The Student Assistance Program

What is a Student Assistance Program?

• Greenway High School offers a program and support system to:
  • Provide assistance to students troubled by social, emotional, family or substance abuse problems which may be negatively impacting their educational experience.
  • Provide community resources as outside referrals when they become necessary.
  • Enlist the support and involvement of Greenway staff in helping out troubled students.

Who Staffs the Student Assistance Program?

• The program is staffed by specially trained staff members and coordinated by Elissa Koole, social worker.

Goals Of The Student Assistance Program Are To:

• Provide a support and referral system on and off campus.
• Improve student attendance, academic performance and reduce dropouts.
• Intervene early with students harmfully involved with chemicals.
• Raise the levels of awareness and concern in staff, parents and students.

How Do Students Become Involved In The Student Assistance Program?

• Students may refer themselves for help through their counselor, or they may be referred by concerned staff members, family members, community agencies, or peers. School administrators may refer students for violation of school policy. Any student may request to be in a support group.

What Happens After A Student Is Referred?

• A counselor will talk with the student regarding the concern.Information regarding options and sources for assistance are given to the student at this time. Options may include in-school support groups or referral to a community agency.

School Support Groups:

• An integral part of the Student Assistance Program is the in-school support groups. These groups are held once a week during school hours, with the meeting hour rotated to minimize excessive absence from any one class. Students are responsible for contacting their teachers to make up class assignments. Parent permission is required for students to participate in these groups. The groups are facilitated by trained staff members.

The current Support Groups include:

• Sharing Group
  Dealing with everyday issues of being a teenager.
• Loss Group
  Learning about the process of grieving when experiencing death or broken relationships.
• Family Relationships
  Dealing with any family issues, such as divorce and separation or problems with parent/child or sibling relationships.
• Chill Group
  Learning how to control your anger (8 weeks; provided on campus through Touchstone Community, Inc.).
• Insight
  For students looking into their own drug or alcohol use(6 weeks).
• Relationship Support Group
  (For girls only) For girls wanting assistance with peer and dating relationships (8 weeks; provided on campus through Touchstone Community, Inc.).

More information about any of the above groups can be obtained by contacting Elissa Koole at (623) 915-8509.