There are thousands of hurting children in Indiana. They are in the child welfare system due to abuse or neglected home. They struggle in school due to life trauma or challenges and they face mental health issues. At child advocates, we serve foster children. We help children succeed in school and we host workshops to create collaborative workplaces and caring communities and to nurture a sense of

belonging for all children and youth. We seek justice, access to opportunity, and well-being

for children. Learn more at child advocates.net. Illinois becomes the first state to mandate

annual mental health screenings for public school students in grades three through 12.

What does that mean?

This law is going to take effect in the 27, 28 school year, and parents can opt their children

out of the screenings.

Oh.

The screenings will be self-conducted via digital or paper forms.

They're intended to flag early signs of depression, anxiety, or trauma, not diagnose them.

And then what?

Let's say your kid answers something and they have an early sign of that.

What does like the DCS people show up or like what?

Why is this the school's job? That's your job as a parent. Right. I mean, am I, am I. Doesn't it

seem like it's a bit of an overstep? Well, and that's my question is what's the end goal with this? Like,

why is the school, why is the government at all qualified to be

engaging in this? And what's some generic answer on a piece of paper? And then what? Like I said,

then what? You send in the, send in the army? Like what, why would you do this? Yeah, I'm with you.

This sounds like a horrible

idea. The state superintendent said that this is a shift from reaction to prevention

in regards to students' mental health. This is the job of mom and dad. Yeah. You're right. And this is another example of the government trying to usurp your

that authority say that we know better. And I would be, I mean, and then here's the thing. You can opt out for now.

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