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A Strategy for Understanding Readiness to Implement Universal Mental Health Screening

Pursuant to Recommendation 9 in the February 2023 Blueprint for Transformation: A Vision for Improved Behavioral Healthcare for Illinois Children reportPDF Document and in accordance with Public Act 103-0885, ISBE has developed a strategic approach supported by the release of a Readiness Tool to understand school districts' capacity to implement universal mental health screening of all students in Illinois.

The 2023 Landscape Scan on Mental Health Screening Practices in Illinois SchoolsPDF Document recommended that Illinois implement a phased approach to universal mental health screening of all K-12 students enrolled in public school districts. ISBE has worked with key partners to develop a Readiness Tool that identifies essential elements that are needed for districts to successfully implement a feasible universal mental health screening plan. This survey instrument will gauge the current readiness of each district to implement universal mental health screening using 13 questions based on findings from the Landscape Scan rated on a 4-point Likert scale. This Readiness Tool has been loaded into ISBE's IWAS system as a survey for school districts to complete. The survey will be open from October 1 – November 26, 2024. A Frequently Asked QuestionsPDF Document document is available to support school districts' understanding of universal mental health screening as they complete the tool.  Thank you to the Illinois Children's Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative Team, the Illinois Department of Public Health, and the Division of Academic Internal Medicine at the University of Illinois Chicago for their collaboration in developing this tool.

Results from the survey will be used to determine each district's overall readiness level through empirically derived metrics based on each district's responses. This analysis will be iterative based on the output of the Readiness Tool, and technical documentation will be provided to accompany the phasing recommendations. This approach ensures that the phased implementation of universal mental health screening is grounded in reliable data and thorough analysis. The analysis will inform ISBE's prioritization of activities and resources needed for successful implementation of universal mental health screening. The results also may be used to compare schools within larger districts to identify areas for more targeted support toward readiness.

Please email ISBE at mentalhealth@isbe.net with any questions.​

 2023 Landscape Scan Activities

​Pursuant to Recommendation 9 in the February 2023 Blueprint for Transformation: A Vision for Improved Behavioral Healthcare for Illinois ChildrenPDF Document report and in accordance with Public Act 103-0546, ISBE administered a landscape scan of all school districts in Illinois regarding mental and behavioral health screening of students. ISBE released a report about this landscape scan on December 15, 2023. Read or download a copy of the report titled “Lessons Learned: A Landscape Scan of Mental Health Screening  Practices in Illinois Schools” here​PDF Document.​​

Mental and Behavioral Health Screenging Landscape Scan Listening Sessions

ISBE collaborated with the seven Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Hubs across the state to host many listening sessions throughout the summer and fall of 2023 as part of this landscape scan. The information below contains​ the locations of each SEL Hub in Illinois, which each hosted one or more virtual or in-person listening sessions to provide an opportunity for districts and community members, including students, to offer input about mental and behavioral health screening in schools. The listening sessions have now concluded. Please email mentalhealth@isbe.net with any questions.

 

The seven Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Hubs in Illinois are housed at six Regional Offices of Education (ROEs) throughout the state and Chicago Public Schools (CPS).

  • Chicago: CPS SEL Hub, serving schools in the city of Chicago
  • Chicago Suburbs/Northeastern: Area 1 SEL Hub, led by DuPage ROE and serving the Professional Development Alliance of Will, Grundy, and Kendall Counties; West 40 Intermediate Service Center (ISC); North Cook ISC; South Cook ISC; Kane County ROE; and McHenry County ROE
  • Northwestern: Area 2 SEL Hub, led by ROE 4, and serving ROEs 8, 16, 28, 35, 47, and 49
  • West Central: Area 3 SEL Hub, led by ROE 1 and serving ROEs 26, 33, 48, 51, and 53
  • East Central: Area 4 SEL Hub, led by ROE 39 and serving ROEs 9, 11, 17, 32, and 54
  • Southwest: Area 5 SEL Hub, led by ROE 40 and serving ROEs 3, 41, 45, and 50
  • Southern: Area 6 SEL Hub, led by ROE 21 and serving ROEs 12, 13, 20, and 30​

Mental and Behavioral Health Screening Feedback Form

ISBE released a feedback form to all school districts in early June 2023. The form was open for submissions until September 8, 2023. This feedback form was an opportunity for districts or other public entities that provide school programming to public school students in Illinois to offer input about mental and behavioral health screening in schools. Please email mentalhealth@isbe.net​ with any questions.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Past Listening Sessions

Please click here to access the slide deck used at each listening sessionPDF Document.

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