BUILDING OPPORTUNITY: Why Wisconsin Must Continue to Invest in Special Education and Children’s Behavioral Health

Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, thrive, discover their strengths, develop their talents and realize their full potential. 

But today, many families still struggle to find timely behavioral health services and specialized educational supports. Long wait times, workforce shortages, transportation challenges and limited resources can delay critical interventions when they matter most. For children with emotional, behavioral, developmental or learning challenges, those delays can have lasting consequences.

As a state, we have an opportunity to do something about it.

Special education, early intervention and children’s behavioral health are not simply educational or healthcare issues. They are family issues, workforce issues and community issues. When children receive the support they need early, they are more likely to succeed academically, build healthy relationships, develop critical life skills and contribute positively to their communities. Stronger outcomes for children lead to stronger families, healthier communities and a stronger Wisconsin.

That is why continued investment in special education and related services matters.

The demand is real, the need is growing and the cost of inaction is significant. When children and families do not receive the support they need early, challenges often become more complex and more costly to address later. Investing upstream is not only the right thing to do, but also one of the smartest investments we can make as a state.

When children succeed, the benefits extend far beyond the individual child. Families are stronger, schools are better supported, communities are healthier and employers benefit from a more prepared future workforce.

We know that learning, mental health and healthy child development are deeply connected. Services such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, behavioral health treatment and specialized educational supports often work together to help children reach their full potential. When those services are coordinated, families are better able to navigate challenges and children are better positioned to succeed.

The good news is that Wisconsin is home to organizations, educators, healthcare providers and community leaders who are committed to building solutions.

At Wellpoint Care Network, we see both the challenges and the opportunities every day. Through our work serving children and families, we have witnessed the transformative impact that coordinated support can have on a child’s future. That’s why we’re committed to strengthening partnerships that bring services together around the needs of children and families.

Our vision is for every child to have the resources and support they need to reach their full potential. This includes expanding school-based behavioral health services, strengthening partnerships between schools and community providers, increasing support for special education programs and investing in prevention and early intervention.

That is one reason we are exploring opportunities to expand the resources available to children and families through services such as speech therapy, physical therapy and additional specialized supports while continuing to strengthen behavioral health services and build upon existing occupational therapy programs. We believe children and families benefit when services are connected and coordinated.

This vision is already taking shape. We are excited to welcome Astera Therapy, a Division of the Lincoln Center for Family and Youth, to the Wellpoint Care campus, expanding Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services for children with autism and other developmental needs. Partnerships like this demonstrate how organizations can work together to strengthen the continuum of care available to families.

At Wellpoint Care, we are helping build the solutions needed to meet these challenges. Our long history serving children and families, our expertise in behavioral health, our growing network of community partnerships and our vision for the Wellpoint Care campus as a hub of services and support position us to help advance and implement meaningful solutions for children and families across Wisconsin. By bringing together providers, educators, healthcare organizations and community partners, we have an opportunity to make it easier for families to find the resources and support their children need.

We are not starting from scratch. We are building on decades of experience, trusted relationships and a proven commitment to improving outcomes for children and families. Most importantly, we are building on the dedication and expertise of professionals who work every day to help children overcome challenges, discover strengths, and achieve success.

Creating opportunities for children is one of the few priorities that can unite people across communities, backgrounds and perspectives. Regardless of political affiliation or ideology, most of us can agree that helping children succeed is a goal worth pursuing.

That is why this conversation should not be about politics. It should be about opportunity.

Wisconsin has an opportunity to lead by making children and families a shared priority. Investments in special education, early intervention and children’s behavioral health are investments in educational success, family stability, workforce readiness, economic vitality and healthier communities.

No single organization can meet these challenges alone. Meaningful progress will require collaboration among families, schools, healthcare providers, community organizations, businesses, philanthropies and government leaders. The most successful solutions will be those that bring people together around a common purpose and a shared commitment to children and families.

The question is not whether Wisconsin can afford to invest in children and families. The question is whether we can afford not to.

Wellpoint Care Network stands ready to partner with educators, healthcare providers, policymakers, community organizations, business leaders and philanthropic partners to help turn vision into action and investment into impact.

With continued collaboration, thoughtful investment and strong community partnerships, we have an opportunity to strengthen support, improve outcomes, and create brighter futures for children and families across Wisconsin.

The future of our children, our communities, our workforce and ultimately our state depends on the investments and partnerships we choose to make today.