Assessment Services
• Student Assistance Program - The purpose of the SAP assessment is to determine each student’s barriers to school success and identify student and family strengths through a comprehensive biopsychosocial evaluation with input from the student’s family. Assessors then work with families to initiate the process of referral to treatment, if indicated, and/or school-based resources, if appropriate. Families may also be referred to behavioral health agencies as appropriate. In addition to conducting student assessments and providing consultation and technical assistance to school personnel, SAP Specialist co-facilitate student support and/or educational groups, conduct classroom presentation, assembly programs and in-service trainings as requested by school administration.
• Substance Abuse Forensic Assessment – Substance abuse assessments are conducted for adolescents going through the juvenile detention system where substance use is either suspected or known through a drug screen. Assessments are available to parents that are involved in the Children and Youth system and substance issues are an area of concern. Assessments are done with the goal of providing detailed information about the nature and extent of an individual’s substance use and recommended treatments. These assessments are typically introduced into court hearings or are utilized in meetings between clients and their attorneys.
• Mental Health Court Assessment (MHC) The MHC program began in Chester County in August 2008 to offer pre-plea or post-plea diversion or a probationary sentence to individuals with serious mental illness facing criminal charges. The goal of the program is to ensure that mental health consumers receive necessary treatment, reduce the time spent in prison and reduce the backlog in the criminal justice system. The MHC assessments are conducted both in the Chester County Prison and in the community for individuals that are on bail.
