***NEWS RELEASE***
For Immediate Release
August 11, 2025
CONTACT:
Hamilton Strategies, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Bogucki 610.584.1096, ext. 105, Dawn Foglein, ext. 100, or Richard Jefferson, rjefferson@hamiltonstrategies.com
‘Outrageous’ Illinois law set to misidentify millions of children with mental health issues through mandatory school screenings
‘Leftist lawmakers are ensuring that the government has more say in a child’s life than the parents,’ says Dr. Alex McFarland
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Experts, lawmakers and parents alike are outraged at a new Illinois state law that will require annual mental health screenings for public school students from grades 3 through 12 starting in the 2027-2028 school year. Proponents of the controversial law insist the screenings will identify early signs of depression, anxiety or trauma, but many fear millions of children will be incorrectly labeled and funneled into the mental health system, causing irreparable harm. Parents will be able to opt out of the self-conducted screenings, but critics are worried that the damage will already be done.
“Government overreach has reached a new level of outrageous,” said youth, culture and religion expert Dr. Alex McFarland. “Leftist lawmakers are ensuring that the government has more say in a child’s life than the parents. This law is just another example of how liberal lawmakers are determined to undermine the traditional family unit and insert the government as the head of the house. Woke mental health specialists will be ready to slap a label on perfectly healthy children and medicate them unnecessarily. Children are not the property of the state — they belong first to God, then to their parents. Can’t we just let children be children? We cannot allow children to be channeled through the mental health maze for no reason. Conservatives and concerned parents alike must fight against this tyranny before it’s too late.”
Alex McFarland currently co-hosts Exploring the Word on the American Family Radio Network, airing daily on nearly 200 radio stations across the U.S. He is also the host of the “Alex McFarland Show,” which airs weekly on NRB TV and YouTube. The “Alex McFarland Show” podcast is available here.
McFarland and theologian Bert Harper, veteran cohosts of the nationally syndicated broadcast Exploring the Word, are proud to announce the launch of their latest book, “100 Bible Questions and Answers for Families.” A follow-up to their previous work, “100 Bible Questions and Answers,” this powerful new book promises to guide Christians through some of the most common challenges and queries people have about God, the Bible, and Christian living.
Alex McFarland has authored or co-authored more than 20 books, including the newly released “100 Bible Questions & Answers for Families,” “10 Issues that Divide Christians,” “The God You Thought You Knew,” “10 Answers for Skeptics,” “10 Answers for Atheists,” “The 21 Toughest Questions Your Kids Will Ask About Christianity,” published by Focus on the Family, and more.
McFarland is a frequent guest on Fox News and has been interviewed by other media outlets including Fox and Friends, Focus On The Family radio, NPR’s All Things Considered, The New York Times, The Washington Post, BBC, CBN, La Vie (France), and various news outlets including CBS, FOX, NBC, CSPAN, SRN, and the Associated Press (AP) wire service. He is a contributing writer in print and electronic media, including LA Times, Boston Herald, OK- Celebrity News Magazine, Christianity Today, Charisma, On Mission, Billy Graham’s Decision Magazine and more.
Learn more about Alex McFarland Ministries at its website, Facebook and Instagram pages, or X feed.
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To schedule interviews with Alex McFarland, contact Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Bogucki, 610.584.1096 ext. 105, Dawn Foglein, ext. 100, or Richard Jefferson, rjefferson@hamiltonstrategies.com.
