SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WGN) Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed a new state initiative into law on Thursday, which aims to promote better mental health for kids across the state.

Annual screenings would begin in the third grade if parents want their children to be part of the program. Pritzker says it’s a matter of providing a supportive environment statewide to encourage teen mental health, which Pritzker says the new initiative is all about. 

“As governor of this great state, as a father, and as a great advocate for mental health, this is an issue that is both important and very personal to me,” Pritzker said.

As part of the program, mental health screenings in Illinois schools will become a regular thing. The state’s Board of Education will work with children’s behavioral health experts on what guidance should be given to school districts. The goal is to implement the program starting in the fall of 2027. 

“Our goal is an integrated, comprehensive approach to quality mental and behavioral health services for young people across the state,” Pritzker said.

Experts will screen children beginning in third grade, every year, until they graduate. Dr. Dana Weiner helped develop the program. 

“Just as with vision and hearing screenings, parents can opt out if they wish,” Weiner said. “But what we have heard from families and from young people is that an annual check on sadness, worry, fear, and other problems would help to identify young people who need to talk before they experience the crisis that makes that require more serious, even hospital-based interventions.”

Six state agencies will be part of the initiative, Pritzker added.

“We will begin equipping school districts with the resources necessary to implement universal mental health screenings, just as we have been screening for vision, hearing challenges that students have had for many years,” the governor said. “We will now provide assessments for mental health.” 

Pritzker notes that Illinois is the first state to provide universal mental health screenings to public school kids.