CHANDLER, AZ (AZFamily) — The Chandler Unified School Board has just approved plans to expand its behavioral health and drug addiction services
The board gave the green light Wednesday night to bring in drug addiction and behavioral health experts to six of its high school campuses.
“I think it’s a great idea,” said parent Jessica Gargol. “I think especially in today’s climate, and social media and everything going on, I think kids need as much help as we can provide them.”
The new services will be provided by the nonprofit Community Bridges, which will promote drug abuse prevention and help run a diversion program to help suspended students get their lives back on track.
Katey McPherson is a parent and mental health advocate who says these kinds of resources are needed now more than others, with so many students struggling with stress, addiction and coping with their peers.
“What I love about this is, it involves the parents, too,” said McPherson. “If a student is caught vaping and goes to diversion program, there’s a mandatory parent session as well, involving parents. It not only supports the student, but the parent, as well.”
A number of other Valley school districts, like Scottsdale, already have providers in place on different campuses to help students in need.
“It’s unfortunate when we are young, that we make really stupid mistakes, and we don’t know the consequences of these and then we pay the rest of our life for them,” said Caracio. “Having more resources is a good idea.”
The new program is expected to be up and running when students are back on campus next week.
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