UpFront's Oakland High School SAP
The SAP model used at Oakland High School and taught as UpFront has evolved over the last seven years (1998–2005). Created primarily through student feedback, combined with the evolving science and understanding of adolescent drug use, by doing a needs assessment with administrators, teachers and students. We found agreement among all three groups; that there was a great need for drug and alcohol specific services and that those services were best offered in confidential group and individual settings.
In response to this feedback, we developed the current SAP model. This model is a dynamic one which changes yearly based on ongoing student and teacher evaluations. It is also inclusive, because research shows that all students are at risk and will either use during the course of their lifetime or know someone who does. The classroom work also enables us to reach students who would never otherwise participate in a group but were in need of the information.
The UpFront/OHI SAP program model is dynamic, flexible and population driven. This is in contrast to traditional student assistance/treatment services that focus on identifying and treating only those students deemed at risk. We believe that by normalizing the practice of fostering positive relationships between students and SAP practitioners, creating open honest discussion, and supporting the students abilities to think critically and act on the new information we offer an organic, positive, and well received method of incorporating any prevention/intervention information and strategies and supporting all students, not just the students at risk.
The UpFront/OHI SAP program contains seven levels of service, with each level feeding the next. Continue to a detailed description of the seven levels.
OUSD evaluation executive summary and findings
The OUSD Student Assistance Program (SAP) started at Oakland High School seven years ago. This academic year (2002–03) was the first formal evaluation of this ground-breaking program. Continue to the Executive Summary.