Schools, Mental Health and Trauma
The question surfaced at this year’s WCRIS Leadership Conference: What can private schools do to better support students with mental health needs and those who have undergone childhood trauma?
Momentum has been building in the state to strengthen the knowledge and resources within schools to better care for students who face these challenges, and it is important that private school leaders are aware of what’s available to them.
School-based mental health services have been springing up around Wisconsin, some through the coalition of public and private educators working together. One of the largest such organizations is the Coalition for Expanding School-based Mental Health. Smaller coalitions are emerging in Racine, the Fox Valley and Ashland, among other communities.
The Department of Public Instruction offers mental health and safety resources on its website and is sponsoring a summer institute to assist schools in further exploring the issues. “Creating Safe and Supporting School Communities Summer Institute” will be June 21 and 22 in Madison and will feature back-to-back, daylong sessions. The first will focus on social and emotional learning. The second will convene the “Third Annual Mental Health Coalition Summit.” More information about the Institute is available here.
In addition to these resources, the DPI is expected to release in mid-March a request for proposals for school-based mental health projects for the 2018-19 academic year. Consult with your public school district to see if there are opportunities to be a partner in that grant process.
A new section of the ESSA provides additional resources that could augment your mental health and safety efforts. Title IV Part-A, provides Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants. These funds were recently released to public school districts. While the funding for this follows the allocation for Title I services, school-based allocations are not tied to Title I funding. Students who attend a school without a Title I program are still eligible for these services.
Private school officials consult with public school officials on the use of funds to meet the needs of private school students. The public district must provide for their equitable participation. Your students’ inclusion in these funds should be covered in the Private School Affirmation Form you receive and sign from the local public school district/s from which your students come. For more information about Title IV-A grants and equitable services click here.
