Chandler Unified School District’s flagship mental-health program for students is closing abruptly, less than three years after launching. The Hope Institute, founded by Derek Lee, announced its closure in an April 29 letter, stating it would cease operations the following day.
Program Details and Impact
The Hope Institute opened in August 2023 at a building on the Perry High School campus and was designed to provide short-term crisis intervention for students struggling with mental health issues or suicidal thoughts. According to the program’s model, it saw students for four to eight weeks, aiming to serve them “within the next business day” to offer immediate support during crises. In its first year, The Hope Institute treated about 350 people, with 200 from CUSD. Director Lindsay Taylor reported to the district’s Governing Board that the program achieved a 90% completion rate with few students needing to return for additional care.
The district invested $475,000 in initial start-up costs for the program, which relied on private insurance and AHCCCS to fund ongoing services. The Hope Institute was part of a broader expansion effort; it started in Ohio and opened locations in the Perry High area and Atlanta simultaneously as its first ventures outside the state.
District Response and Alternatives
Chandler Unified received little notice of the closure. In a statement, the district said it was “equally devastated” and committed to ensuring continuity of care through a transition plan requiring Governing Board approval at its May 6 meeting. The district expressed “gratitude to The Hope Institute for the countless lives they have saved over the last few years.”
Lee cited financial constraints in his closure announcement. “This closure is a reflection of budgetary constraints and is in no way a reflection of the incredible work done by the staff or the importance of the mission,” he wrote, adding that clinical staff are working individually with current clients “to ensure a warm handoff to external providers.”
The district provided alternative resources, including Mind 24-7 (walk-in mental health care), La Frontera EMPACT (24/7 crisis counseling and mobile units), the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (dial 988), and Teen Lifeline (602-248-8336).
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.chandlernews.com/santan/news/chandler-unified-mental-health-provider-quits/article_bf94435c-656f-4a66-a78f-0411775d44fb.html