Behavioral Health Screen - Grades 7

Yes, screening is confidential. In order to protect your child’s privacy, his/her screening results and related files will be stored separately from his/her academic records. Teachers will not be involved in the screening procedure. If program staff believes that your child is in some danger or is a danger to others, they are mandated by law to take action and notify appropriate personnel and/or necessary authorities.

All teens that complete a screening questionnaire will meet privately with program staff to: discuss any thoughts or concerns that came up for the teens while completing the screen that they would like to discuss; help the teens generate a list of people they could go to for help or to talk things over with when they have a problem; and to obtain their feedback about the screening experience.

Teens whose answers to the screening questionnaire reveal potential concerns about their emotional well-being will meet privately with a health professional. The purpose of this meeting is to further explore symptoms that came to light through the questionnaire, find out if these symptoms are causing any significant difficulties in the teen’s life and, if so, determine whether he/she might benefit from a more complete evaluation by a mental health or medical professional at a later date. At the conclusion of the private meeting, if the health professional has determined that a teen might benefit from such an evaluation, the teen will be told that his/her parent(s) will be contacted to discuss a recommendation for follow-up.

Because we believe screening should be completely voluntary, your child may refuse to participate or refuse to answer any questions during the screening. We will notify you by letter if your child chooses not to participate or is absent on the day of the screening.

The West Chester Area School District staff do not make any treatment recommendations. All possible treatment decisions are made by families in close consultation with a health professional of your choice after the completion of the BHS. Treatment recommendations are beyond the scope of the BHS.

The screening questionnaire was developed by Child’s Hospital and research has concluded that it is effective in identifying youth with possible emotional problems. However, the questionnaire results are not a medical diagnosis. Medical diagnoses are beyond the scope of the BHS.

Yes. If you wish to review the Universal Behavioral screening questionnaire, the assent form your child will be asked to sign prior to his/her participation in the program, or any instructional materials related to the screening, please submit a request to your child’s school, and you will be notified of the time and place where you may review these materials.

View the presentation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VN8pIb8gEQkfbblGb_c8EuaudK8-elLP/view