1. Name and Title as you would like it presented:
Shannon M. David, BSN, RN, NCSN
2. School Name where you work:
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic School
3. How long have you been a school nurse?
15 years
4. Nurses have a lot of options when deciding where to work. How did you choose to work for a local school and what has kept you in school nursing so many years?
1. Name and Title as you would like it presented:
Lois Leon, R.N., B.S.N
2. School name where you work:
Irene Lopez School
3. How long have you been a school nurse?
I have been the school nurse at Irene Lopez School for 26 years.
4. Nurses have a lot of options when deciding where to work. How did you choose to work for a local school and what has kept you in school nursing so many years?
1.Name and Title as you would like it presented:
Kristi Torbenson, RN/BSN
2.School name where you work:
I split my time between Las Sendas and Red Mountain Ranch Elementary Schools in Mesa.
3.How long have you been a school nurse?
I have been a school nurse for the past 15 years, starting when my youngest went to kindergarten. He’s a college student now!
PREPaRE is a crisis prevention and intervention model that prepares educators and school-based mental health professionals to feel confident in their abilities when they fill specific roles and responsibilities during a crisis event.
In collaboration with Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), the Arizona Department of Education is proud to provide the School and Behavioral Health Partnerships Guide for principals and school mental health professionals to help increase students’ access to the mental health care system. In addition, the Arizona Department of Education is mindful of student wellbeing impacted by the pandemic and the challenges they may experience when adjusting to in-person learning as schools reopen. Some students may need formal support from community behavioral health partners. To help families connect students to needed supports, the Department of Education partnered with state and national agencies to develop guidance on how to access the mental health system of care in Arizona to include funding sources that offer free and/or reduced services for all Arizona students. Due to Covid relief funding and SB1523, students who are not currently eligible for Medicaid, are uninsured or underinsured, can receive mental health services at no cost through the Community Mental Health Block Grant (MHBG) allocated to Title XIX/XXI funding or through the Children’s Behavioral Health Services Fund.
Mental Health Considerations & Guidance to Referral Process for Schools in Arizona
Some 1,400 Arizonans die by suicide annually; it is the eighth leading cause of death in the state. And yet, we can all play a role in helping to decrease this number in our communities. Remember to WAIT:
W: Watch for signs of distress and uncharacteristic behavior, including an increase in substance use, sleep pattern changes, discussing death or suicide
A: Ask, “Are you thinking of dying by suicide?”
I: It will pass. Reassure the person you’re speaking to that suicidal thoughts are treatable and you will walk alongside them to get care.
T: Talk to others. Call the crisis line for immediate guidance on the next steps.
For more crisis resources, see the AHCCCS Crisis web page.