Behavioral Health in Schools

Schools and Behavioral Health Providers: The Benefits of Partnership

Children spend much of their day at school and what takes place within the school community has a tremendous impact on children. Ensuring a safe and healthy school environment is critical to student success. That healthy environment includes providing our schools with the tools and supports they need to address mental health issues, behavioral health needs and substance use concerns. Arizona is home to many outstanding providers that already support schools and students with behavioral health care services.

How to Access Services: A Guide for Schools

There are a number of ways a school or district can connect to behavioral health services. The provider agencies listed below are funded through grant dollars, so they can serve all children. They are also contracted with AHCCCS health plans to provide services to AHCCCS enrolled children and families.

Typically, schools will offer either on-site services or a referral-based program. Consider your school’s needs to determine the program that may work best. Your school or district may already partner with a provider, including providers who are not on list. However, if you do not have a current partner and you are interested in connecting with a provider, the list below can serve as a starting point. You can reach out to one of these providers to help shape the right type of program to meet the specific needs of your school. To get the dialogue started, schools are able to reach out to behavioral providers directly. If you are unable to find a provider in your area, or would like information about other providers, you can also or contact one of the AHCCCS health plans for assistance.

On-Site Services and Supports: There are agencies within your community who provide services on the school campus. Many behavioral health agencies are looking to partner with schools to establish this one-on-one relationship, which can also include providing support services to school personnel and families.

Referral-Based Program: Many schools prefer a direct referral process to a community-based behavioral health agency(ies). This program directly connects children and their families to an agency with whom the school has an established relationship. This facilitates access to timely services for their students and it also adds a level of comfort for students and families that there is a connection between their health care provider and the school. We want to make it as easy as possible to connect to behavioral health services. So we use the “No Wrong Door” approach, maximizing opportunities for children and families to get connected to services from anywhere.

This approach also allows the child and family to make informed decisions as to their choice of provider, where they would like to receive services and the frequency/intensity of those services.

These providers have experience working with children and families, as well as supporting schools in meeting the behavioral health care needs of their students.

Children’s Behavioral Health Services Fund (CBHSF)

When a child is referred to a behavioral health provider from a school they may be eligible for a special allocation of one-time state funding.  Schools can refer students for counseling for anxiety, depression, social isolation, stress, behavioral issues, or any other mental health services. If the child is underinsured or uninsured families will not receive a bill for these services; they are covered by the state appropriated Children’s Behavioral Health Services Fund.

Behavioral health services under this funding are provided to students by participating health care providers contracted with the three Regional Behavioral Health Authorities (RBHAs),  Care1st (in Northern Arizona), Arizona Complete Health Complete Care (in Southern Arizona), and Mercy Care (in Central Arizona).