Colorado students could receive annual mental health screenings under Democratic bill

Content from CHI’s report, Reaching Kids Before the Crisis: Leveraging Universal School-Based Mental Health Screenings, was cited in this March 20 Colorado Newsline story about House Bill 23-1003, which passed the House Monday and moves to the Senate for consideration. The bill would allow public schools to participate in a voluntary mental health screening program for sixth through twelfth graders, referring them to treatment if needed.

The article quoted this passage from the report: “Schools are uniquely positioned to help address this (mental health) crisis by meeting youth where they already spend most of their day. Screening all students for social and emotional needs strengthens prevention, detection, and early intervention.”