Student Assistance

The Winnacunnet High School Student Assistance Program

 

The Winnacunnet High School Student Assistance Program is an educational, counseling and referral service for students that may be experiencing obstacles to academic and behavioral success in school. This confidential service works collaboratively with the Winnacunnet Social Worker and Counseling Team to screen for substance abuse and co-occurring mental health issues. Referrals will be made to the Student Assistance Counselor for alcohol, marijuana and other drug use and abuse concerns and, if applicable, to outside treatment providers. The goal is to provide students with the support and skills they need to succeed academically, emotionally and socially here at Winnacunnet and into the next chapter of their lives.

As one part of a Comprehensive Guidance Program, the Student Assistance Counselor (SAC) maintains an important and effective place in public schools. The SAC is uniquely positioned to provide both individual and school-wide services that directly impact on classroom instruction, behavior management, student safety, family support, and community relations.

Direct services include the coordination of school-wide alcohol and other drug education, individual student assessment, counseling and referral, and student-specific input and collaboration with other faculty during intervention and referral services, Student Assistance Team meetings as well as individual case conferencing with parents, the school social worker, counselors, teachers, and administrators.

One of the specialties of a Student Assistance Program is substance abuse. The federal law, 42 CFR Part 2, is a specific law governing the confidentiality of substance abuse records designed to protect the students’ right to privacy and prohibits the disclosure of information without the students’ consent. Yet, every effort is made to join with parents/guardians to work together in the best interest of the health and well-being of the student and their family.