Dear Parents/Guardians:
Chadron High School is participating once again in overall wellness for students. The BIMAS-2 (Behavioral Intervention Monitoring Assessment System) universal screening tool is a brief social/emotional survey and each screener takes less than five minutes to complete.
This universal screener is free and the results are confidential. The screener will be administered in conjunction with our physical health screeners (starting September 25th) to help support students. Students in grades 9-12 will complete the self-report survey on the same day we conduct physical health screenings.
Universal screening continues to be commonplace today in our pre-K-12 schools. In education, we screen all students for academics, hearing, vision, and physical well-being. Mental wellness is just as vital to student success as these other factors. Chadron Public Schools are committed to working with you to ensure your student’s academic success and well-being both inside and outside the classroom.
If you would prefer that your child NOT participate in the BIMAS-2 please complete the digital form below It must be submitted by Thursday, September 12th.
If you have any questions please contact your child’s building principal or school counselor.
I request that my child OPT-OUT and NOT participate in the universal screening using BiMAS. If you have multiple students in high school please fill out multiple Opt Out Forms for each student.
If you’d like a hard copy of this OPT out form we have them available at the high school office for students or parents to pick up.
BIMAS-2 FAQs
What is a Behavioral Universal Screener?
It is a tool used to help identify students who are at risk of future academic, behavioral, or emotional difficulties. Just like some students benefit from additional academic support and interventions, we know some students would benefit from additional support to strengthen their behavioral, social, and emotional skills.
What is the universal screener being used?
The screener being used is the Behavior Intervention Monitoring Assessment System, or BIMAS-2™. It assesses behavior concerns and social-emotional wellness. It is not a diagnostic tool. It asks students who are ages 12 to 18, to self-report their behaviors and emotions over the most recent 7 days.
How will the tool be administered?
Students will complete a one-page questionnaire that takes approximately five minutes to complete during a portion of the student health screener.
Why do Chadron Public Schools use the BIMAS-2™ screener?
This screener can help us identify students who are at risk of academic, behavioral, or emotional difficulties and provide additional support to strengthen these skills. The tool also allows us to monitor and track students’ behavioral health over time, looking for any changes that could be a concern.
The data generated will also help us determine district and school-wide programs, interventions, and training needs for staff and can analyze and evaluate which school initiatives are effective and identify opportunities for improvement.
What type of questions are on the screener?
The following are examples of questions included on the screener:
During the past week, I shared my thoughts with others.
During the past week, I had trouble paying attention.
During the past week, I followed directions.
During the past week, I was sad or withdrawn.
For each question, the student will answer “never,” “rarely,” “sometimes,” “often,” or “very often.”
You can access a copy of the Standard Form online.
Can this screener be used to diagnose mental health or other psychological disorders?
No. This is a behavioral screener, NOT a diagnostic tool. If you are concerned about your child’s mental health, contact your pediatrician or your school’s Counseling Office for a list of local therapists, agencies and other resources to support your child.
