School-based Referrals for Behavioral Health Services to a Contracted Behavioral Health Services Provider

POLICY

A School may make school-based referrals to community based behavioral health providers in compliance with A.R.S. § 36-3436.01. If referrals are made to a contracted behavioral health services provider pursuant to the children’s behavioral health services fund established by section A.R.S. § 36-3436 or for services provided through the Arizona health care cost containment system, then the School Administration shall ensure the following:

A. Allow parents to annually opt-in to school-based referrals.

B. Conduct a survey of parents whose children were referred to and received behavioral health services pursuant to this section.  The survey may be completed online. The survey shall include at least the following:

(a) Whether the parent opted into the program.
(b) Whether the parent was notified before the referral took place.
(c) Whether the behavioral health services referred were appropriate to meet the student’s need.
(d) Whether the parent is satisfied with the choice of behavioral health services providers.
(e) Whether the parent intends to opt into a program again in the following school year.

At the end of each school year, the ESS Director, Sonoran Schools, shall report to Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) the survey results for each participating School.

C. Post a list of behavioral health services providers with whom the school contracts on the school’s website.

D. Post this policy on the applicable School website.

Policy proposed and adopted by the Governing Board of Sonoran Science Academy-Phoenix at its public meeting held on February 27, 2025

Sonoran Science Academy-Phoenix currently does not make school-based referrals to any community based behavioral health providers.

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