All four of the school districts participating in our school-based mental health pilot project have made progress in matching the challenge grants we provided earlier this year and in using those funds to expand mental health services for their students.
Through the generosity of WEAC and WEA Trust, as well as American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation, American Family Institute for Corporate & Social Impact, Empower Retirement, and other donors, the total amount raised or secured for these school district mental health programs is $836,000 (above and beyond our original challenge grants) as of November 10, 2022.
The pilot districts are making thoughtful use of their funds by:
- Appleton: Strengthening mental health supports for elementary grade students.
- Racine: Reducing financial barriers (health insurance deductibles/copays) for low-income students. In the first month of this program, the district helped 30 students receive therapy they were previously unable to afford.
- Sun Prairie: Expanding existing programs, including restorative justice training for all staff.
- Watertown: Training coaches to provide ongoing social/emotional learning support for the entire district staff and teachers, and created a full-time mental health navigator position.
For more details on this update, please visit the Foundation news page.