Much attention lately has been focused on kids in crisis. Behavioral incidents in the classroom have been increasing in both frequency and severity among all age groups, and truancy is up over 51% since the 2012-2013 school year for several local high schools. Collaboration among school districts, social services, law enforcement, mental health providers, and community organizations serving kids and families led to the development of Partnership for Youth’s (PfY) Diversion Pilot.
This project is prevention-focused to divert kids away from the justice system by increasing access and removing barriers to services, such as mental health counseling in a school-based setting. This pilot also works to ensure students are able to receive needed services and support regardless of their family’s insurance status or ability to pay for services.The pilot will be implemented in partnership with the Marathon County School-Based Counseling Consortium and other community partners.
Services will launch at Thomas Jefferson Elementary, Wausau West and D.C. Everest Senior High during the Fall 2017 Semester. The pilot at Weston Elementary is targeted to start second semester of the 2017-2018 school year. Specific launch dates depend upon securing the estimated $150,000 for implementation. Thanks to the B.A. & Esther Greenheck Foundation and the Wausau-Marathon County Fund of the the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin for being the first to dedicate dollars to help launch this project.
