What happens after a student completes a mental health screening? That question was at the heart of a recent professional learning opportunity hosted by the Regional Office of Education #26 and Area 3 SEL Hub.
On October 13 & 14, 2026, school administrators, counselors, social workers, and other education professionals gathered virtually for “From Screening to Support: Preparing for Universal Mental Health Screening.” Facilitated by Kate Mallory, ROE #26 Director of Social-Emotional Learning and Support, the training focused on helping schools prepare for Illinois' upcoming Universal Mental Health Screening (UMHS) requirements.
Beginning with the 2027–2028 school year, Illinois schools will be required to offer annual mental health screening to students in grades 3–12. The goal is to identify potential concerns earlier, including challenges that may not be visible through classroom behavior or academic performance.
Throughout the session, participants explored practical steps for developing a successful screening process, including selecting appropriate screening tools, establishing implementation teams, communicating with families, protecting student information, and developing procedures for reviewing results.
A central message was that screening is only the beginning. Identifying a student's needs is meaningful only when schools have systems to respond. Participants discussed connecting screening results to Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), collaborating with families, accessing community mental health resources, and ensuring referrals lead to actual services.
Through real-world scenarios and collaborative discussion, educators considered essential questions: Who takes the next step? How will families be connected with resources? And how will schools know whether students received the support they needed?
Participants also learned about available resources, including Resilience-Supportive Schools Illinois (RSSI), BEACON, MARO, and the ROE26 IRIS referral system and were encouraged to identify at least one action they could take within 30 days to strengthen their school's readiness, reinforcing that successful implementation begins with thoughtful planning and collaboration. Representatives from 11 school districts across ROE26's four-county service area attended which demonstrates a strong regional commitment to preparing schools to identify and respond to students' mental health needs.”
As schools prepare for this important initiative, ROE26 and the Area 3 SEL Hub remain committed to providing guidance, resources, and professional learning opportunities. Because the true value of screening isn't simply identifying a concern, it's making sure no student is left wondering where to turn for help. For more information, contact Kate Mallory at [email protected].