Support Beyond the Classroom: The Partnership Helping Rocketship Students Thrive

Wellpoint Care Network is partnering with Milwaukee-area Rocketship Public Schools to transform education through mental health care. By embedding services directly into their schools and training educators in trauma-sensitive practices, they’ve achieved remarkable outcomes — like reducing suspensions by 100% — while supporting students, teachers, and families in powerful ways.  

When Schools Become Places to Heal  

In Wisconsin, 51% of students report experiencing anxiety, and 35% of students struggle with depression, sadness, or hopelessness. For Rocketship, addressing these challenges meant rethinking how mental health support was delivered.

When their community faced a traumatic event in 2022, Wellpoint Care was there to support.  

“We had a pretty traumatic event happen at one of the schools,” says Kadeem Gill, Executive Director of Rocketship Wisconsin. “Wellpoint Care Network mobilized quickly to provide a full week of support, helping adults process what was happening.”  

This response sparked a lasting partnership, bringing critical mental health resources directly into Rocketship’s classrooms.  

Today, Wellpoint Care’s integrated model of mental health services weaves together three essential elements to support students, teachers, and families:

• School-Based Mental Health services provide consistent, on-site access to mental health therapy within the school environment, helping to improve attendance, behavior, and emotional well-being.
• Project Thrive builds on this foundation by breaking down barriers like language, transportation, and scheduling, while also expanding capacity to offer trauma-based group therapy.
• Trauma-Sensitive Schools training complements these efforts by equipping educators with tools to create supportive classrooms and approach student behavior with empathy, shifting the question from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?”

Together, these elements form a comprehensive system where students feel safe, supported, and ready to thrive. 

Direct Support for Students  

Wellpoint Care therapists are embedded in Rocketship’s Northside and Southside campuses and offer consistent access to mental health therapy.

“We have two therapists at each campus, which gives us about 16 hours per week of direct support for students,” says Gill.

These services have been critical as trauma and stress among students have grown. “The amount of trauma that our students are coming in with is significantly high. Through the partnership with Wellpoint Care Network, we’ve almost doubled the number of students we support.”  

The results have been striking. At one campus, suspensions dropped by 100%, and attendance improved by 5%. More importantly, students are learning to manage their emotions and advocate for their needs.

“Seeing individual students use their tools — asking for a break or identifying what they’re feeling — grows exponentially,” Gill shared. “It’s magical.”  

Tools for Teachers  

Wellpoint Care’s Trauma Sensitive Schools trainings support educators in building skills to understand and address how trauma affects students. This approach helps create more supportive and effective classrooms.

“Teachers see us as a positive resource and are open to using suggestions that help students thrive in the classroom,” says Margaret Rauh, a Wellpoint Care Network therapist.  

The training strengthens relationships and improves classroom dynamics. “We’re becoming part of the community, not just someone who comes in and goes out,” Rauh says, highlighting how Wellpoint Care’s consistent presence makes teachers feel supported and open to trying new strategies.

“Most teachers want to learn and grow,” says Elizabeth Schuett-Davison, a Wellpoint Care Clinical Supervisor and Trainer. “Even if they don’t have all the tools yet, there’s a real desire to become more trauma-informed.” 

These strategies have transformed how educators interact with students, fostering environments where they feel seen and supported.

The results speak for themselves: “When I came in, our staff retention was around 30-40%,” said Gill. “Last year, it was 85% across the region. Our teachers now have the tools to support students with high needs, and so they’re staying longer.”  

Building Connections  

This partnership goes beyond individual mental health services, extending to families and the broader school community. “I run into the parents of some of my clients regularly,” Rauh shared. “Those are opportunities to help parents understand their child’s behaviors and set them up for success at home.”  

Schuett-Davison agrees that embedding services directly in schools strengthens these connections. “The earlier we can teach their brain and body that they are safe at school, the less long-lasting impact trauma may have.”  

A Path Forward  

Rocketship and Wellpoint Care Network are committed to reaching more students and supporting their communities. “Although we’ve doubled the number of students we serve, there are still more who need support,” Gill said. By expanding services and continuing to train educators, this partnership is creating environments where students can thrive.  

Trauma Sensitive Schools

The Importance of School-Based Mental Health Systems

School-based mental health can be challenging, but Wellpoint Care Network can help you build the right plan and right approach for your school, your district and your community. We can help you move from training and education to action and impact.

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