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Water Safety and Swimming Lessons

Water Safety and Swimming Lessons

Arizona has passed a new law, recognized as House Bill 2019 (A.R.S. 15-249.19), which intends to help protect children from drowning, one of the leading causes of accidental death among young kids. This law aims to make water safety education more accessible and effective for families.

What the Law Requires

Starting this school year, all Arizona school districts and charter schools must:

  1. Provide parents and guardians with an Arizona Department of Education-linked list of certified water safety or swimming lesson programs throughout Arizona in an effort to save lives.
  2. Ensure these programs are comprehensive and ensure children learn essential swimming and water safety skills.

Why is this Important?

  1. Drowning prevention: Teaching children how to swim and be safe around water can save lives.
  2. Empowering families: Parents receive trusted resources to help them choose the right swimming lessons.
  3. Community safety: The law promotes awareness and education, reducing water-related accidents across Arizona.

 Sample Notification Letter to Parents of Newly Enrolled Students

ADE has provided a template letter of notification that may be used by School Districts and Charters to utilize when communicating this legislative requirement to newly enrolled students (as required per HB2019) and/or to include in annual student handbooks, as district and charter school governing boards and leadership teams see fit. Please see the PDF below for the template. 

HB 2019 Sample Letter for Parents and Caregivers

 Water Safety & Swimming Lesson Providers

Free or reduced price water safety & swimming lessons

Salt River Project (SRP) and Aquatic Centers - Free & Low-Cost Swim Lessons - Statewide 

Other Regional Options

Every Child a Swimmer - Phoenix and surrounding areas AND GROWING! 

Flagstaff Athletic Club Swim Lessons - Northern Arizona and surrounding areas

University of Arizona Youth Swim Lessons - Southern Arizona and surrounding areas

Valley of the Sun YMCA Safety Around Water - Phoenix and surrounding areas

Survival Swim - Connecting you to swimming instructors

Saguaro Aquatics - Serving Tucson and Pima County!

United States Swim School Association - Directory of swim schools

Hubbard Family Swim School - Phoenix, Peoria, Mesa, Goodyear

 County Aquatic Center Options

Arizona County Aquatic Centers

County  Pools 
Apache  St. John's Swimming Pool
Cochise

City of Douglas Aquatic Center

The Cove Aquatic Center (Sierra Vista)
Coconino

Wall Aquatic Center (Northern Arizona University) 

Snow Sharks Swim Program
Gila Globe Pool
Graham  City of Safford Community Pool
Greenlee Morenci Swimming Pool
La Paz Lake Havasu City Aquatic Center
Maricopa

Tempe Aquatics

Chandler Aquatics

City of Phoenix Aquatics

City of Avondale

Gilbert Aquatics

Mesa Aquatics

Town of Queen Creek Aquatic Center

City of Goodyear
Mohave Lake Havasu City Aquatic Center
Navajo Show Low Aquatic Center
Pima

Pima County Pools

Saguaro Aquatics
Pinal

Florence Aquatic Center

Coolidge Aquatic Center

Copper Sky Aquatics Center (City of Maricopa)
Santa Cruz Nogales Parks and Recreation
Yavapai

Chino Valley Aquatic Center

Cottonwood Aquatics

Prescott Valley Aquatics
Yuma  Yuma County Aquatics

Comprehensive School Safety

Comprehensive School Safety

Comprehensive School Safety

The Arizona Department of Education models its approach to Comprehensive School Safety after the nationally recognized Safe and Sound Schools Framework. This model is built on six key pillars that emphasize a collaborative, all-encompassing strategy to ensure schools are safe, supportive, and ready for learning.

When students feel safe, physically, emotionally, and mentally, they are better prepared to succeed in the classroom and beyond. Our approach recognizes that safety is not one-dimensional; it requires strong partnerships among educators, families, and community members to address the diverse needs of every school community

Comprehensive School Safety

Connecting The School Safety Framework

Comprehensive School Safety is a multifaceted strategy that considers the full spectrum of student well-being. From emergency preparedness and physical security to mental health and school climate, the School Safety Framework addresses all areas critical to a safe and thriving educational environment.

Mental & Behavioral Wellbeing

Mental & Behavioral WellbeingHow does the Arizona Department of Education support mental & behavioral well-being?
Mental and Behavioral Wellbeing

Recognizes the critical role of mental health in school safety. This includes access to counseling, behavioral interventions, and support systems for students and staff.  

Physical Wellbeing

Physical WellbeingHow does the Arizona Department of Education support physical well-being?
Physical Wellbeing

Promotes physical health through nutrition, physical activity, and medical care, as well as initiatives to prevent and respond to health-related issues. Promoting the health and wellness of school communities builds healthier, safer, and more successful learning environments.

Safety, Security, and Law Enforcement

Safety, Security & Law EnforcementHow does the Arizona Department of Education support safety, security & law enforcement?
Safety, Security and law Enforcement

Involves physical safety measures such as secure building design, surveillance, and effective collaborations with law enforcement agencies. Creating naturally protective buildings and campuses ensures the safety of your school community.

Culture, Climate & Community

Culture, Climate & CommunityHow does the Arizona Department of Education support culture, climate & community?
Culture, Climate, and Community

Focuses on fostering a positive school culture and climate through strong relationships, connectedness, and community engagement. A welcoming environment is essential for both safety and student success.

Leadership, AZ Law & Policy

Leadership, AZ Law & PolicyHow does the Arizona Department of Education support leadership, AZ law & policy?
Leaadership and AZ Law

Emphasizes the importance of clear leadership and adherence to laws and policies. This includes compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.

Emergency Operations & Incident Management

Emergency Operations & Incident ManagementHow does the Arizona Department of Education support emergency operations & incident management?
Emergency and Incident Management

Covers the planning, training, and protocols needed to respond to emergencies. This includes drills, crisis response plans, and coordination with first responders, health care organizations, and the school communities.

Mental Telehealth

Mental Telehealth

Fully-Funded Telehealth Program For Mental Health Services Available To All Schools In Rural Arizona Counties

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne has announced a new partnership with mental health care provider Cartwheel, to bring students and families in Arizona’s rural counties rapid access to mental health support using telehealth. View the full announcement here. 

K-12 Kids

“Empowering parents is a cornerstone of my administration. This partnership with Cartwheel will help ensure that students in rural areas who wish to speak with counselors can do so with the appropriate permission and supervision of their parents. The program will provide a convenient telehealth option to many families who may have otherwise had difficulty in securing the timely mental health support they desire for their children.”  

Interested districts and charter schools can sign up by visiting www.cartwheel.org/arizona. 

 Program Information 

  1. Services will be offered to all school districts and charter schools in Arizona’s 13 rural counties: Apache, Cochise, Coconino, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, La Paz, Mohave, Navajo, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Yavapai, and Yuma. There are approximately 250 school districts and charter schools and 200,000 students in these counties. 

  2. The telehealth program can help address a range of common mental health conditions, from anxiety, depression, and executive functioning challenges to loss and grief, stress, sleep issues, technology use, trauma, and more. 

  3. The program is voluntary, with parental consent required, and the family is involved throughout care. Students will typically receive 2 to 6 months of weekly sessions, with longer-term care available. Cartwheel will bill sessions to insurance and accept all insurance plans, including commercial, Medicaid, and Tricare for military families. Funding for uninsured students is also available, through the Cartwheel contract with ADE.

Click Here For All Program Information!

 Information Session: January 29th

A virtual information session for school leaders will be held via Zoom on Wednesday, January 29 at 11:00 - 11:45 am MST. Hosted by the Arizona Department of Education and Cartwheel, this session will share more about the program and include Q&A. School leaders are encouraged to attend this session to learn more. 

Click Here to Register!

 Program Value 

“Having more access to mental wellness services is both needed and critical to help families and help their children. This allows us to offer opportunities for students to really focus on learning and applying their knowledge without having all these other burdens that really stop them from living their lives.” 

Stacy Anderson, PsyD, MC, NCC, School Psychologist in Arizona and representative from the Arizona Association of School Psychologists

"With a critical shortage of counselors and social workers in Arizona, particularly in rural and tribal areas, we must embrace innovative solutions to address the growing mental health needs of students and the systemic challenges that contribute to these disparities. Telehealth services, like those provided by Cartwheel, offer a vital bridge, delivering accessible and timely mental health support to schools. By complementing existing resources, these services ensure that students in underserved communities receive the comprehensive care they need to thrive both academically and emotionally."

Cheryl Mango-Paget, Superintendent of Schools for the Coconino County Education Service Agency

Know2Protect

Know2Protect

Know2Protect

Welcome to Know2Protect

Empowering Parents and Educators to Keep Children Safe

The Know2Protect initiative, supported by the Arizona Department of Education, provides essential resources and training to help parents, educators, and communities understand and combat the risks of child exploitation and trafficking. This platform offers easy-to-access training videos, expert guidance, and practical tools to empower you with the knowledge needed to protect Arizona's children. Start exploring the resources below to make a difference today.

Internet Safety Checklist

Top 10 Tips2Protect

Top 10 Tips2Protect for Teens

Know the Threats

How Exploitation Happens

Personal Information and Data Permanency

Sexting and Sextortion

What To Do If Something Happens

Training Feedback

This training series is brought to you by the Know2Protect initiative from the Department of Homeland Security.

K2P Logo

Help us improve our offerings by completing this feedback

Training Feedback

Report Suspected Abuse

If you believe someone is the victim of child sexual exploitation, you can report it using the following:

All information received via the tipline will be reviewed by appropriate personnel and referred to Homeland Security field offices for potential investigation.

CyberTipline

StopIt

StopIt

Stop It Taskforce Banner

Arizona is facing an opioid overdose epidemic, claiming five lives per day. Among all age groups, Arizona recorded more than 1800 opioid-related deaths and more than 4,000 overdoses in 2023.

Citing the growing incidents of Fentanyl deaths and overdoses among Arizona school-aged children, schools chief Tom Horne has announced an initiative to supply schools with the anti-overdose drug Narcan and the creation of a statewide task force to address this growing crisis. He has also endorsed an effort to get free anti-drug awareness materials into all Arizona schools.

“There are geographic hotspots of adolescent overdose deaths, many of which are in the western United States. Arizona, Colorado, and Washington State had mortality nearly twice the national average or higher in 2020–2022. An assessment of hotspot counties — defined as those that had at least 20 overdose deaths and mortality higher than the national average during this period — revealed 19 counties of high concern. Maricopa County, Arizona, and Los Angeles County, California, had the highest number of fatal overdoses, with 117 and 111 deaths, respectively. School-based interventions could be prioritized in these counties.” Source

 The School Training Overdose Preparedness & Intelligence Taskforce (STOP-IT) has been formed to help schools with this crisis.

The task force includes representatives from schools, health care, law enforcement, and other interested stakeholders.

For more information, please contact [email protected] 

Naloxone Request Form  STOP-IT Overdose Training Video  STOP-IT Toolkit for Schools 

        Memo to Schools  Informational Flyer  STOP-IT Toolkit Video

Arizona law requires schools to have policies and procedures regarding emergency use of Naloxone

Legislative Requirements for Naloxone in Schools: Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 15-341(A)(43).

Naloxone Administration Requirements: Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 36-2267. Administration of opioid antagonist; exemption from civil liability; definition.

Naloxone Reporting Requirements: Ariz. Admin Code Rule R 9-4-602

 Taskforce Representatives

Holly Geyer

Chair

Mayo
Clinic

Mike Kurtenbach

Co-Chair

Arizona Department
of Education

Lisa Alexander
Peoria Unified School District

Rebecca Astorga
Arizona Department of Education

Ashley Bello
Arizona Department of Education

Adena Bernstein
Attorney General’s Office

Eve Breier
Children First Leadership Academy

Tim Brienza
Yuma Union High School District

Geoffrey Brown
Northwest Christian School

Aiden Bryson
Student Representative (Public Charter School)

Ray Bunch
Phoenix Children’s Hospital

Samantha Burke
Student Representative (Public School)

Jamie Burnett
Arizona High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas

Vanna Campion
Terros Health

Manuel Cano
Arizona State University

Kevin Cashatt
Dysart Schools

John Croteau
Dysart Schools

Raminta Daniulaityte
Arizona State University

Dawn Densmore
Arizona Department of Education

Aja DeZeew
Cobre Valley Institute of Technology

Kate Dobler
Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System

Gretchen Dorner
Kingman Unified School District

Melanie Durden
Arizona Department of Education

Merilee Fowler
MATForce

Ivonne Garber
Arizona Department of Education

Joseph Gaw
Tucson Unified School District

Henry Gonzalez
Yuma Union High School District

Michael Gunderson
Arizona Counterdrug Task Force

Haley Horton
Community Medical Services

Christi Jen
Mayo Clinic

Catharina Johnson
Arizona Department of Education

Philip Johnson
Community Medical Services

Rob Kirchoff
Mayo Clinic

Gary Kirkilas
Phoenix Children’s Hospital

Jon Kronstedt
Crestview Preparatory High School

C.J. Loiselle
Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System

Ashley Lowe
University of Arizona

Kevin Mach
Arizona Department of Education

Elizabeth Markona
Arizona Department of Health Services

Wendy Miller
Challenge Charter School

Randy Moffitt
Arizona High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas

Michael Penca
Flagstaff Unified School District

Meghan Peterson
University of Arizona

Chy Porter
Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System

Samantha Reeves
Arizona Department of Education

Krystal Renszel
Mayo Clinic

Mary Ellen Rimsza
Child Mortality Review Committee

Maureen Roland
Banner Health

Dave Schad
Terros Health

Doug Skvarla
Arizona Board of Pharmacy

Yanitza Soto
Phoenix City Manager’s Office

Deb Stoks
Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family

Karen Tepper
Terros Health

Katie Tacey
Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System

Gabriel Trujillo
Tucson Unified School District

Desiree Voshefsky
Community Medical Services

Jenny Walker
Arizona Department of Education

William Walker
Arizona Department of Education

Autumn White
Arizona Department of Education

 Resources

  • Read through the STOP-IT Talking Points to get answers to questions you may have about opioids, STOP-IT efforts, and the legislation that governs this work in Arizona.

Publications:

Supporting Agencies and Organizations

                       Through valuable partnerships with the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, the Arizona Department of Education and STOP-IT proudly announce an initiative to stock Arizona K-12 schools with opioid antagonist, Narcan(naloxone) kits.

Arizona Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Arizona Association of School Business Officials
Arizona College of Emergency Physicians, Advancing Emergency Care
Arizona Chapter of the American College of Physicians
Arizona Counter Drug Taskforce
Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs
Arizona Department of Health Services
Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System
Arizona Interscholastic Association
Arizona Medical Association
Arizona Nurses Association
Arizona School Administrators, Inc.
Arizona School Boards Association
Arizona School Counselor Association
Arizona School Resource Officer Association
Arizona Society of Addiction Medicine
National Association of School Nurses
Arizona Chapter National Safety Council
School Nurses Association of Arizona
Substance Awareness Coalition Leaders of Arizona

The School Mental Health Champion Application is Now Open!

The School Mental Health Champion Application is Now Open!

Tue, Jun 20, 2023
School Safety

Image depicts School Mental Health Champion logo
The State of Arizona seeks to recognize school sites statewide that are proactively addressing student mental health in Arizona. School Mental Health Champions provide comprehensive supports for students that address mental wellness through prevention, early intervention, and partnerships with community behavioral health providers. If your school or district engages in these activities, we would like to recognize your effort in providing mental health supports to students. Please complete this application for state recognition. 

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School Nursing and Health Services Nurses' Notes

School Nursing and Health Services Nurses' Notes

Arizona School Nursing and Health Services Nurses' Notes Resource Guides

This page serves the purpose to disseminate school health services information and guidance, upcoming events, and resources to support Arizona school nurses and the school health office. Each resource guide will allow school nurses to: 

  • Learn about upcoming events, on-demand events, and pertinent news.
  • Stay informed on important health updates, COVID-19 information, and health themes.
  • Stay connected with organizations, programs, and services that are available across Arizona to support a school nurse’s scope of practice.
  • See what other school nurses are doing with updates on school nurse committees and huddles.

New! Nurses' Notes Resource Guides

March 2025 School Nursing and Health Services Nurses' Notes Resource Guide

February 2025 School Nursing and Health Services Nurses' Notes Resource Guide

January 2025 School Nursing and Health Services Nurses' Notes Resource Guide

November 2024 School Nursing and Health Services Nurses' Notes Resource Guide

October 2024 School Nursing and Health Services Nurses' Notes Resource Guide

September 2024 School Nursing and Health Services Nurses' Notes Resource Guide

August 2024 School Nursing and Health Services Nurses' Notes Resource Guide

School Year 23/24

May 2024 School Nursing and Health Services Nurses' Notes Resource Guide

April 2024 School Nursing and Health Services Nurses' Notes Resource Guide

March 2024 School Nursing and Health Services Nurses' Notes Resource Guide

February 2024 School Nursing and Health Services Nurses' Notes Resource Guide

January 2024 School Nursing and Health Services Nurses' Notes Resource Guide

December School Nursing and Health Services Nurses' Notes Resource Guide

November School Nursing and Health Services Nurses' Notes Resource Guide

October School Nursing and Health Services Nurses' Notes Resource Guide

September School Nursing and Health Services Nurses' Notes Resource Guide

August School Nursing and Health Services Nurses' Notes Resource Guide

Comprehensive School Health and Wellness Resources

Comprehensive School Health and Wellness Resources

Welcome To The Comprehensive School Health and Wellness Resource Page

The CSW Program disseminates school health information and guidance, upcoming events, and resources to support student health and academic achievement through nutrition, physical activity, and the management of chronic conditions. Each resource guide will allow school health educators to: 

  • Learn about health themes and ways to incorporate health initiatives into the school environment. 
  • Stay informed on upcoming professional development opportunities related to nutrition, physical activity, and the management of chronic conditions. 
  • Become equipped with useful resources such as toolkits, templates, and infographics for the school use. 
  • See what other school across Arizona to build school health infrastructure by incorporating practices, policies, programs, and services.

New! Resource Guides

2023 April Comprehensive School Health and Wellness Resource Guide

2023 March Comprehensive School Health and Wellness Resource Guide

2023 February Comprehensive School Health and Wellness Resource Guide

2023 January Comprehensive School Health and Wellness Resource Guide

Upcoming and On Demand S3W Trainings

Upcoming and On Demand S3W Trainings

  • Suicide prevention

https://www.azed.gov/wellness/suicide-preventionhttps://www.azedgov/wellness/suicide-prevention

  • Child abuse/neglect mandatory reporting and ToT

hhttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1nyQhBK_Daf_LnMd-o7TtShfBOZeHw60w/viewttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1nyQhBK_Daf_LnMd-o7TtShfBOZeHw60w/view

  • Substance use trends and prevention

https://www.azed.gov/wellness/school-nursing-and-health-services

Working with Schools to Reduce Suicide

Working with Schools to Reduce Suicide

Mon, Sep 26, 2022
School Safety

Project AWARE is a federal initiative funded by SAMHSA to build and expand the partnership between education and mental health systems at both the state and local levels. The Arizona Project AWARE team is a partnership between AZ Department of Education, AHCCCS, and six local school districts. The AZ AWARE team is focused on ensuring that all AZ students and families have access to appropriate behavioral health resources, while supporting education systems in training staff and implementing school-based and community mental health service pathways. 

Arizona Project AWARE provides support and access to gatekeeper or suicide prevention trainings such as Youth Mental Health First Aid, QPR, and ACT on Facts.

How can you help?

  • Be trained in a free evidence-based suicide prevention training. Sign up here.
  • Ask your children's school if they have a suicide prevention and postvention policy in place. If not, a template can be found here.
  • If your children's school doesn't have a behavioral health provider on campus, ask leadership to make the connection. More information on how to take those steps can be found here. 
  • Be an advocate for suicide prevention. Normalize conversations about mental health, thereby reducing stigma.

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