Chandler Unified School District (CUSD) has been chosen from among dozens of school district candidates nationwide to participate in the District Comprehensive Approach (DCA) created in partnership by The Jed Foundation (JED) and The School Superintendents Association's (AASA) to strengthen the mental health and emotional well-being of its students. This opportunity complements existing efforts that CUSD has in place to support the academic and personal growth of students.

The DCA will provide select PreK–12 school districts with an evidence-based framework combined with expert support, best practices, and data-driven guidance to ensure existing systems support the mental health of—and reduce suicide risk—for all students at every grade level.

Derived from JED’s Comprehensive Approach to Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention for High Schools, this collaboration establishes a new framework and exemplifies the significance school district leaders are placing on their students’ emotional health. The initiative combines JED’s decades of nationwide experience protecting emotional health and preventing suicide for more than 500+ high schools, colleges, and universities with AASA’s 150-year commitment to serving public education and school district leadership.

“We are excited to welcome Chandler Unified School District into the 2023 inaugural cohort of districts nationwide that will be at the forefront of implementing powerful practices to support their students and staff,” said Tony Walker, Senior Vice President of Academic Programs at The Jed Foundation. “Suicide has risen every year over the past decade for students aged 5 to 11 and in 2021, one in five high school students made a suicide plan. Schools play a critical role in reversing these trends, but they cannot do that without adequate resources and training. Together, we can all help students thrive and prevent suicide.”

“Our district is one of a select few from across the country to participate in this groundbreaking program, and we are excited about the ways in which this program will help us further support the personal and academic growth of our students,” said Frank Narducci, CUSD Superintendent. “Chandler Unified is proud to be an inaugural participant in this program, and we look forward to working with JED and AASA to enhance the school experience for our students and maximize their full potential as we build a community of care around all children.”

For more information on the DCA program, visit JED’s website.

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About Chandler Unified School District (CUSD): The Chandler Unified School District is in the Southeastern part of the Phoenix metropolitan area. Chandler Unified serves more than 40,000 students in grades PreK-12 and encompasses eighty square miles including parts of the towns of Gilbert and Queen Creek, though not all the City of Chandler. CUSD consists of thirty-two elementary, nine middle school programs, six high schools and four alternative schools.

About The Jed Foundation (JED): JED is a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults. We are partnering with high schools and colleges to strengthen their mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention programs and systems. We are equipping teens and young adults with the skills and knowledge to help themselves and each other. We are encouraging community awareness, understanding, and action for young adult mental health. Connect with JED: Email | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn