The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Student Assistance Program (SAP), which is administered by the PA Department of Education’s Safe Schools Office in partnership with the PA Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs’ Division of Prevention and Intervention, and the PA Department of Human Services’ Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, is designed to assist school personnel in identifying issues including alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, and mental health issues which pose a barrier to a student’s success. The primary goal of the Student Assistance Program (SAP) is to help students overcome these barriers in order that they may achieve, remain in school, and advance.

The Student Assistance framework is an organizational model for delivering services at three levels to students impacted by non-academic barriers to learning. The Union City Area School District offers the Student Assistance Program (SAP) in both the elementary building and the middle/high school building. The SAP Team is made up of school and agency staff to help caregivers and educators access school and community supports for their students. 

 The SAP Team members are trained to identify problems, determine whether or not the presenting problems cause immediate action and intervention, and to make recommendations to further assist the parent and student. 

There are four phases to the Student Assistant Program:

Referral- An initial referral is placed and contact was made with the parent to obtain permission to discuss student needs with the SAP Team by the referring source.

Team Planning- The SAP Team will review applicable data related to student grades, attendance, disciplinary records, emotional stability, standardized tests, and detailed grade reports. Information is also collected from the parent. Together, a plan is developed that includes strategies for eliminating non-academic or academic barriers and promoting the student’s academic and personal success to include in-school and community based support. 

Intervention & Recommendation- The plan is put into action. The team assists at linking the student and the family to in-school interventions or activities and community-based services. 

Support & Follow up- The SAP team continues to work with and support the student and their family. Follow-up includes monitoring, mentoring, and motivating for academic success. 

Make a referral for a student in grades 6th-12th

 Click here to make a Middle/High School Referral or Scan Below

Making a referral for student's in grades K-5th:

* Please contact your child's teacher and/or our SAP Coordinator to make an elementary referral. 

Nondiscrimination Announcement

It is the policy of the Union City Area School District not to discriminate on the basis of age, religion, sex, race, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, or non-job related disability (including sexual harassment, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), in the admission or access to, or in the provision of services, programs, or employment in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 1604 of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 and 11375, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act.

For information relevant to this policy, contact Stacey Mulson, 504 Coordinator/ADA Coordinator or Dr. Julie Skelly, Title IX Coordinator, at 107 Concord Street, Union City, PA 16438. 814.438.3804. See Policy 103 and Policy 104 for procedures regarding complaints of discrimination or review the "Reporting Discrimination and Harassment" section below.

Nondiscrimination Announcement Page