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Speaker Bio

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Sonya Kuznetsov Duffy, Ed.S, NCSP

SHAPE Specialist, Minnesota Department of Education 

Sonya Kuznetsov Duffy (she/her) is a School Psychologist, who has held roles in special education  leadership across the metro. Currently, Sonya serves as the SHAPE Specialist at the Minnesota Department of Education. In this role, she supports Project AWARE grantees and districts across the state in the implementation and continuous improvement of their school mental health systems via the SHAPE System. She enjoys partnering with adult learners and leads a cohort to provide space for learning and collaboration for those interested in Comprehensive School Mental Health.

Breakout 1C

Rethinking Screening:
Aligning Mental Health Supports with Capacity

Sonya Kuznetsov Duffy & Cara McGlynn

Have you hesitated to implement universal behavioral and emotional screening due to concerns about limited staff capacity for Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions? You are not alone. Many districts recognize the value of early identification but struggle with the practical realities of implementation. This session presents a practical, equity-centered framework for aligning screening with existing staff capacity using serviceable base rates. Grounded in MTSS and implementation science, participants will explore system readiness, strengthen Tier 1 supports, prioritize interventions, and use screening data effectively across school, classroom, and individual levels. Drawing on Northeast Metro 916’s implementation journey, attendees will leave with practical tools and actionable strategies to build sustainable, responsive school mental health systems without overwhelming staff capacity.

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Learning Objectives:

  1. Identify common barriers to universal screening & explain its role in early identification within MTSS.

  2. Apply equity-centered practices to reduce bias and improve culturally responsive identification and intervention planning.

  3. Use serviceable base rates to align Tier 2 and Tier 3 supports with student need and assess system readiness.

  4. Apply tools, data protocols, and implementation strategies to strengthen sustainable screening systems at multiple levels.

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CEUs: 1.5 BOSW Clinical

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