Local Solutions :
meaningful change in our community
CASEL
The collaborative for academic, social and emotional learning CASEL, is committed to improve children’s understanding through community based solutions. Their session is to make SEL an integral part of education at all ages, they hope this will create caring, responsible and engaged learners who will work together to build a better future. Systemic SEL is their main approach which actively lets students from pre k to 12th grade to grow their SEL skills. The goal is to implement SEL in all aspects of a students life so they build skills, in class at home and other places with peers, to better their connection with others and the world around them.
RULER
Promoting five main skills for emotional intelligence, recognizing emotions in oneself and others, understanding the causes and consequences of emotion, labeling emotions with nuanced vocabulary, expressing emotion in accordance with cultural norms and social context, regulating emotion with helpful strategies. They create change through working with teachers to promote engagement and quality relations with and between students. RULER is implemented in phases starting with staff and moving on to students and families. Students and schools working with RULER have experienced Increased emotional support as well as improved academic achievement and greater collaboration and friendliness between students.
SB 1560 and BEACON
A recently passed state bill that mandates mental health screenings in all schools for students aged kindergarten to 12th grade at the beginning of every school year. This policy is set to begin in the 2027-28 school year and is part of the state’s initiative to expand mental health care and fight the mental health epidemic amongst youth. . This program works with the BEACON program which is a state funded resource for mental health care and awareness.
BEACON is a program run by the State of Illinois which helps families find mental and behavioral health providers, understand the needs and next steps for their child, and helps to upload and receive documents regarding mental health.