Hershey Intervention & Prevention Program - HIP (Student Assistance Program)

The Pennsylvania Student Assistance Program (SAP) is a team process used to mobilize school resources to remove barriers to learning. SAP is designed to assist in identifying issues including alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, mental health concerns and other issues which pose a barrier to a student’s success. Derry Township School District’s Student Assistance Program is HIP (Hershey Intervention & Prevention).

The primary goal of the Student Assistance Program is to help students overcome these barriers so that they may achieve, advance, and remain in school. While Student Assistance Programs exist in other areas of the country, the structure and operation of the program in Pennsylvania is a unique expression of an integrated model serving the needs of Pennsylvania families and students.

The core of the Student Assistance Program is a professionally trained team, including school staff and liaisons from community drug and alcohol and mental health agencies. SAP team members are trained to identify issues, determine whether or not the presenting issue lies within the responsibility of the school, and to make recommendations to assist the student and the parent. When the issue lies beyond the scope of the school, the SAP team will assist the parent and student so they may access services within the community. SAP team members do not diagnose, treat or refer to treatment; but they may refer a student to a liaison who may screen or assess for further community based services and support.

The mission of HIP is to:

• provide prevention based activities and programs
• accept referrals of students who are experiencing barriers to learning and school success such as alcohol or drug use, depression, anxiety, homelessness, grief, or other concerns
• intervene and refer these students to the appropriate school or community resources. This is a prevention and an intervention program, not a treatment program

The District continues to provide and offer the Student Assistance Program because of our commitment to an educational environment which does not tolerate the use of alcohol or drugs and which promotes positive mental health and healthy life choices.