| 1.Purpose |
The Board of School Directors recognizes that chemical dependency
and abuse, suicidal tendencies, depression, physical and sexual
abuse, truancy, school refusal, and eating disorders are some
of the behaviors that can seriously inhibit the learning process.
The School District is committed to mitigating harmful behaviors
through prevention, early identification, parental involvement,
referral to and the use of appropriate community resources, and
in-school monitoring of at-risk students.
School District involvement with at-risk students in no way
abrogates or lessens the responsibilities in these matters of
the students themselves, their parents/guardians, or other community
agencies involved in student care. The School District seeks to
cooperate with all these individuals and agencies for the benefit
of at-risk students.
|
| 2.Definitions |
The Student Assistance Program involves the establishment of
a multidisciplinary team of specially trained personnel who are
available to support at-risk students. Each school building team
in the Middle School and the High School shall include teachers,
building administrators, a central office representative, a nurse,
counselor(s), a school psychologist, and where appropriate, a
member from a community agency assigned the role of providing
information and/or intervention services to student(s) and family.
These teams are designated in the High School as the Student Intervention
Team Effort (S.I.T.E.) team, and in the Middle School as the CARE
team.
Students who may be suffering from emotional trauma (e.g. illness,
death or dysfunction in the family), physical or sexual abuse
or neglect; who are suspected of or known to have substance abuse
problems; who exhibit patterns of depression and/or suicidal behavior;
who are experiencing academic difficulties, or who show poor social
adjustment, inability to maintain self-control, or a pattern of
truancy/school refusal are potential candidates for attention
of the S.I.T.E. or CARE team.
The following is a description of some of the behaviors for which
student intervention may be necessary.
Substance Abuse—This includes any alcohol or malt beverage,
any drug listed in the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and
Cosmetic Act, 1972, April 14, P.L. 233, No. 64, 35 P.S., 780 -101,
etc., as amended, as a controlled substance, chemical, abused
substance or medication for which a prescription is required under
the law, and/or any substance which is intended to alter mood.
Examples include, but are not limited to, beer, wine, liquor,
marijuana, hashish, narcotics, hallucinogens, chemical substances,
glue, inhalants or any look-alike substances.
Suicidal Behaviors—This is the inclination or preference
of behavior which indicates an individual has the intention of
taking his/her own life, as exemplified by identifiable behavior
patterns, including but not limited to suicidal ideation, exhibiting
a sudden and drastic change of behavior or personality, withdrawal
from family or peer contacts, making a previous attempt at suicide
or giving away personal objects or effects to others.
Depression—This is a feeling of hopelessness, sadness,
or helplessness. Symptoms include loss of sleep, interest, appetite,
energy, and ability to concentrate. An individual may also complain
about or demonstrate physical ailments, have difficulty breathing
and exhibit tightness of the chest, withdraw from others, be irritable
and anxious, or possibly display angry, hostile behavior.
Physical and Sexual Abuse/Neglect—This is the willful mistreatment
of a student in such a way as to cause injury or harm, whether
perpetrated by another person or self-inflicted.
Truancy—This is the failure of a student to attend school
for reasons other than those defined as acceptable by the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania and/or the School District.
School Refusal—This is a pattern of behavior indicating
an ongoing and deliberate effort to avoid attending school or
participating in the educational process.
Eating Disorder—This involves a significant disturbance
in eating habits including, but not limited to, anorexia nervosa,
which is identified by a refusal to maintain a healthy minimum
body weight, or bulimia nervosa, which is identified by recurrent
episodes of binge eating to the point of abdominal discomfort,
often followed by self-induced vomiting and/or use of laxatives.
|
3.Authority
Title 22
Sec. 12.12
|
Information received in confidence from a student may be revealed
to the student's parents/guardians, the principal, or other appropriate
authority where the health, welfare, or safety of the student
or other persons is clearly in jeopardy. Such information shall
remain in confidence in accordance with confidentiality standards
endorsed by the American School Counselors Association and outlined
in the Student Records Policy 216.
Individuals who feel at-risk or who require intervention should
contact a teacher, the school nurse, school counselor, or the
principal’s office for assistance or may self-refer to a
member of the S.I.T.E. or CARE team. The Student Handbook identifies
the names of the individuals in the school who are available for
support. Any student, parent/guardian, staff member, or other
concerned individual may make a referral to the S.I.T.E. or CARE
team for intervention to assist a potentially at-risk student.
The School District and the student assistance teams will work
with the student, parents/guardians to find appropriate help for
at-risk students. Student intervention teams will sponsor programs,
assemblies, and counseling groups dealing with the development
of healthful life skills and family issues.
The Superintendent shall prepare administrative guidelines to
support this policy.
|
