Behavioral Health in Schools

Mental health conditions can affect anyone including school-aged children. One in 5 children is affected by a mental health condition. The two most common conditions among children and adolescents are anxiety and depression but other difficulties can affect their ability to benefit from their classroom.

Mental health issues among children are described as serious changes in the way they learn, behave or handle their emotions that causes distress and problems getting through the day. It's important to watch for symptoms in children because they can affect a childs overall health and relationships throughout life. Identifying problems early can help children get the support they need.

If a school district or school within Arizona would like information on behavioral health providers within their geographic area or are interested in obtaining a partnership with a behavioral health provider, schools can reach out to Lauren Tomchak, TomchakL@mercycareaz.org for more information.

Children’s Behavioral Health Services Fund (CBHSF)

The Children’s Behavioral Health Services Fund (CBHSF), in Senate Bill 1523, provides funding for behavioral health services for children who are uninsured or underinsured when behavioral health services are referred through an educational institution. Schools that meet the requirement are able to refer students for behavioral health services and services can be provided on or off school campuses.

For more information on this funding, go to the AHCCCS website: www.azahcccs.gov/AHCCCS/Initiatives/BehavioralHealthServices

Providers

If you have questions or need assistance completing the referral forms, outreach the provider contacts listed below.

Provider Name	Contact Information	Referral Form
Arizona Youth & Family Services	Jennifer Sander: Jennifer.sander@azyfs.org. Direct: 602-277-4833 x 303 Referral Email: QSPreferral@azyfs.org	AYFS School Referral and FAQs
Community Bridges, Inc.	Shannon Powell, Spowell@Cbridges.com	CBI Adolescent Referral Form
Devereux	Maricopa County Referrals: Valerie Malone AZOpReferrals@devereux.org	Devereux CBHSF Referral Form
Family Involvement Center*	Parent Assistance Center/Parent HelpLine 602-288-0155 Vania Schmidt, Vania@FamilyInvolvementCenter.org Olivia Ruiz, Olivia@FamilyInvolvementCenter.org Sarah Fleming, Sarah@FamilyInvolvementCenter.org	FIC Referral Form for School Services
Horizon Health and Wellness	HHW Eligibility and Benefits Department: EB@hhwaz.org	HHW School Referral Form
Jewish Family and Children’s Service	Referrals should be sent to the existing CSRC fax # 602-254-8611 CSRC Telephone # 602-256-0528	JFCS BH Referral Form
LaFrontera-EMPACT	Referrals-Outpatient@lafrontera-empact.org	LaFrontera-EMPACT Referral Form
New Hope of Arizona, Inc.*	Name: Juan Alvarez Email: referral@newhopeofarizona.com	New Hope School Referral Form
Open Hearts	Email: spalmer@openheartsaz.org opreferrals@openheartsaz.org Phone: 602-285-5550	Open Hearts Family Wellness Referral Form
Resilient Health	1-877-779-2470 or 602-995-1767 Email referrals to: Referrals@rhaz.org	Resilient Health Referral Form
Southwest Behavioral & Health Services (SB&H)	SchoolBasedReferrals@sbhservices.org	SBandH Referral School Form
Southwest Network	602.304.0014 childrensleadership@southwestnetwork.org	SWN School Referral Form
Terros Health	ChildrensDepartment@terroshealth.org 602-389-3660	Terros School Referral Forms: English / Spanish
The Resolution Group Inc.*	referrals@trzg.net 480 962-9288 X 2	The Resolution Group School Referral Form
Touchstone Health Services	Members: Member Services at 866.207.3882 Schools: Erica Chavez Erica.Chavez@touchstonebh.org	THS Referral Form
Valle Del Sol	SchoolOutreach@valledelsol.com	Valle Del Sol Referral Form

*=Specialty Provider