Phoenix, AZ – The Peoria Unified School District has declined to extend a federal grant aimed at providing mental health services to students, following a 2-2 split vote by the governing board in early September. The decision effectively halts a program that employed social work field instructors to oversee interns providing critical support across the district.
The $275,000 remaining from the 2019 grant, which had been used to fund three social work instructors, will now be returned to the federal government. The rejection has sparked concern among advocates, including Beth Lewis, executive director of Save Our Schools Arizona, who spoke about the potential impact on students and families.
“It is devastating for the students, their families, and the teachers who rely on this support,” board member Heather Rooks, who voted against the extension alongside President Becky Proudfit, has been criticized for pushing to remove social workers from campuses. Rooks has suggested that families should seek outside providers for mental health services. Proudfit, while not opposed to social workers, described the grant as a “bandaid” solution and expressed the need for a more comprehensive approach.
Lewis emphasized the vital role social workers play, helping students cope with crises, such as parental death or suicidal thoughts, and providing essentials like food and shelter. The decision to reject the grant has left the district scrambling to find a temporary solution to keep social workers employed.
For further updates, contact the Peoria Unified School District.
