CHICAGO, Ill.– A bill connecting children and teens to mental health support spearheaded by state Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, D-Chicago, became law Thursday guaranteeing universal mental health screenings for public school students grades 3 through 12.
“No child should have to struggle in silence, especially in our public school system. This bill is a proactive step toward making sure we can integrate early detection, because too often warning signs are missed or dismissed, and kids fall through the cracks,” said LaPointe. “I’m proud to work alongside our state’s behavioral healthcare advocates, including our Children’s Behavioral Health Officer, to ensure our public schools have the tools to connect students and families with real support — early and directly.”
LaPointe’s Senate Bill 1560 will require Illinois public schools to offer age-appropriate, confidential mental health screenings to proactively identify mental health concerns and link students with necessary support. Designed with families in mind, the bill includes a parental opt-out provision, protects student privacy, and offers public school districts free access to screening tools.
The law will go into effect at the start of the 2027-2028 public school year.
For more information, please contact Info@RepLaPointe.com or 773-647-1174.
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