Empowering Vermont’s Youth with
Prevention, Education, and Support
The Association of Student Assistance Professionals is a non-profit organization whose mission is to increase and promote the effectiveness of Student Assistance Programs in Vermont. For over 30 years the Association of Student Assistance Professionals of Vermont has been your voice to advocate for SAPs and Prevention Professionals in schools.
CLICK ABOVE FOR RESOURCES
October is Substance Use Prevention month
Highlight the dangers of substance use, including alcohol, drugs, and prescription medications.
Educate the public about the signs and symptoms of substance use disorders.
Encourage open conversations about substance use and provide resources for support and treatment.
Promote early intervention and prevention efforts to reduce the impact of substance abuse on individuals, families, and communities.
Upcoming Events and Trainings
-
Adolescent Screening Tools for Substance Use & Mental Health Issues in Schools
This 90-minute webinar introduces key screening tools for identifying adolescents at risk for substance use or suicide, including the S2BI, CRAFFT, AUDIT, GAIN, YSBIRT, C-SSRS, ASQ, and PHQ-9. Participants will learn how to select and administer tools, improve self-report accuracy, and implement effective screening processes in school settings.
Option 1:
🗓 Monday, November 17, 2025
🕞 3:30 PM
📍 VirtualOption 2:
🗓 Wednesday, December 10, 2025
🕚 11:00 AM
📍 Virtual
New Resource for School Leaders: SAP Guidebook Now Available Here
We're excited to share a powerful new tool for Vermont educators: A Resource Guide for School Administrators, developed by Prevention Works! VT and the Association of Student Assistance Professionals of Vermont.
This guide is designed to help school leaders implement and sustain effective Student Assistance Programs (SAPs) that support students facing substance misuse, mental health challenges, and other barriers to learning. Inside, you'll find:
An overview of the SAP role and how it integrates with school health teams
The six core components of an effective SAP
Legal and confidentiality considerations
Data on youth risk behaviors in Vermont
Practical steps and tools to build or strengthen your program
The History of Student Assistance Professionals in Vermont
The Student Assistance Program of Vermont is modeled after the Employee Assistance Program developed during World War II, to assist employees in dealing with whatever mental heath issue is surfacing in one’s life.
In the late 80’s, Ellen Morehouse developed the SAP, which VT adopted. In fact our first conference had Morehouse train counselors in her model. The first SAP’s worked part time in area high schools reaching out to high risk students. As time progressed the program became much more uniformed.
The basic tenets of the program is hiring a substance misuse counselor who is available to all students, without a diagnosis, to guide them in whatever their mental health issues are. SAP’s provide prevention education to classrooms, facilitate groups, offer staff and parent trainings, and work with administrators in developing and updating policies. SAP’s do not provide treatment, rather they screen, assess and offer resources.
