Davis County families can sign up for free, confidential mental health screenings for children in preschool through 6th grade on Wednesday, Nov. 18, at Davis Behavioral Health in Layton.
Registration closes Friday, Nov. 13. Families can sign up at dbhutah.org/screening or by calling 801-336-1742.
The event is sponsored by Davis HELPS, Davis Behavioral Health, the Davis School District, the Davis County Health Department and Utah State University (USU) Extension, as reported by the Davis Journal.
Each child and parent will meet one-on-one with a licensed mental health professional. The screening focuses on social and emotional needs, anxiety, depression, trauma and safety concerns.
The event is not a full psychological evaluation, and no clinical diagnosis will be made.
Families complete a brief online questionnaire during registration. At the appointment, a mental health professional reviews the results with the family and provides personalized recommendations or referrals if follow-up care is needed. Local agencies will also be on-site to connect families with community resources.
Teresa Smith, coalition coordinator for Davis HELPS at the Davis County Health Department, said screenings are "a simple, confidential way to check in on your child's emotional well-being," according to the Davis Journal. Smith said the process can help start conversations that lead to additional resources and support.
Christi Blankman, K-12 prevention coordinator for the Davis School District, said the event aims to "help all youth and families identify areas of concern and connect them to local resources as needed," the Davis Journal reported.
