It has been an unimaginable past twelve months since the nation and the state of Wisconsin came to a standstill to begin what would be the worst crisis to hit the country in over a hundred years. COVID-19 has killed over 540,000 Americans and over 7,000 Wisconsinites. This loss will reverberate across families, communities, states, and the nation for decades and decades to come. The loss of life has been beyond our worst nightmare, and the rippling impact of the pandemic has indelibly marked children’s and families’ health, economic well-being, and education.
Mental Health: A Behavioral Health System that Better Supports Counties and Schools
Everyone in Wisconsin, regardless of what county they live in, deserves to live in a community that supports their health and wellness, including access to quality, affordable mental health and substance use disorder services. Governor Evers’ proposed budget expands access to behavioral health care, strengthens schools’ abilities to provide mental health supports to students, invests in peer support, and provides millions in funding to county behavioral health services.