Student Assistance Network
The Center has created the New Hampshire Student Assistance Network to strengthen and expand the presence and impact of Student Assistance Programs in New Hampshire schools.
If you are a current Student Assistance Program Coordinator (SAP-C), please see the resources that are available to you to support your work.
What is the New Hampshire Student Assistance Network?
The New Hampshire Student Assistance Network (The Network) develops, aligns, and promotes NH Student Assistance Programs (NH SAP) based on the nationally recognized Project SUCCESS. In collaboration with the NH Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Services, The Network continues to support SAPs by providing:
- Funding
- Group and individual technical assistance
- Support with evaluation and sustainability planning.
What is a NH Student Assistance Program?
The NH Student Assistance Program (NH SAP) is well integrated into the overall social and emotional support system for students and their parents in a school environment. NH SAP uses a team approach and is led by a specially trained student assistance program coordinator (SAP-C) who has experience working with adolescents on early identification and intervention for substance misuse and mental health. Other members of the SAP team include behavioral health school staff, school health and wellness teams, and partnerships with local prevention and behavioral health providers and regional prevention coalitions. The SAP-C coordinates prevention and early intervention resources to reduce barriers to learning for students in New Hampshire Schools.
Essential activities include:
- School-wide awareness activities for the school community and families about substance use and mental health resources to promote wellness and avoid high risk behavior, as well as where to go for help.
- Prevention Education Classroom Instruction for students in at least one grade about adolescence, relationships, healthy coping, alcohol, tobacco, nicotine, marijuana, and other drugs.
- Parent programs with information about ways they can support their child through healthy adolescent development.
- Professional development and consultation for school staff to increase staff confidence and strategies for promoting wellness and identifying and addressing risk factors for early substance use.
- Confidential student assessment for substance use and other behavioral health problems that contribute to poor school performance.
- Individual and group skill building sessions to provide support for needs identified in the assessment.
- Referral to community organizations when students need additional support outside of the school-based resources.
What do you need to start a Student Assistance Program (SAP)?
- Contact The Network at nhsapnetwork@jsi.org and let us know you are interested in having a SAP at your school.
- Meet with The Network to review readiness and discuss the next steps, which may include applying for the funding and hiring a SAP Coordinator, or increasing readiness by participating in some of The Network’s learning opportunities.
- Learn more about applying in the SFY27 Funding Opportunity Announcement.
We look forward to working with you to bring Student Assistance Programming to your school’s community.
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Readiness
In order to implement student assistance with fidelity, it is essential that each component of the program be integrated into the school and be supported by administration and the school community. See Scope of Work. Starting a Student Assistance Program (SAP) requires a certain level of readiness.
Applying for Funding
After meeting with the Network to understand the school’s level of readiness, the school can apply for funding to support the exploration or implementation of the SAP. Schools are required to provide a 25% match in cash or in-kind.
Hiring for SAP
The SAP Coordinator’s (SAP-C) responsibility requires highly trained, supervised, and experienced staff members with expertise in working with youth, communicating with other professionals, and engaging parents. It is strongly recommended that SAP-Cs have a Master’s degree in counseling, psychology, or social work, at least two years’ experience working with adolescents, and knowledge of substance misuse prevention. All NH SAP-Cs receiving state funds must become a Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS) within one year of being hired.
Ongoing Support
Through The Network the newly hired SAP-C will receive professional support and development. The Network offers one-on-one mentoring for first year SAP-Cs, bi-weekly regional peer collaboratives, and monthly learning opportunities. In addition, technical assistance is provided on an ongoing and as-needed basis for the SAP-C and the school administrator, and others on the behavioral health team.
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Is Your School Interested in Having an SAP?
Helpful Links
- NH SAP Implementation Manual
- NH YRBS Data:
NH DOE – Statewide Data, 2021, 10-Year Trend Analysis
NH DHHS – 2023 State Data and Data by Regional Public Health Network