Prevention- Early Intervention Trauma Programming

Mental Health Literacy

April 1, 2026

A lack of confidence and knowledge are key barriers for schools looking to implement Mental Health Literacy (MHL). MHL Aware and Reframe training models address these barriers by helping individuals and communities gain confidence and competence around a topic they might otherwise avoid. The introductory level of training focuses on educating individuals about 1) What MHL is, 2) Why it is beneficial, and 3) How they can bring this information to their community. In addition to these core focus areas, the training provides basic, real-world application strategies.

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Universal Classroom Strategies for Mental Health Awareness and Bullying Prevention

April 1, 2026

Children’s Wisconsin’s free health e-learning content provides a fun and engaging way to engage students is health education. Lessons, games and activities are organized by grade level, and some is available in Spanish. All content is brought to you by the health education experts at Children’s Wisconsin, one of the leading pediatric health systems in the country. Children’s E-Learning Center content brings important health and wellness concepts to life for students in five topic areas, including mental and emotional health, and bullying prevention. Mental and emotional health content is divided into grade level and includes interactive lessons, activities and games focus on education about mental and emotional health and raising awareness of common mental health issues.

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Behavioral Health Teams and Universal Mental Health Screening

April 1, 2026

This website helps schools who are on the journey to implementing behavioral health teams and universal mental health screening. CBHM is a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) designed to promote students’ social, emotional, and behavioral wellbeing. MTSS is a three-tier model of service delivery for educational and behavioral services in a school setting. This model is also often called Response to Intervention (RtI). In BPS, the Academic Achievement Framework (AAF) is a version of RtI focused on students’ social and behavioral learning. The Comprehensive Behavioral Health Model (CBHM) is focused on students’ social and behavioral learning. The goal of the CBHM Lighthouse model is to create safe and supportive learning environments in which students may grow and thrive academically, personally, and socially. This includes providing the right amount of services and supports at the right time when a student absolutely needs them.

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Suicide Screening and Risk Assessment for School-Based Mental Health Providers

April 1, 2026

This course is geared to school-based mental health professionals, but it can also be helpful for non-clinical staff to learn more about how to support students grappling with thoughts or feelings that place them at risk of suicide. Learn about:
-current data related to youth and suicide
-warning signs, risks and protective factors
-different tools, such as the Ask Suicide Screening Questionnaire (ASQ) and Stanley Brown Safety Plan Intervention
-strategies and practical tips for engaging youth around the topic of suicide and learn practical tips.

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Best Practices in Universal Mental Health Screening for Social, Emotional & Behavioral Outcomes: An Implementation Guide

April 1, 2026

Universal social, emotional, and behavioral (SEB) screening is increasingly being recognized as a foundational component of a comprehensive, multi-tiered system of school-based supports. The purpose of this guide is to summarize the current state of research and practice related to universal SEB screening and provide practical and defensible recommendations. (2026)

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School Wellness Resiliency Toolkit

April 1, 2026

The Resiliency Toolkit is a resource designed to promote resiliency in safe and supportive school and caregiving environments. This curated collection offers developmentally appropriate knowledge, tools, and guidance to help students, caregivers, and school personnel navigate both everyday challenges and broader systemic issues. The toolkit brings together best practices, reliable information, and trusted external resources to empower users as they identify needs, explore effective strategies, and access additional support.

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Illinois Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative

July 28, 2025

This webpage outlines the Illinois Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative, including the School Screening Readiness Report. This report identifies five key domains of readiness for universal mental health screening derived from the results of a readiness survey. It then articulates three recommended phases for implementation. Finally, it reviews existing mental health resources and services and those in development, along with implementation support, that will be provided by ISBE in areas of governance, oversight, and policy guidance. It concludes with a timeline for implementation of universal mental health screening in all school districts by the end of the 2027-28 school year.

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School Mental Health Readiness learning playlist – Document Library

July 15, 2025

Schools play a central and critical role in helping students build their capacity to cope with stress and life problems. research shows that the majority of students experiencing mental health challenges receive the help they need from staff in their school. This School Mental Health Readiness learning playlist equips school and district leaders, behavioral health professionals, and service providers with practical strategies to address student mental health needs. Topics include trauma-informed mental health screening, behavioral health teams, universal screening, and the Illinois School-Based Medicaid program. These courses provide actionable tools to create supportive school environments, secure funding, and promote student well-being and academic success. Intended audiences for these courses are school mental health team members and school administrators.

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SEL Staff Survey Needs Assessment Facilitator Guide

July 15, 2025

This is a complementary, step-by-step guide to completing CASEL’s SEL Staff Survey Needs Assessment tool, which is used as a starting point in supporting schools and districts in creating a safe, supportive school environment. Indicators guide how schools may demonstrate success in each area within the nine domains of SEL Staff Survey. Overall, the assessment tool provides suggestions for action planning that can be adjusted to meet the needs of the school and/or district using it. Resources to further support action planning can be found through the RSSI system as well as the Action Plan Facilitator Guide found here.

The School-based Staff SEL Implementation Survey is a tool used in the SEL pillar of the Resilient Supportive Schools Illinois (RSSI) initiative, and is designed to be taken by staff members working in one school setting. The data and results will support school-based SEL teams in collecting data on staff SEL implementation practices and perceptions.

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School Behavioral Health Team Readiness

July 15, 2025

This course will help school administrators and mental health staff understand the history of behavioral health teams (BHT) and how this teaming structure can help support mental health concerns. Explore how BHT aligns with the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) and other frameworks and reflect on current systems related to the role of school leaders, school-level teams, mental health supports, and partnerships with community-based providers. Then, get a team together and plan for the next steps needed to get your school ready for a BHT.

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