West Shore SD aims to provide all youth with social, emotional, and behavioral health supports. Accordingly, West Shore SD confidentially administers the Behavioral Health Screen (BHS) to 7th and 9th grade students. The BHS is a validated survey developed by the Center for Family Intervention Science at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to identify risk for suicide and other factors associated with mental health concerns. The BHS consists of symptom, risk behavior, and resiliency trait scales that cover psychosocial areas suggested by best practice guidelines, including suicidality, mental health, substance use, trauma, self-harm, eating disorders, access to weapons, bullying, abuse, and community involvement.
For most students, the results of the screening indicate they are facing and responding to normal teenage experiences.
Alternatively, survey results may indicate a student is experiencing behavioral or mental health risk factors. If this is the case, a member of the Student Service team will respond with targeted levels of support, including contact with parents/guardians. This support can include conferencing with the student, providing educational resources to the student and family, referring to the Student Assistance Program, encouraging the use of Care Solace, and in some cases, making a recommendation for the student to be seen at crisis intervention.
There are three steps to the free, voluntary, and confidential screening process:
- Step 1: Students will complete a 10-15-minute computer-based questionnaire.
- Step 2: Students whose answers reveal an elevated at-risk profile will individually and confidentially meet with a trained mental health professional from the West Shore SD.
- Step 3: West Shore SD Student Service staff will contact you if your child’s survey indicates an elevated at-risk profile, as well as discuss recommendations for further evaluation of your child.
The West Shore SD provides the screening but does not provide further evaluation or treatment services. It is up to you to decide if you want to obtain any additional services for your child. Additionally, data secured from the BHS is confidentially stored within the screening platform and is not released to any third party.
At its core, this universal screener allows us to gain a deeper understanding of the individual and collective behavioral and mental health needs of, in this case, 7th and 9th grade students, and to respond with appropriate supports and interventions.
West Shore SD learning community as a whole continues to prioritize the behavioral and mental health needs of our staff and students. This universal screener is one tool at our disposal that allows us to systemically plan for and respond to this priority in the West Shore SD.