More kids in your local schools could get the help they need thanks to a bill signed into law this week by Governor Tony Evers. Under the new law, marriage and family therapists can work directly in schools. Districts can hire them to work with students regularly and remove some financial strain such services could have on families. United Way of Door County Community Impact Coordinator of Health Cami Peggar says the law will not directly affect its STRIDE program as they are the ones that find the providers for Door County schools. For communities less lucky than Door County, she believes this could be a real game changer for students and their families.
The Wisconsin Office of Children’s Mental Health announced earlier this year that more than half of the state’s youth have been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or behavioral problems. The study also found that more than a third of high school students reportedly feel sad and hopeless.
