WAUSAU, WI (WSAU-WAOW) – The Marathon County Board of Supervisors approved $70,000 for mental health resources in county schools.
At their meeting Tuesday officials said the funding comes on top of existing programs that have allowed students to get the resources they need without having to leave the school district. Funding for the county’s mental health initiative was going to expire this year.
“This is not something that we are creating or manufacturing. This is something that is in those children,” said Lee Shipway, the former executive director for Peaceful Solutions Counseling.
Some supervisors had been skeptical about how much responsibility should be placed on school staff. “We’re taking away what should be parental rights and responsibilities, and transferring that to the school system,” said county board supervisor David Baker.
Ann Lemmer, a board supervisor, who is also a teacher, said what had already been in place had benefitted her students long-term. “It was a big peace of mind knowing there’s one more arm of support for these kiddos that I have in my classroom,” she said.
Officials say the intent behind asking for the support was to keep the overall health of children a high priority. “If you had a child that had a sore throat and you take them to the pediatrician that wanted to see if it was strep throat and they’re going to treat that child, that’s all we’re trying to do is help children become healthier,” Shipway said.
The funding that’s been approved will create opportunities for kids to keep getting one-on-one mental health care.
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