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Committee reviews Student Assistance Program and CR CARES supports
Summary
The committee reviewed the district’s Student Assistance Program (SAP) and its CR CARES teams, describing them as an in‑house, multi‑tiered support model that can involve community agencies for issues such as substance use and mental‑health needs.
Council Rock school officials described the Student Assistance Program (SAP) and the district’s CR CARES teams as a layered, in‑house support system for students who need extra help accessing their education.
A staff presenter said SAP allows for self‑referral and anonymous reporting, and the CARES program functions similarly to a “safe to say” report: an adult reviews the referral and the team follows up with the student and family. "It's another level of support for students. It's an in house, program whereby students can self report, friends can anonymously report them," the presenter said.
The committee heard that SAP/CARES teams typically include administrators, nurses, psychologists and counselors, and that the district often connects families with outside resources — for example, referring students to the youth aid panel or external treatment providers when appropriate. The presenter said many students have benefited from these programs and that the district uses CR CARES coordinators at middle and high schools while elementary schools rely primarily on guidance counselors.
Committee members asked whether SAP/CR CARES is a state mandate; a committee member who had been taking notes reported a text from a colleague confirming that SAP is a state mandate. The presenter said the district has operated the program for many years and that it helps transition students who require outside placement back into district programs when appropriate.
Board members asked staff to clarify whether CR CARES should be listed under the policy authority section; presenters agreed CARES is the team that administers SAP and noted they would clarify the wording in the policy text.
