Masonic Student Assistance Training Program (MSAT)

About the Program

The Masonic Student Assistance Training (MSAT) Program is a staff development program that has been in place since October 2001. The program trains a team of educators to help young people at risk. In the past six years, more than one thousand four hundred New York educators have attended the three day MSAT workshop, and all expenses were paid by the Masonic Fraternity. The program trains a core team of educators in the identification of children who are "at risk" of becoming involved in toxic behaviors - substance abuse, gangs, vandalism, who are insubordinate, disorderly, and disruptive, whose conduct endangers the safety, morals, health or welfare of themselves and others. The at-risk behaviors fall into one of four categories – health (physical or mental), attendance, academic, or behavior. The team develops a behavioral intervention plan for an identified child, and specifies critical life skills to be taught. The program is designed for school personnel (K-12). The program is modeled after The
Pennsylvania Student Assistance Program. Certified trainers, who have national reputations in the field, and who have many years of experience working with at-risk youth, conduct the three-day workshop. The University of Pittsburgh has evaluated the program, and found it to be highly effective in helping young people who need help to get the help they need.

Who Should Attend?

To be successful, the Student Assistance Team needs the "Right People for the Job.” Each school's team should include one building administrator and/or a school counselor. The principal's training and involvement on the core team, even if limited to an ad-hoc role, is crucial to the team's support, implementation and success. Other core team members may include one or more counselors, two or more teachers-regular education/special education, a school nurse, a school psychologist, an in-school suspension coordinator, AIS reading or Math teachers, a drug/alcohol service provider, or a mental health provider. Effective teams usually are made up of five to seven core people.

Where and When

The training takes place over three consecutive days on the campus of the Masonic Care Community in Utica, New York. Participants will stay at a local motel. Meals are served at the conference center on the campus. Training sessions for the 2007-2008 school year are scheduled for October 23-25, 2007, January 29-31, 2008, and April 1-3, 2008. Regional Training workshops are scheduled for Westchester County Dec 3-5, 2007 and Suffolk County, Dec 5-7, 2007

Costs

There is no cost to the district to attend, except for substitute teachers where needed. The Grand Lodge of New York will cover the registration fees, MSAT manuals, materials, meals, and lodging (Utica site only). School districts are encouraged to send a team for each building. Substitute teacher and mileage costs will be the responsibility of the school district.

How to Register

To register a team or to obtain more information, contact Tim McMullin, MSAT Chairman. The toll-free phone number is 1-888-694-0511. The e-mail address is MSAT@nymasons.org .

Did you know...

• This student intervention program was developed by Newman and Stecher Associates more than twenty years ago, and
  MSAT has evolved into a comprehensive student assistance program for schools.
• MSAT emphasizes a systematic team approach to intervention to reach young people who are engaging in behaviors that put them “at risk.”
• To learn more about young people at risk and the training program visit http://www.johnsonrauhoff.com/msap/mmsap_video.html and view the six minute video.

Questions???

To speak to a representative email MSAT@nymasons.org or call 1 888 694 0511

The MSAT representatives are:

• Tim McMullin, MSAT Chairman
• Joyce Zeh (Rochester & nearby counties)
• Carl Smith (Buffalo and Erie County area)
• Donald R Klein (Westchester County)
• Glenn Rubin (Suffolk County)

Information in this site:

• MSAT General Information
• Summary of Research
• What Prior Participants Have to Say
• Downloadable Registration Form
• A High School Principal's Reaction to MSAT
• NETNEWS Article, January 2007

Pertinent Information on other Websites

• Information About the Instructors
• National Student Assistance Program- Original Research Paper
• National Masonic Foundation for Children

Interested in more information? E-mail MSAT@nymasons.org for a free brochure, or call, toll free, 1-888-694-0511.