Prevention/Intervention

About Prevention/Intervention

Our Prevention and Intervention (PI) programs serve to increase knowledge and awareness of the nature and extent of alcohol and other drug use, abuse and addiction as well their effects on individuals, families, and communities. In addition to increasing awareness of available prevention and treatment programs and services, our PI programs build skills through a structured learning process. Participating students learn critical life and social skills include decision making, peer resistance, coping with stress, problem solving, interpersonal communication, and systematic and judgmental abilities. Our PI staff provide ongoing networking activities and technical assistance to community groups or agencies.

What is a SAP?

An SAP, or Student Assistance Professionals, provide both school-wide education and activities, as well as targeted 1:1 and small group interventions and referrals to services for students who need more support than can be provided in a school setting.

Student Assistance Professionals can also:

Conduct substance abuse prevention and awareness training for school staff
Present about the program at faculty meetings and school events.
Meet with school staff to increase referrals
Attend activities for students, parents, and faculty
Participate in substance abuse prevention task forces (coalitions, committees, etc.)

OSPI, What Does a Student Assistance Professional Do All Day, Project SUCCESS, https://ospi.k12.wa.us/sites/default/files/2023-10/whatdoesastudentassistancespecialistdo.pdf

What do SAPs do?

Prevention Intervention Education

Student Assistance Professionals provide Prevention Education classes at the school they work at.

Topics may include: Being an Adolescent, Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs, Relationships; Family and Friends, Skills for Coping.

The Prevention Education classes are typically held at Middle School and High Schools and coordinated with the teachers and staff.

Screening for Services

Minimum 40-45 minutes: to assess for individual, family, Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs (ATOD) issues, and need for treatment
Orientation to groups
May take up to three sessions

Individual Sessions with a Student Assistance Professional can provide one-to-one support for:

Affected Others (children in families with substance use disorder)
Substance Users

Support Groups, run by the Student Assistance Professional, can vary from:

Prevention: Newcomers, Affected Others, Seniors, Non Users, Assessment & Education, Siblings
Intervention: Assessment & Education, Parents, Peers, and Partying, Substance Users, Affected Others/Substance Users

OSPI, What Does a Student Assistance Professional Do All Day, Project SUCCESS, https://ospi.k12.wa.us/sites/default/files/2023-10/whatdoesastudentassistancespecialistdo.pdf

Where are SAPs?

Student Assistance Professionals are in 20 school districts across our 5-county region.

Island County – Oak Harbor HS/MS/Intermediate, Coupeville HS/MS/Elementary, South Whidbey HS/MS

San Juan County – Friday Harbor HS/MS

Skagit County – Anacortes HS/Cap Sante HS, Concrete HS/MS/Elementary, Mount Vernon HS/Aspire Academy, Mount Baker MS, LaVenture MS, Sedro-Woolley HS, Skagit Open Doors

Snohomish County – Darrington HS/MS, Granite Falls HS/MS, Lakewood HS/MS, Marysville-Getchel HS, Monroe HS, Park Place MS (Monroe)

Whatcom County – Shuksan MS/Options HS (Bellingham), Blaine HS/MS, Ferndale HS, Nooksack Valley MS

Healthy Youth Survey

“The Healthy Youth Survey (HYS) is a statewide, collaborative effort of OSPI, the Department of Health, the Department of Social and Health Service’s Division of Behavioral and Health and Recovery, Family Policy Council, Department of Commerce, and Liquor Control Board.

The survey is conducted every two years. In the fall of 2016, over 230,000 students in over 1,000 schools from 236 school districts in all 39 counties took part.”

Learn More