Student Assistance Program (SAP)
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The Student Assistance Program (SAP) supports students with known or suspected alcohol and drug-related challenges. Students may be referred to the program by CMS staff members, by parents or students may refer themselves. The program's goal is to provide students and their families with early intervention services to prevent more significant substance use challenges that could develop. All CMS schools have an assigned SAP counselor.
Elementary school students may also be referred to the SAP program; there are a small number of elementary referrals each year. These referrals will be directed to the SAP counselor assigned to the elementary student's feeder high school.
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Program staff is comprised of six counselors who have specialized training in alcohol and substance use prevention and intervention. Once a student is referred, a SAP counselor will contact the parent and meet with the student. The SAP counselor will provide screening to make recommendations for the next steps. The next steps may include:
- Psycho-educational classes related to drugs and alcohol
- Brief 1:1 counseling services
- Psycho-educational groups
- Referral to drug/alcohol treatment with a community provider
- Brief intervention using evidence-based curricula (e.g., Seeking Safety, Teen Intervene, etc.)
- All services directly provided by SAP counselors are completely free of charge and are available to any CMS student.
The services provided by SAP counselors (including screening information) are highly confidential. SAP service information is not included in a student's cumulative record. SAP counselors maintain records separate from CMS general records in compliance with federal statutes that give substance abuse treatment documentation a higher degree of confidentiality than many other services.
If a student were referred to the program due to a drug-related CMS Code of Conduct violation, SAP counselors would only disclose to the school administrator whether a parent/student responded to the screening request and participated in SAP counselor recommendations.
- SAP counselors may also provide:
- Transition coordination and support for students who are returning to a traditional school setting after receiving substance treatment
- Coordination and support for students who are currently engaged in treatment while also attending a CMS school (e.g., the student is participating in substance abuse intensive outpatient treatment (SAIOP) the community or another type of treatment)
- Referrals to general mental health services
- Support parents with concerns related to treatment, confidentiality, disciplinary issues, etc.
Youth Risk Behavior Survey Information
The CDC developed the Youth Risk Behavior Study in collaboration with representatives from state and local departments of education and health. It focuses on health risk behaviors among middle and high school youth related to the leading causes of mortality and morbidity.
The survey measures behaviors in six different categories. Behaviors that result in unintentional injuries and violence, tobacco use, alcohol and drug use, sexual behaviors resulting in HIV infection, unintended pregnancies, and other sexually transmitted diseases, physical activity, and dietary behaviors. ​
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How the Program Works
Step 1: A student is referred to the SAP by a school staff member, parent, or self-referral
Step 2: The SAP counselor reviews the referral and determines how to proceed
- If the referral is due to a code of conduct violation, the SAP counselor can begin making plans to conduct a substance use screening survey with the student
- If the referral is not due to a code of conduct violation, parent permission is required to conduct a substance use screening survey with the student unless the student is 18 or older
Step 3: The parent or legal guardian is contacted about the referral; an appointment is scheduled for the parent and student
Step 4: The student completes a substance use screening survey, the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI) (this may occur sooner if a drug violation occurred on a CMS campus)
Step 5: The SAP counselor meets with the student and parent together to conduct a structured interview to gather additional information about student and family strengths and needs.
- Following the interview, overall results of the substance use screening survey are shared
- Survey results and information from the interview are used to determine needed supports
- SAP counselor shares recommendations with the student and parent
- If the student is recommended for CMS interventions, documents are reviewed, signatures obtained, and detailed information about the program is provided
Step 6: The student and family begin recommended intervention
Step 7: The SAP counselor follows-up with the student and family to determine if additional supports or services should be recommended
Services that may be recommended by the SAP counselor include but are not limited to:
- Drug Education: Prime for Life
- This 8-hour evidence-based drug education class is typically offered to families whose students appear to have minimal substance use. This includes students who may be influenced by peer substance use, experimenting with e-cigarettes, or have tried a substance no more than a few times and do not have a pattern of usage. A parent, guardian, or other involved adult must attend with the student.
- Drug Education: The Matrix Model
- This 8-hour evidence-based drug education class is typically offered to families whose students appear to have moderate to heavy substance use. Typically, students referred to this class have developed a pattern of regular use or have other significant risk factors that make this more intensive class more appropriate. A parent, guardian, or other involved adult must attend with the student.
- Drug Education & Intervention: Individual Counseling
- SAP counselors may recommend that your student participate in 1-on-1 evidence-based counseling with him or her at school. While the counselors may choose from a range of resources, some commonly used counseling curricula include Teen Intervene and components of Seeking Safety. Parents will typically need to participate in at least the first session of individual counseling.
- Drug Education & Intervention: Group Counseling
- Like individual counseling, the SAP counselor may choose from a range of evidence-based resources to deliver psycho-educational group counseling focused on substance use prevention & intervention. Groups typically include students of similar age and substance-related needs. Input and support from parents is gained individually prior to the start of group counseling.
- Referral to Community Resources: Substance use treatment
- The SAP counselor may determine that CMS-sponsored education and intervention options are insufficient to address the student's needs. The SAP counselor will support the family in exploring available treatment options, and can facilitate the referral by sharing relevant information with the identified treatment provider with parent and student consent. Families are responsible for the financial costs associated with community-based treatment options.
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Meet the Student Assistance Program Counselors
Danielle Doskocil
Danielle joined CMS since 2007. She is a Licensed School Counselor and a Licensed Professional Counselor in North Carolina and has been in practice since 2000. Danielle received her Master of Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Florida, and a second Masters in Clinical Social Work from the University of Central Florida with specialization certificates in Addictions and Social Policy. Danielle was recently selected for the faculty of the National Conference on Addiction Disorders.Jennifer Edwards
Jennifer is a product of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, graduating from David W. Butler High School. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Fayetteville State University and Master of Social Work Degree from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. Jennifer's background in the field of addiction includes opioid dependency and drug prevention services. She joined the Student Assistance Program in 2014.Valerie Robinson
Valerie has over 25 years of professional experience in rehabilitation and the social services field. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and a Master of Arts in Rehabilitation Counseling from South Carolina State University. She has provided screening and referral services to students identified at risk for substance abuse, and coordinated targeted community-based intervention to serve the needs of parents and students. Val enjoys offering formal and informal individual guidance, motivation and advice to families and youth.Karen Worrell
Originally from Los Angeles, California, Karen Worrell earned her undergraduate degree from Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, and her Master's in Social Work from Rutgers University in 2004. Soon thereafter, she joined the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools team. Karen became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in 2010. She has worked with schools and nonprofit community agencies in California, New York and New Jersey. Karen brings a wealth of experience as a medical social worker, program manager and case manager with community based substance abuse agencies, women and children with HIV, dually diagnosed community members and individuals with developmental disabilities. Forever a Southern Californian at heart, Karen loves the beach, Mexican food and all things Los Angeles.Leslie Parks
Leslie joined CMS since 1999 as a SAP Counselor. She worked as a CMS Middle School Counselor for six years and has returned to the Student Assistance Program in 2017-2018 school year. Leslie earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Wilberforce University and a Masters in Counseling from Ohio University. She is a National Board Certified School Counselor and a Licensed Professional Counselor. Leslie has at least 17 years working in the substance abuse field working with adolescence, adults and dually diagnosed individuals in varies treatment settings. Leslie enjoys working with adolescence and their families as substance abuse often impacts the entire family.
