Student Assistance Program HEART

What is the Elementary Student Assistance Program?

In Pennsylvania, every middle and high school and some elementary schools have a Student Assistance Program (SAP). The E(elementary)SAP program team at Hutchinson Elementary is comprised of the building principal, school counselor, teachers, and a behavioral health liaison that is contracted through Excela Health Westmoreland. The ESAP team is here to help you (parents) and students to access school and community resources.

The ESAP program is a formal, consistent, and systematic approach to the identification of students at risk due to substance, mental health, or other personal problems. The program provides for the monitoring of these students and for intervention and referral to outside services when appropriate. The ESAP program also provides support to students returning to school after treatment and works to prevent student problems through awareness campaigns, fostering a positive school climate, and promoting wellness in all students.

Students can be referred to the ESAP program by a teacher, counselor, nurse, or administrator. Students can also be referred by other students, parents and family members, and by themselves. However, the ESAP program will not be involved unless we receive permission from the parent.

At Hutchinson Elementary you will here our ESAP program being referred to as HEART. HEART stands for Hutchinson Educational Assistance & Response Team.

 

Do you see your child showing any of these behaviors?

• Withdrawing from family, friends and/or school
• Change in friends; no longer spends time with old friends
• Unexplained physical injuries
• Talking about suicide
• Depressed
• Defying authority, both at home and at school
• Acting aggressively
• Lying
• Needing money without explanation
• Sudden drop in grades
• Experimenting with drugs or alcohol

Are you concerned about your child’s reaction to:

• Recent death of a loved one
• Divorce of parents
• Family relocation
• A relationship problem
• Other traumatic event

 

If your child is having trouble in or out of school, we can help you. There may be times when you just don’t know how to help your child. That’s okay; someone else may know how to help.

Don’t feel embarrassed or uncomfortable about asking for help. When extra help is needed, knowing how and where to find help can be overwhelming. Please call the school and ask to speak with a member of HEART Team so we can best support you and the student(s).

Members of Hutchinson Elementary's HEART Team:

• Jennifer Kapusta-Principal
• Anthony Barbato - Assc Principal
• Beth Butala- School Counselor
• Lisa Giacomo-Teacher
• Jodi Kronenwetter-Teacher
• Katie Nowicki-Teacher
• Rachel Ringling - Teacher
• Sam Dini-Teacher
• Sherry Thomas-Teacher
• Jared Bailey- Teacher
• Clinical Liaison from Westmoreland Case Mangement and Supports, Inc.