Step-by-Step Process for Conducting Universal Mental Health Screening

Universal screening is a research‐supported process for identifying students at risk of social, emotional, behavior, or academic challenges. Educators saw an increase in universal screening for academic challenges with the introduction of Response to Intervention ﴾RtI﴿ in 2004 special education legislation. With the increase in the use of the positive behavioral interventions and supports ﴾PBIS﴿ framework in schools over the past 10 years, schools have piloted universal screening for behavioral challenges. As increased federal funding is dedicated to the integration of school and community mental health services, educators are ﴾1﴿ examining ways to identify youth who could benefit from school‐based mental health services and ﴾2﴿ examining the availability of school‐based mental health services in their schools, districts, and larger communities.This session will teach district personnel how to implement the universal screening for mental health process from start to finish. The session will cover topics including screening readiness, resource mapping, gap analyses, screening tools that are cost‐effective and psychometrically strong, parental consent, collecting screening data, data analysis, data‐based decision making, and intervention implementation. District personnel will have the opportunity to practice resource mapping and identifying gaps in their tiered systems of support. Participants will explore the options for parental consent outlined by federal legislation. Participants will learn about the range of screening measures including the advantages and disadvantages to various tools. Participants will learn about the logistics of implementing the screening process in urban and rural school districts. Finally, participants will have practice analyzing universal screening data and using those data to inform decision‐making. This will be a hands‐on session for district personnel who would be responsible for coordinating or implementing the universal screening process in their districts