Grants fund behavioral health screenings for students

For Hub City Times

MARSHFIELD — Security Health Plan recently announced the recipients of $100,000 in school-based grants. The grants provide 22 school districts use of the Behavioral, Emotional, and Social Traits (b.e.s.t.) universal screening during the 2016-2017 school year.

“Like the vision screenings Wisconsin schools have required since 2001, the b.e.s.t. screening helps educational professionals identify behavioral health and risk factors and implement data-based solutions when they can have the greatest impact: when students are young,” said Dr. Eric Hartwig, school psychologist, former administrator of pupil services for the Marathon County Children with Disabilities Education Board, and developer of the b.e.s.t. screening.

Security Health Plan is collaborating with Marathon County Special Education and Mindfield LLC to train the 22 selected districts’ elementary teachers to use the b.e.s.t. screening as an effective early intervention tool to benefit their more than 9,000 students.

The 22 recipients span 14 counties and include Arbor Vitae Woodruff School, Arcadia School District, Barron Area School District, Birchwood School District, Chequamegon School District, Cumberland School District, D.C. Everest Area School District, Fall Creek School District, Lac du Flambeau Public School, Minocqua J1 School District, Mosinee School District, North Lakeland School District, Regis Catholic Schools, School District of Colfax, School District of Durand-Arkansaw, School District of Eleva-Strum, School District of Owen-Withee, School District of Rhinelander, School District of Waupaca, Stratford School District, Unified School District of Antigo, and Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools.

“We know that healthy minds and behaviors can open up opportunities for children to succeed academically, and we want every student to have the best possible chance to learn,” said Jay Shrader, Security Health Plan director of disease management and wellness.

“Our initiative is meant to address the limited behavioral resources to which Wisconsin schools have access. We hope to broaden the reach of behavioral health screenings in general, which are essential to student well-being and academic success,” Shrader said.