By Jason W. Brooks
Mail | Twitter: @JasonWBrooks2

On the heels of another board meeting that included students and parents asking for more mental health assistance, the Chandler Unified School District announced a programming informational session.

A resource for mental health, new to the district, is the Hope Institute of Chandler Unified School District. The Hope Institute, based in Ohio, focuses on treating individuals, including our youth, who may have suicidal thoughts or ideation, according to a news release sent out late last week.

The district will host a community informational session on The Hope Institute on Tuesday, April 18, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., in the Arizona College Prep High School cafeteria, 4477 S. Gilbert Road, Chandler, between Ocotillo and Chandler Heights roads.

"This is your opportunity to learn about the services that will be offered," the district said in the news release. "The district is committed to addressing this very important issue."

Brenda Vargas, CUSD's director of counseling and social services, said, in the release, the district has been working diligently with community partners to keep students safe.

“Our partnership with the Hope Institute will be the first of its kind," Vargas said. "This school-based mental health provider will offer intensive resources and support. Any CUSD student in need of these services will be able to receive help within 48 hours and up to 4-5 times a week. All Hope Institute of CUSD clinicians will have suicide-specific treatment training that reduces thoughts of suicide within 5.2 weeks.” 

Details are still being finalized with the goal of opening the Arizona location before next school year. The HOPE institute of CUSD is expected to open its doors at the start of the 2023-24 school year in August and will be located at the Perry High School site, 1919 E. Queen Creek Road, Gilbert.

District staff announced, at a February work session that after the Perry High School site is up and running, a second location at a more centrally located campus location will follow.

The district said another new CUSD program, still under development, is called Teen Mental Health First Aid. It’s a peer support- based program that teaches students how to support each other in times of need.

A third resource being made available on district campuses is the Arizona State University Toolkit, which is also a peer-to-peer help training program for students.

Both Teen Mental Health First Aid and the Toolkit are programs are designed to teach students how to listen to one another and how to get an adult involved, the news release states.

“Our students are the future and in CUSD we are dedicated to supporting all areas that empower students to learn including mental and emotional health,” CUSD Superintendent Frank Narducci said in the release. “We are excited to add these new resources to our already robust list of offerings and tools available to students, families, and staff.”

To view all the resources, district partners, and upcoming events on this topic as well as helplines and hotlines, the public can visit Counseling and Social Services / Main Menu (cusd80.com).  

To contact the Hope Institute of CUSD, send email to THI.CUSD@gmail.com. 

We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments, pro or con, on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.

Jason W. Brooks
News Editor | Chandler Independent
@JasonWBrooks2

Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.

Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.

Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.

Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.

Community: He supports animal shelters.