

It is very important to note that an SAP is an intervention program, not a treatment program. An SAP will not "solve" our drug problem. It is just one of many programs to address the issue.