Lakeshore Community Health Care (LCHC) is among 77 health center recipients and the only health center in Wisconsin awarded a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The $700,000 grant, distributed over two years, will help the organization expand access and add mental health services in new schools in the Sheboygan Area School District and the Manitowoc Public School District, and begin providing care in the School District of Howards Grove.
 
School-based mental health care provides a unique opportunity to engage children and strengthen early recognition of mental health needs. By establishing dedicated therapy space within a school, transportation barriers are eliminated as well as financial barriers. LCHC accepts any health insurance and offers sliding scale fees, based on household income.
 
“Community needs assessments in both Manitowoc and Sheboygan counties highlight an increased need for adolescent mental health services. School-based care directly meets the needs of this population,” explained Lakeshore Community Health Care’s CEO, Kristin Stearns. “Through part of this grant, two of our school-based therapists will receive training in substance use counseling, meeting the needs of the schools while enhancing care for students.”          
 
Therapists from LCHC began providing mental health services in the Sheboygan Area School District through the United Way of Sheboygan County’s Providing Access to Healing (PATH) program in 2018. Grant funding will allow LCHC’s team of therapists to broaden coverage at some of the 22 Sheboygan schools they currently serve and begin offering services at Lake Country Academy.
 
Early in 2023, the Manitowoc Public School District began a partnership with LCHC to offer a school-based mental health program to students at Jefferson Elementary, Wilson Middle School and Lincoln High School. The program will begin serving Franklin, Jackson and Madison Elementary Schools, Washington Middle School and McKinley Academy this fall.
 
The school-based mental health program also expanded to all three schools in the School District of Howards Grove.  
 
School counselors, teachers, or a family member can refer students to the program for any mental health concerns, including anxiety, ADHD/ADD, bullying issues, low self-esteem, depression, family separation or blending, or loss of a loved one. For more information about the program visit lakeshorechc.org/schoolmentalhealth.