Helping Adolescents Thrive
Teenline is here to make a difference to teens and those who care about them. We’re part of the Behavioral Health department at Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center.
Working closely with the Cumberland/Perry Mental Health, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities office, our masters-level Teenline counselors serve as mental health liaisons on the Student Assistance Program (SAP) teams at all public secondary schools in Cumberland and Perry counties. The SAP teams are comprised of professionally trained school personnel and community liaisons from Teenline and the Cumberland-Perry Drug and Alcohol Commission.
The primary goal of the SAP team is to help students overcome barriers to learning, including mental health issues, use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Our aim is to ensure students succeed, progress and stay in school.
Support for teens and their parents
Our Teenline counselors offer a wide range of vital services:
- conduct a mental health assessment to determine the needs of at-risk students
- provide support and information to families on how to handle issues that may arise while raising a teenager
- help students and their parents get connected with community agencies, school supports and mental health professionals
- provide mental health liaison services at SAP team meetings
- conduct trainings for faculty and staff and provide presentations to school staff and students on a variety of mental health topics
- provide postvention services to schools following a tragic event or death of an individual
If your teen, or a teen you know, is experiencing a barrier to learning, you can make a referral to your school’s SAP team.
Positive outcomes
Students who participate in the SAP may experience:
- a decrease in at-risk behaviors
- improved school attendance and grades
- an increase in self-esteem and resiliency skills