Driver of Change: Breakthrough Student Assistance Program

One family at a time is how the Conejo Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) BreakThrough Student Assistance Program (SAP) supports students. The BreakThrough SAP is an extra support available to all CVUSD families and is designed to meet the individual needs of students. It is an umbrella program that offers prevention, identification, screening, intervention and support strategies within a school district.  
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The program is built around the 90-minute family conference called the Brief Risk Reduction Interview and Intervention Model (BRRIIM) and incorporates evidence-based practices of Brief Intervention, Motivational Interviewing, Risk and Protective Factors, Stages of Change, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Applications. The BRRIIM has been proven to be an effective tool for connecting with students from diverse backgrounds including gifted learners, at-risk learners, English Language Learners, Special Education students and students from diverse socioeconomic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds.  

Families are given the opportunity to share their stories and personal struggles in a safe and confidential environment. This allows the BreakThrough SAP counselors to learn about individual and family strengths, needs and challenges and build them in to a collaborative family plan. Through partnerships with a broad network of community partners, the BreakThrough SAP acts as a bridge between families and free and/or low-cost resources based on their specific needs. The BreakThrough SAP’s focus is on prevention and school success for all students. The program works to close the achievement gap by utilizing school and community resources to remove barriers for students to achieve academic and personal success.  

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