Holding Space with West40

When school staff roles are unclear, social workers become overwhelmed, teachers feel unsupported, and students slip through the cracks. How can schools leverage the MTSS framework to define responsibilities clearly across intervention, maintenance, and crisis situations?

In this episode of Holding Space with West40, host Lezlie Fuhr sits down with MTSS Consultant Dr. Samantha Mullins to untangle role ambiguity in schools. Together, they outline an actionable blueprint showing exactly how classroom teachers, mental health specialists, and administrators can collaborate effectively at every level of student support while protecting specialist time.

• Key Takeaways:

• What high-functioning, collaborative school teams look like in daily practice.

• Root causes of social worker role confusion and how MTSS provides structural clarity.

• Division of responsibilities across Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 SEL supports.

• Actionable workflows for the 3 phases: Intervention, Maintenance, and Crisis Response.

• How administrators can protect specialist schedules and troubleshoot common team breakdowns.

• Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Dr. Samantha Mullins MTSS Consulting/Resources: 

• Website: https://mtssbydesign.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mtssbydesign/

• West40 Intermediate Service Center: https://www.west40.org/ 

• Project AWARE Grant Information: https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/children-and-families/school-health/project-aware

• West40 Grants Network Coming Soon! 

• Interested in learning more about grants. Sign up here!

Building meaningful, collaborative relationships with families is essential for student success, yet navigating sensitive conversations around mental health, evaluations, and behavioral support can feel intimidating. How can school teams establish proactive trust early, handle delicate discussions with care, and keep parents engaged for long-term home-school carryover?

In this episode host Lezlie Fuhr is joined by Stephanie Jones (Education Attorney at F3 Law & Parent). She shares practical frameworks for proactive family engagement, scripts for crucial conversations, strategies for reframing parent defensiveness, and actionable ways to ensure home-school alignment.

Key Takeaways:

• Essential mindsets for building proactive trust with parents before a crisis occurs.

• Practical strategies and language for navigating crucial, delicate student conversations.

• Reframing parent defensiveness through a trauma-informed and protective lens.

• Methods to keep families engaged and empowered for consistent home-school carryover.

• F3 Law (Fagen Friedman & Fulfrost LLP): [https://www.f3law.com/ 

• First Fridays Forum: https://www.f3law.com/first-fridays-forum/ 

• West40 Intermediate Service Center: https://www.west40.org/ 
• Project AWARE Grant Information: https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/children-and-families/school-health/project-aware 

Interested in learning more about grants. Sign up here!

With Illinois introducing universal mental health screening requirements in 2027, many educators, social workers, and administrators are asking: How will this actually work in our building?

In this episode of Holding Space with West40, host Lezlie Fuhr is joined by Sarah Schroeder from the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS). Together, they unpack the vision behind universal mental health screening, address common fears around capacity and parent consent, and share what thoughtful preparation looks like and sounds like as districts prepare for 2027.

• Key Takeaways:

• The purpose, scope, and timeline of Illinois' 2027 universal mental health screening initiative.

• Addressing staff trepidation around caseloads, privacy, and parent consent.

• How to select screening tools and establish triage protocols before rolling out.

• What successful screening implementation looks like, sounds like, and feels like in practice.

• Actionable steps districts can take today to prepare their teams and community partnerships.

• Resources & Links Mentioned:

• IDHS:

• BEACON (Behavioral Health Care and Ongoing Navigation): 

•  https://beacon.illinois.gov/

• ISBE:

• Mental and Behavioral Health Screening: https://www.isbe.net/Pages/mentalhealthscreening.aspx 

• Universal Mental Health Screening Non-Regulatory Guidance for School Districts - August 2026

• West40 Intermediate Service Center: https://www.west40.org/ 

• Project AWARE Grant Information: https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/children-and-families/school-health/project-aware 

• West40 Grants Network Coming Soon! 

• Interested in learning more about grants. Sign up here!

Students today navigate a digital ecosystem that looks vastly different than it did just a few years ago. From turning to AI chatbots for emotional support and facing AI deepfakes, to leveraging digital tools for executive functioning and community connection—technology in schools is a true double-edged sword.

In this episode, host Lezlie Fuhr sits down with Jane Kim, founder of KindEd, to explore how educators, school clinicians, and parents can protect students from digital harms while leveraging modern technology as a tool for good.

Resources and Links:

• KindEd Organization & Resources: https://kind-ed.org/

• Contact KindEd: https://kind-ed.org/contactus/

• West40 Intermediate Service Center: https://www.west40.org/ 

• Project AWARE Grant Information: https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/children-and-families/school-health/project-aware

  • West40 Grants Network Coming Soon! 

  • Interested in learning more about grants. Sign up here!