Phoenix Union Expands Mental Health Support for Students Amid Growing Needs

The Phoenix Union High School District's Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) department provides students with social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health interventions through a team of specialists stationed at each campus. Under the direction of Matthew Georgia, MTSS Director, the district operates an extensive menu of intervention services that address everything from significant life changes to chronic mental health struggles.

Each school campus has dedicated support service experts, including social workers, student prevention and intervention specialists, and behavior intervention specialists. Students experiencing emotional or mental distress can contact their school's social worker to access services and connect with community providers. At Camelback High School, the support services team works closely with families to coordinate care, with the main district office reachable at (602) 764-7000.

The district has established partnerships with multiple community-based mental and emotional health agencies and hospitals. Available resources include crisis intervention services, the EMPACT Suicide Prevention Hotline (1-800-784-2433), TERROS Behavioral Health (602-685-6000), and Tumbleweed Crisis Center (602-271-9904). For families in immediate need of additional support, the district provides referrals to agencies including Family Service Agency and St. Vincent de Paul.

Beyond student services, Phoenix Union has invested in employee mental health through its Employee Assistance Program (EAP), administered by Jorgensen Brooks Group since July 2022. Eligible employees and household members receive up to six confidential counseling visits per year at no cost, available 24/7 by calling (888) 520-5400. The district also employs three full-time wellness clinicians and a wellness coordinator to address staff mental health needs, recognizing that educator well-being directly impacts student support capacity.