August 2023
Earlier this month, WEA Member Benefits Foundation’s inaugural golf fundraiser to support school-based mental health programs in Wisconsin’s public schools brought together nearly 200 supporters from across the state to The Oaks Golf Course in Cottage Grove.
The incredible turnout raised nearly $35,000 for school-based mental health. These donations will further fund and expand the pilot school-based mental health program the Foundation launched in 2021.
Why supporting mental health in schools is important
According to a Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction survey:
- 52% of students reported having anxiety.
- 34% of students said they were sad or hopeless every day.
- 22% of students reported harming themselves.
- 25% of female students have seriously considered suicide.
However, accessing mental health care is a challenge. The National Survey of Children’s Health found that 46% of Wisconsin school children with mental health conditions had somewhat or very difficult time obtaining care. In addition, Wisconsin’s school counselor to student ratio is half the national standard (America’s School Mental Health Report Card, 2022).
What is being done
WEA Member Benefits Foundation, Inc., is supporting students’ mental health through the establishment of funds for direct help and for emergency assistance. “The need for more active funding of school-based mental health is more critical than ever,” says WEA Member Benefits Foundation Executive Director, Steve Goldberg. “The school districts participating in our pilot program, Appleton, Racine, Sun Prairie, Madison, and Watertown, continue to make extremely productive use of the funds we’ve helped them secure. Some are training staff as social emotional coaches, others are helping offset high health insurance deductibles to help students afford treatments, another has added a trauma screen for elementary grades. So much more has been accomplished, and most of these initiatives would not have happened without our funding.”
A group effort
WEA Member Benefits Foundation partners include the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, the state Office of Children’s Mental Health, Wisconsin Education Association Council, and other state-wide organizations such as American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation and the American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact. These partners help increase the program’s impact in furthering school-based mental health programs.
Adds David Kijek, President and CEO of WEA Member Benefits, “The work the Foundation is doing is so important. We’re providing better access to kids for school based mental health services through Wisconsin public schools. The support of our sponsors and our donors is making that happen, and we plan to help more districts through these additional funds.” To learn more, support, and/or donate, please visit weafoundation.org.
THANK YOU to our sponsors
Double-Diamond Sponsor:
WEA Member Benefits Board of Trustees
Platinum Sponsors:
Oakbrook
Empower
Green Bay Education Association
Key Benefit Concepts, LLC
Gold Sponsors:
Shah Family in memory of Pankaj Shah
Dave and Wendy Kijek
HUB International
Silver Sponsors:
Newport-An Ascensus Company
Boardman Clark
Brown & Brown Insurance
Associates of Clifton Park
WEA Trust
von Briesen
Ridge Top Exteriors
Bronze Sponsors:
Skip and Janie Miller
Brian Grill
DeWitt Law Firm
Strohm Ballweg
US Cellular
Planet Technology