KAUKAUNA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – School and state leaders gathered at the Kaukauna School District Office on Friday to push more mental health services in Outagamie County.
“Society as a whole and Wisconsin is no different, is struggling with some services, mental health services,” said state representative Jim Steineke (R-Kaukauna).
He says the solution is a Child Psychiatry Consultation Program or CPCP.
It would connect students with a child psychiatrist or psychologist on the spot, according to Steineke and Kaukauna Schools superintendent, Mark Duerwaechter.
“How is this any different from the services you already provide?” FOX 11 asked.
“We do not have immediate access to a child psychiatrist or child psychologist and that’s the difference,” said Duerwaechter.
He tells FOX 11 while schools have counselors, schools would benefit from additional services.
“There are always times in which that school counselor or that people personnel is like, ‘I’m at my ceiling right now, I’m not quite sure what we need to do next.”
Steineke says the program would cost $175,000 but wouldn’t impact taxpayers.
That’s because he says the money would be provided by Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services.
Both Steineke and Duerwaechter point to a study from Wisconsin’s Office of Children’s Mental Health (page 40), that says about 21% of Wisconsin children have a mental health issue.
It’s statistics like those that both school and state leaders say the immediate connection to mental health professionals is a need.
The state legislature must approve the funding.
