Outline of the state of Arizona
State
Arizona
Required

Category
State Models and Supports—Counseling, Psychological, and Social Services

Category
State Models and Supports—Counseling, Psychological, and Social Services

State law requires state agencies to develop models and guidance for districts to support implementation of counseling, psychological, and social services.

Arizona Revised Statutes 15-120. Suicide prevention training; approved materials; posting; immunity; spending classification

A. Beginning in the 2020-2021 school year, school districts and charter schools shall provide training in suicide awareness and prevention for school guidance counselors, teachers, principals and other school personnel who work with pupils in grades six through twelve. Each person who is required to obtain training pursuant to this section shall complete that training at least once every three years. The training must include:

    1. Training in suicide prevention.
    1. Training to identify the warning signs of suicidal behavior in adolescents and teens.
    1. Appropriate intervention and referral techniques.

B. The training prescribed in subsection A of this section:

    1. Must use evidence-based training materials.
    1. May be provided within the framework of existing in-service training programs offered by the school district or charter school or as part of professional development activities.

C. The Arizona health care cost containment system administration shall make available suicide prevention training that complies with the requirements of this section and post this training information on the administration’s website. On or before July 1, 2020, the administration shall identify or develop and post on the administration’s website a list of approved materials that schools may use to provide the training prescribed in subsection A of this section. The administration shall annually update these approved materials.

D. School personnel, entities or any other persons are not civilly liable for any actions taken in good faith pursuant to this section except in cases of gross negligence, wilful misconduct or intentional wrongdoing.

E. The auditor general shall classify any costs incurred by school districts in implementing this section as classroom spending for the purposes of the annual report prepared pursuant to section 41-1279.03, subsection A, paragraph 9.

Policy Type
Statute

Arizona Revised Statutes 15-154. School safety program; purpose; program proposals; requirements; annual report; program termination; definitions

A. The school safety program is established within the department of education to support, promote and enhance safe and effective learning environments for all students by supporting the costs of placing school resource officers, juvenile probation officers, school counselors and school social workers on school campuses. A school district or charter school may apply to participate in the school safety program as provided in this section for up to three fiscal years by submitting by April 15 a program proposal to the department of education. A school district or charter school that receives approval for a three-year program under this subsection may annually submit a modified spending plan for its approved program. ... r school social workers, or both, on a school campus shall contain:

    1. A detailed description of the school safety needs of the charter school or school district.
    1. A plan for implementing a school guidance and counseling program that includes the following:
      • (a) A detailed description of the relationship between the school counselor or the social worker, or both, and local community resources.
      • (b) A plan for using school counselor and school social worker services in the school, or both.
      • (c) A detailed description of the methods for evaluating the effectiveness of the school guidance and counseling plan.
      • (d) Policies on confidentiality under the school guidance and counseling plan.
      • (e) Policies on notifying parents and other family members of issues or concerns as identified in the school guidance and counseling plan.
      • (f) A detailed description of the school’s, school district’s or charter school’s referral procedures to the appropriate community entities and state agencies. ... 3. “School counselor” means a professional educator who holds a valid school counselor certificate issued by the department of education.
    1. “School guidance and counseling program” means a counseling program that supports, promotes and enhances the academic, personal, social, emotional and career development of all students.
Policy Type
Statute