Counseling and Social Services
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- Chandler Unified School District
- Parents, Community, and Staff
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CUSD adopted policies in the 2022-2023 school year regarding Jake's Law- please see the FAQs below to learn more about it.
(*All CUSD parents/guardians receive a permission form regarding referrals for behavioral and mental health services through their OLR application per district policy related to Jake’s Law/Children’s Behavioral Health Services Fund- a copy of this permission form can be found below).
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What is the Children's Behavioral Health Service Fund also know as Jake's Law?
Posted by:In 2020, the Arizona legislature passed Jake’s Law, which created a fund that provides uninsured and underinsured children access to behavioral health services when they are referred through an educational institution.This special allocation of state funding allows schools to refer students for behavioral health services for anxiety, depression, social isolation, stress, behavioral issues, or any other mental health concern. (*Families will not receive a bill for these services; they are covered by tax dollars).
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Is parent/guardian permission required to access services?
Posted by:Yes, a parent/guardian must provide permission for their child to receive a referral from the school-based mental health professional to a behavioral health agency.
In conformance with Jake’s Law, CUSD policies, JLDAB and JLDAB-R ensure that parents/guardians are provided an opportunity opt-in for their child/ren to receive school-based referrals to a behavioral health agency and providers on an annual basis.
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Who makes the referrals?
Posted by:A CUSD school-based mental health professional (school counselor, social worker, or psychologist) makes the referral to the appropriate behavioral health agency based on student need.
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Who receives the funding directly?
Posted by:Funding is provided directly to community agencies contracted with the three Regional Behavioral Health Authorities. Those are Mercy Care (in Central Arizona), Arizona Complete Health Care (in Southern Arizona), and Care 1st (in Northern Arizona).
Currently, CUSD has partnerships with Jewish Family and Children's Services, Resilient Health, and Southwest Behavioral & Health Services.
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Additional Information
Posted by:Additional information can be found here provided by the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS).
Please feel free to reach out to your school's counselor and/or social worker for further information too.