The Power of Universal Mental Health Screening:
What We Love and What We’re Concerned About
At iCARE4 Adoptive And Foster Families, we’re always looking for ways to better support children and families in the foster, adoptive, and kinship systems. Policies that prioritize trauma-informed education, school stability, and mental health support create better outcomes for children in care. We’re committed to advocating for policies that reflect the unique needs of adopted, foster and kinship children.
Universal mental health screening(ILCS 105) is one of the tools gaining traction as a way to help identify children who may need extra support. It’s an exciting prospect, but like any new initiative, there are things we absolutely love—and a few things we are cautious about. Here’s what we think about universal mental health screenings and how we’re making sure it works for the kids and families who need it most.
What We Love About Universal Screening
- Early Identification
Mental health screening can help identify emotional and behavioral concerns early, giving children the best chance to get the help they need before issues become more ingrained. - Support for Families
By identifying mental health needs early on, screenings can also lead to early interventions for the whole family. Attachment-based therapies and trauma-informed care can help strengthen bonds between children and their caregivers, supporting the family unit as a whole. - Access to Resources
Screenings can open the door to much-needed resources—whether that’s counseling, mental health services, or school-based support—to help children thrive both at home and in school. - Breaking Down Barriers
Universal screenings are an important step toward destigmatizing mental health challenges and showing families that they are not alone in facing these issues. It can normalize seeking help and provide families with more options.
What We’re Concerned About
While we’re excited about the potential of universal mental health screening, there are a few things we want to be mindful of to make sure it’s done right. Social workers and school mental health professionals have the kindness, expertise, and dedication to help students overcome challenges, build resilience, and thrive. With education and training on adoptive, foster and kinship children, they can see the whole child—not just their struggles, but their potential.
- The Risk of Misunderstanding
A screening doesn’t provide a complete picture. Factors like trauma history, family dynamics, and cultural differences might not be captured, which can lead to incomplete or inaccurate assessments. - The Danger of Labeling
It’s important that we don’t jump to conclusions or label children prematurely. While early identification is valuable, we need to be careful about placing children into categories that could follow them throughout their lives without offering the right support. - Resource Gaps
Identifying mental health needs is just the first step. Without access to the right resources—like counseling, trained school professionals, and support services—screenings could lead to frustration rather than solutions. This is why we are passionate about ensuring families have the resources they need to act on the results of screenings. - Parental Involvement
We can’t emphasize this enough—parents and caregivers must be a part of the process. Without proper communication and involvement, screening results might be misinterpreted, and the child’s well-being might be compromised. - Misdiagnosis and Medication
Another concern we have is the risk of misdiagnosing the problem and then over-relying on medication or being prescribed the wrong medications. Many trauma symptoms overlap with mental illness symptoms and only a complete social-emotional, medical and family history can give the full picture. Psychiatric drugs are very potent, often difficult to get right, and can have serious side effects. Careful monitoring and ongoing evaluation are essential to ensure the safety and well-being of children, particularly when it comes to younger children in foster or adoptive care.
When Done Right, Universal Screening Can Be a Game-Changer
At iCARE, we are committed to making sure that universal screenings are more than just a check-the-box exercise. We believe that when screenings are paired with proper trauma-informed training and adoption competency—for both the screeners and school professionals—this process can be a gateway to helping foster, adoptive, and kinship families access the support they truly need.
- Trauma-Informed Screeners:
Screeners trained in understanding the impact of trauma on children can better interpret results and ensure children get the right interventions that are sensitive to their needs. - Attachment-Based Interventions:
When children are screened early and receive the right support, attachment-based therapies can help strengthen their relationships with caregivers, leading to better outcomes for the whole family. - Creating a Supportive Environment:
With School-Based Mental Health Training for Adoption Competency, school professionals are equipped with the tools to recognize the unique needs of foster and adoptive children and respond with appropriate care.
Moving Forward Together
At the end of the day, our goal is simple: to ensure that every foster, adoptive, and kinship child has access to a supportive, trauma-informed school and mental health system that helps them thrive emotionally and academically. Universal mental health screening can be a powerful tool in achieving this—but it has to be done with care, with the right training, and with the support of everyone involved.
We’re excited to continue advocating for better resources, training, and policies to support these children and their families. If you want to learn more about how we’re supporting schools and families, or if you’d like to get involved, reach out to us anytime!
Thank you for being part of this important work—together, we can make a difference in the lives of children and families across Illinois!