Enhanced Access to Mental Healthcare for Students in Maricopa County
Students from kindergarten through 12th grade in Maricopa County are poised to benefit from improved access to mental health services in the upcoming school year. This development comes as the Maricopa County Department of Public Health announced a new partnership with Cartwheel to offer telehealth services to select schools.
Under this initiative, schools participating in the program will have the capability to refer students for telehealth services that include therapy, family support, and psychiatric care. “Providing behavioral health services to students in their schools is enormously effective,” stated Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chair Kate Brophy McGee in a press release. “We can connect with students and their families and more quickly identify and address behaviors that could lead to harmful outcomes.”
Cartwheel, the company contracted for this service, ensures that initial telehealth appointments are available to students within a week of their referral. The program is designed to be voluntary, requiring parental consent, and the cost is structured so that families will not be turned away due to financial constraints. Cartwheel will bill the family’s insurance, while Maricopa County will cover any remaining costs.
The focus of this program will be on medically underserved areas, identified by factors such as provider shortages and barriers to care. Funding for this initiative will come from approximately $586,000 in settlement funds from a lawsuit against the vaping industry, ensuring the program’s operation through the 2026-2027 school year.
School districts within Maricopa County that are interested in participating can reach out to Cartwheel for more information.
