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MPS partners with behavioral health agency

BY ASHLYN ROBINETTE

Tribune Contributor

Terros Health and Mesa Public Schools are partnering to provide behavioral health services to students in grades pre-K through sixth.

Last year, Mesa Public Schools reported a sharp decline in students enrolled in preschool and kindergarten, largely due to pandemic-driven closures and fear of COVID-19.

Without proper socialization and routines, young students may struggle adjusting to in-person learning, said Michele Grimaldi, community partnership coordinator for Mesa Public Schools.

“If COVID taught us anything, it’s that kids really need that interaction,” she said. “Kids can’t get everything from technology. They need socialization. They need to practice routines and how to get along with others.”

During the pandemic, many children were isolated at home with nothing but

screens to keep them company. While technology can be bene�icial, lacking in-classroom experience can result in severe emotional and behavioral issues, Grimaldi said. “We’re seeing kids who have not had your typical socialization,” she said. “They might have missed preschool and are entering kindergarten without school routines, structure – all of those academic skills that you would want ahead of time. “You can’t fault these chilMichele Grimaldi, community partnership coordinator for dren who may not have had Mesa Public Schools, said the Terros-district partnership will help young children. (Special to the Tribune) exposure to others or been in a regular routine.” Recognizing that early learning is a foundation of future success, Mesa Public Schools and Terros Health forged a partnership last year initially designed to help preschoolers make a smooth transition to kindergarten.

Because it has pre-kindergarten behavioral health specialists, Terros Health was assigned to all preschool programs in the Mesa Public Schools district.

In August, the partnership expanded to help K-6 students overcome emotional, social and developmental challenges at three elementary schools: Washington, Whittier and Sirrine. Terros Health is just one of �ive behavioral health agencies in partnership with MPS, the largest school district in Arizona with approximately 64,000 students at 82 schools.

“My goal is to get all schools a formal behavioral health partner,” Grimaldi said. “At this point, we have a partner at every high

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Schnepf Farms to start pumpkin/chili fest

TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF

Twenty-four years ago, Carrie and Mark Schnepf had an idea of hosting a 3-hour pumpkin and chili party on their Queen Creek farm.

Now, that part-of-a-day event “to get people ready for fall” has evolved into a �ive-week Pumpkin & Chili Party that will begin Friday, Oct. 1, and run every Thursday through Sunday throughout October.

Carrie recalled that for that one evening long ago, “We served our famous chili dinner, hired a great band, had a petting zoo, train ride and marshmallow roasting.”

All that is still offered – plus a lot more.

The party includes some returning favorites such as the 4-acre pumpkin patch, 10-acre Celebrity Maze, 4-acre corn maze, zip lines, mini golf, amusement rides, scarecrow making, Hillbilly Bob’s pig races, unique shopping, train rides, hay rides, bon�ires, marshmallow roasting, live music and more.

In all, the $23.95 admission covers 30 attractions and rides – though pumpkins, chili dinners and the newly added haunted school bus called “The Wreckening” are extra.

Added to a list of amusement rides that already includes a roller coaster, swings, carousel and Extreme Hyperloop is a Super Slide.

For anyone with underlying conditions who want anyone around them to be masked, the Schnepfs are holding a special noon-8 p.m. opening on a Wednesday, Oct. 13.

“The farm will not mandate daily mask wearing, but will strongly urge everyone to social distance and be kind to those who do wear masks,” said Carrie.

Added her husband, a fourth-generation farmer: “Our family farm is our home, and we hope our guests will respect one another and just relax and enjoy each other and all that the farm has to offer.”

Other safety measures the Schnepfs are following include sanitizing all rides daily and installing sanitizing stations for guests.

The farm also is limiting attendance and, like last year, is selling tickets only online.

Carrie also said that just like many businesses, the farm has been hit by labor shortages. So, she advises “expect a few lines in some areas.”

school, most junior highs and we’re getting there with those elementary schools. We started at zero less than three years ago and we’re at 42 schools now.”

When someone, whether it be a student, parent or staff member, identi�ies a student with concerns about their developmental, social or emotional health, that student is referred Terros, which then reaches out to the student’s family and offers services that can help children and their family get back on track.

“That age range, they only know what their environment is,” said Kimberly McWilliams, director of children’s services at Terros Health. “They could have experienced some trauma in their immediate environment.

“COVID is an absolute trauma. If you remember being 5 years old, your parents would say ‘go and play, go outside.’ Well, these kids lost a whole year of that and were directed inside.”

When a child is used to an environment of isolation and screen time, the transition from screens to another activity can be a struggle, McWilliams said.

Screens don’t teach you everything you need to know, Grimaldi said. Delayed grati�ication, getting along with others, being able to sit still for a long period of time and focus on one task is important.

“Teaching these skills helps with early intervention,” McWilliams said. “The earlier we can get a kiddo to know how to self-regulate, identify emotions and communicate those emotions to get support, the better the outcomes.”

Terros has a program for teens that focuses on substance use treatment and that program is seeing younger and younger kids have issues because they are using substances to cope with stress, McWilliams said. If kids are supported early on, then potential future issues can be prevented. Grimaldi was �irst drawn to Terros Health because it is one of the few providers specialists for kids up to 5.

“Even though children’s work is a specialty and our children’s department works from birth to age 17, birth to age 5 is even more special because it requires more training to really understand the unique needs of that age group,” McWilliams said.

If the family accepts help, Terros Health’s birth to age 5 specialist conducts a comprehensive assessment and developmental screening to identify physical, social and emotional de�icits, McWilliams said. Based on their �indings and feedback from the child’s parents and teachers, Terros Health and Mesa Public Schools work with the family and the teacher to set goals for the student. These could include improving motor development, social and emotional health, or listening, engagement and coping skills to manage stress.

Terros and MPS then develop a treatment plan which is administered by a child therapist in a one-on-one or family session.

The program is school-based, so Terros Health specialists can provide direct intervention in the classroom. Terros Health also serves students at their homes or one of its health centers, as needed.

“The in-school therapy is above and

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beyond what a school counselor can do,” Grimaldi said. “Mesa Public Schools is very good at having at least one counselor at every site, but sometimes kids have issues above and beyond what a school personnel or staff can completely help with.”

The beauty of in-school therapy is that students don’t have to face issues like transportation and already have trust in their school, she added.

Trauma can go beyond needing skills therapy, so therapy services also address anxiety, depression, troublesome behaviors and more, McWilliams said.

Treatment is paid for by patients’ private insurance, McWilliams said. Uninsured individuals also can gain access to services through programs provided by Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS).

No family will be turned away due to limited �inancial reasons, she added.

Information: Casey Martinez, clinical site manager for Terros Health, at 602389-3666 or casey.martinez@terros.

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Mesa popcorn business a family project

BY MELODY BIRKETT

Tribune Contributor

Popcorn is a family affair for Michael and Ann Wilson. They bought What’s Poppin’ Kettle Corn, in 2019 and run the Mesa business with their son and daughter.

“My son Brandon worked events with a gentleman who owned the kettle corn company,” said Ann Wilson, who still has a full-time IT job but pops corn on the weekends.

“I saw this business and something clicked in my head that’s something I’d like to do,” she explained. “A few years later, the business came up for sale. The man offered it to my son so we bought it as a family. We’ve been going ever since and trying to keep busy.”

Michael Wilson has no prior popcorn experience but, he said, “It looked fun. I don’t know what I liked about it but I thought, ‘I’d like to do that.’ It just all fell into place. I love doing it.”

In addition to school events once in a while, the family primarily sells their kettle corn at farmers’ markets – mainly at Made with Love Market in Gilbert, at Mesa Arts Center and At the Ranch at Val Vista and Riggs in Gilbert. They’re also popping away at Main Street Harvest in downtown Mesa.

In addition, the family does corporate events and travels around the state.

They can do favors, popcorn bars, and personalized packaging.

“We’re trying to spread out,” said Wilson. “We’re trying to get our name out and get to as many places as we can.”

Daughter Lindsay Richardson handles social media, answers emails, goes to events and takes photos.

“It’s fun for me because I’m a stay-athome mom in Queen Creek,” Richardson said. “So, getting out and doing events in farmers markets and talking to people and making friends with other vendors is a lot of fun.”

The snack appeals to just about all diets.

“We are nut-free, we’re soy-free, we’re gluten-free and we’re vegan-friendly,” explained Wilson. “We use corn oil, popping

Michael and Ann Wilson opened What’s Poppin ‘Kettle Corn two years ago in Mesa. (Melody

Birkett/Tribune Contributor) corn, sugar, and a dash of salt after it’s all been popped in the kettle.”

Kettle corn has a hint of caramel. “That’s the sugar caramelizing on the corn but it’s not so heavy,” according to Wilson.

“It’s a really popular item. People really love kettle corn and come back speci�ically for ours when we’re at events.”

The family pops and hand-stirs the kettle corn on-site at events in a kettle that looks like a big wok. It takes �ive minutes to make a batch and roughly another �ive minutes to bag it up, depending on the size.

“People who know us prefer us,” said Richardson. “People are really picky about their kettle corn, I’ve learned.”

The corn comes from a local vendor who gets it from Illinois. “The type of corn we use is a speci�ic type of corn and it makes it �luffy with the right amount of crunch,” Richardson explained. “It just melts in your mouth. Customers pick up on that and they come back. There is a difference in the quality of the corn.”

Eventually, the business might expand into other �lavors but for now, the focus is on getting a second popper so they can do two events on a weekend.

Information: whatspoppinkettlecor-

naz.com, 480-277-4584 ■

Mesa tech �irm develops safe kids smartphone

TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF

Atech start-up in Mesa has developed a fully functional smartphone for kids that gives parents unlimited monitoring ability and can provide some insight into a child’s mental health.

Cyber Dive says its Aqua One device lists a child’s every text message, search history, social media activity and other uses on a web application.

Cyber Dive said it also “has integrated the Aqua One with its patent-pending Mental Health Check created with insight from the company’s clinical child psychologist.”

Cyber Dive is offering a chance to pre-order for $69 a month with nothing down and no contract for the phone, the Aqua One smartphone device, access to Cyber Dive’s parental monitoring web application, unlimited nationwide cellular service with 5 GB of ultra-high-speed data, unlimited talk and text and unlimited free phone replacements.

“Cyber Dive believes that limiting a child’s smartphone capabilities often leads to de�iant behavior as children are shielded from the reality of the online world rather than being taught how to navigate it responsibly,” the company said in a release. “The Aqua One is a custom Android smartphone built in response to that belief.”

With the assistance of in-house clinical child psychologist Dr. Jackie Henretig, Cyber Dive developed questions that assess a child’s overall safety, family communication, connectedness to others and general mental state.