Phoenix Elementary District reviews school-based behavioral-health partnership and parent-permission process
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Summary
The Phoenix Elementary District received an overview of its partnership with Southwest Behavioral Services and the district's parent-notification and consent process, including statutory consent requirements and the sequence of referrals, intakes and information-sharing between schools, parents and providers.
The Phoenix Elementary District's governing board on Thursday received a staff presentation and public comment in support of school-based social workers and behavioral interventionists and reviewed the district's process for referring students to Southwest Behavioral Services.
The district's director who oversees social work services, Dawn Baumgartner, described the partnership model and the legal and ethical rules that guide it, including a requirement for parental consent before mental-health screening or treatment. Baumgartner said referrals typically follow a three-step sequence: staff identification and parent notification; parent agreement and referral to the community provider; and a behavioral-health intake and, if parents sign releases, limited two-way information sharing between the provider and the school.
The presentation followed extended public comment from teachers, social workers and parents who urged the board to maintain social-work and behavior-intervention staffing. Instructional coach Marnie Burris and several classroom teachers described social workers as essential to classroom stability and to supporting students with trauma, homelessness and food insecurity. Julie Robbins, a social worker with 13 years in the district, described national best practices of school partnerships with community behavioral-health providers and pointed to state laws that require districts to address student mental-health needs.
Baumgartner told the board that Arizona law and professional licensing rules require parental consent before treatment for minors and that the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners governs licensing and consent standards. She also cited the Mitch Warnock Act and state guidance (Project AWARE) as frameworks the district follows for screening and staff training.
During Q&A a board member asked whether billing for services happens directly between Southwest and parents/insurance; Baumgartner confirmed billing is between the provider and the parent or insurer. Baumgartner said a referral does not transmit detailed clinical information to Southwest; the provider gathers clinical detail during intake and obtains informed consent and releases of information before sharing information with the school.
No formal action or vote was taken on the partnership at the meeting; the board listed the item for receipt and discussion only. After the presentation the meeting adjourned briefly to executive session and later resumed regular session.
The presentation and the public comments make clear district staff and many teachers view school-based behavioral-health partnerships and social workers as important to student safety, attendance and classroom learning. Staff emphasized that parental consent and releases are required before treatment or detailed information-sharing between providers and schools.
