Free Access to Internet ‘Life Changing’ for Milwaukee Students

Wellpoint Care Network’s Five Pillars of Stability framework describes what it takes for an individual to reach their fullest potential: Housing, Employment, Health, Education and Caring Connections. These pillars have been shown to support individual and family stability and prevent or reduce the need for deep-end interventions. When we are strong in these areas, we are able to work on restoring connections to our families, friends and the broader community.

We also know that when one or more of these social determinants of health goes unmet, it’s impossible to truly thrive.

Education – one of these pillars – must be a priority for the entire community. We work with educators all the way from early education through grade 12 to implement trauma-sensitive practices that build social and emotional well-being alongside building academic knowledge. Whether finishing high school, obtaining a GED or pursuing on-the-job training or a post-secondary education, getting an education is one of the most important steps a person can take toward his or her best outcomes.

This is why education and working with schools has been one of the focuses of our distribution efforts of 500 wireless hotspots which have been made available to Wellpoint Care Network through a partnership with UScellular and their After School Access Project.

“When it comes to education, I’m someone who is still in school myself,” said Andrew Bonner, Community Engagement Coordinator at Wellpoint Care Network. “I understand the importance of trying to get out of a bad situation and using education as a catapult to launch yourself forward. So, my focus has been on schools that don’t have a lot of funding or have students who may struggle to make ends meet.”

Within Milwaukee Public Schools, the Pregnant and Parenting Youth Program (PPYP) is dedicated to supporting school-age parents as they navigate the challenges of pregnancy, parenting and continuing their education.

“Many of our students face barriers that directly impact their ability to physically attend school,” said Joy Briggs, PPYP nurse. “At one point or another, most of them rely on some type of virtual learning option to stay engaged in their education — whether due to prenatal care, medical recovery, childcare responsibilities or other life circumstances.”

“I learned about this program while doing a diaper pop-up through Wellpoint Care’s partnership with Milwaukee Diaper Mission,” explained Bonner. “Nurse Briggs was telling me about some of the struggles these students face and I immediately thought, ‘How can I help?’ So in combination with hosting additional diaper pop-ups and providing information about Wellpoint Care Network services, I connected them with 60 of these hot spots. It feels good because it’s a direct investment in their future.”

Briggs says the impact of the hotspots has been ‘immediate and life changing.’

“These hotspots are more than just devices — they are a lifeline to opportunity and success,” emphasized Briggs. “Wellpoint Care connecting our students to these hotspots has been vital to ensuring our students have the tools they need to stay connected to their education.  Without reliable internet access, students risk falling behind, losing motivation or even feeling that completing school is out of reach. These hotspots will provide them with educational stability and flexibility, allowing them to participate in virtual education offerings, complete assignments, communicate with teachers, caregivers and other support persons, and access essential resources no matter their situation.”

For Bonner, these hotspots are just one way to help propel Wellpoint Care’s mission of helping children and families thrive. And the work is not done yet.

“We still have hotspots left to distribute,” said Bonner. “It’s been great to hear stories about how these donations are making an impact, but there is always more to do. We’re continuing to look for ways to expand the reach of this program and positively influence as many lives as possible.”

At Wellpoint Care, everything we do, we do in partnership. If you share in our pursuit of communities where every child and family can thrive and would like to talk about ways to partner, please email [email protected].