Wisconsin School-Based Mental Health Initiative Gets Big Boost

By Erin Cahill.
Updated Oct 15, 2021

MADISON, Wis. (PRWEB) October 15, 2021 - The WEA Member Benefits Foundation, Inc. is launching a pilot project to provide financial support for school-based mental health services for K-12 students throughout Wisconsin. Together with a sister organization, WEA Trust, the Foundation will commit $200,000 this year to demonstrate an effective funding model for school-based mental health programs.

David Kijek, President and CEO of WEA Member Benefits and the WEA Member Benefits Foundation, called the pilot project a statewide model that can bring more philanthropic dollars to the table to help our public schools strengthen their mental health services for students. This is consistent with WEA Member Benefits commitment to the well-being of teachers and public education across Wisconsin.

WEA Trust, whose group health insurance programs have had a long history serving Wisconsin public schools, sees the opportunity to reduce both employee and student health care costs. WEA Trusts CEO, Vaughn Vance, added, School districts throughout Wisconsin are experiencing an increased need for mental health services by employees and students alike. That is why we are so excited about this pilot effort and our partnership with WEA Member Benefits Foundation.

Steve Goldberg, WEA Member Benefits Foundation Executive Director and former executive director of the CUNA Mutual Foundation, will oversee this pilot project. According to Goldberg, There is an important role for private philanthropy to help address the need for school-based mental health. We are committed to building broader corporate philanthropic support for programs like this. The early funding by WEA Trust and the Foundation is an important first step.

Interest from funders is growing. One corporate foundation has issued a $50,000 grant to the Madison Metropolitan School District to fund a student mental health program at Leopold Elementary School as a result of discussions with the Member Benefits Foundation. Several other corporate donors have contributed a total of $30,000 to the pilot. The full statewide pilot project is scheduled to launch in early 2022.

More information about the WEA Member Benefits Foundation, Inc., and the school-based mental health pilot project can be found at http://www.weafoundation.org.

About the WEA Member Benefits Foundation, Inc. The WEA Member Benefits Foundation, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity supporting public education through grants and charitable donations to public educators, public schools, and the communities they serve. More information can be found at https://weafoundation.org/.

About WEA Member Benefits WEA Member Benefits has been helping Wisconsin public school employees achieve their financial goals for nearly fifty years by providing personal insurance and retirement and investment programs. Learn more at https://weabenefits.com/.

About the WEA Trust Established in 1970, the not-for-profit organization was founded by the Wisconsin Education Association Council to provide enhanced financial security to public school educators throughout Wisconsin. Over time, the organization has expanded to include the WEA Insurance Corporation, Health Tradition Health Plan, Inc., and NeuGen, LLC. Together, these companies provide a diverse choice of high quality, high value health plans throughout Wisconsin that serve both public and private sector employees throughout the state.