Recent research points to two types of strategies for preventing substance abuse and behavioral health problems among children and adolescents. The first approach emphasizes tobacco, alcohol, and drug resistance skills; problem-solving/decision-making training; stress management; and modification of attitudes and norms that encourage substance use and violence. The second involves the coordinated use of multiple societal institutions, such as family, community, and schools, for delivering programs. The Pennsylvania Student Assistance Program (SAP) promotes both of these approaches through consistently enforced policies at school, as well as early identification, intervention, and support to students and their families. An evaluation was conducted to investigate six areas of SAPs and to help develop a framework to guide future evaluations. The 6 areas are: (1) referral process; (2) parent consent practices; (3) intervention services; (4) contract provider assessments; (5) school-based probation officers involvement; and (6) improvement and satisfaction. The primary findings indicate that the SAP teams are working; that parents are involved; that services are being provided both in school and in the community; and that the students involved in SAPs are showing definite improvement. Further analyses that would link process with outcome are recommended for future study. (Contains 38 references.) (JDM)