How Does the Program Work?
What is a Student Assistance Core Team?
How Much Does It Cost?
How Can We Start a MMSAP
How Do Freemasons participate in MMSAP?

How Does the Program Work?

1. EARLY IDENTIFICATION
At-risk students identified by school officials are referred to the Core Team based on specific, observable and descriptive data. Once a referral is made the Core Team will take action.

2. DATA COLLECTION
The Core Team collects and compiles data from school staff and faculty. Included could be: grades, attendance, behavior checklists, health information, parent conferences, student interviews, etc. The data is reviewed by the whole team and decisions made on intervention strategies.

3. INTERVENTION
The MMSAP teams, together with the student and family, develop action plans for intervention. These intervention plans may include: adult mentoring, behavior contracts, skill training or support groups, and/or referrals to outside professionals.

4. FOLLOW-UP
The Core Team continues to work collaboratively with the student, parents, faculty and community resources to monitor the students progress and offer additional options.

What is a Student Assistance Core Team?

At the heart of the MMSAP is a core team of five to eight educators from a school who are specially trained how to intervene effectively with students that are displaying patterns of behaviors that
threaten their success in school. The members of a Student Assistance Core Team include, but are not limited to: the building administrators, regular teachers, special ed. teachers,
counselors, nurses, social workers, etc.

Schools having the greatest success with MMSAT have had the full support of their Administrators. Administrative leadership and commitment are essential to both Core Team and school success.

How Much Does It Cost?

This program is funded almost entirely by the Freemasons of Utah at no cost to the schools. Funding is provided by the Masonic Youth Foundation which is a 501©(3) charitable corporation created by Utah Masons to assist youth and families in our communities. Expenses typically include the cost of trainers, their travel, materials, lodging and meals for trainers, meeting rooms, meals for participants, etc. Generally, participating schools are expected to cover costs associated with substitutes. Average cost of a three-day MMSAP session runs about $10,000 - $20,000.

How Can We Start a MMSAP

If you are interested in obtaining additional information about this training or would like to bring this program to your school, please contact the program coordinator listed below. Reservations are currently being taken for the next training scheduled for October 2004.

State Coordinator
Steven D. Lancaster, L.C.S.W.
650 East South Temple
Salt Lake City, Utah 84102
(801) 363-2936

email: mmsap@utahgrandlodge.org

How Do Freemasons participate in MMSAP?

Grand Lodges may provide initial organizational and community guidance, or financial support and materials. Individual Lodges may supply meeting space, help with food or meeting materials, or volunteer help. In many cases, Lodges have acted as sponsor for a nearby school building with positive results ultimately extending throughout the entire community.