Transforming School-Based Mental Health through Community Partnerships

As Wellpoint Care Network celebrates 175 years of service and impact, and continues the transformation of our 18-acre campus, we are working to advance our vision of becoming a community hub that fosters connection, healing and wellness.

“Our goal is to find synergistic partners that can support the Five Pillars of Stability,” said Reggie Newson, President & CEO at Wellpoint Care Network. “That’s why we are excited to announce we are now collaborating with The Lincoln Center for Family & Youth (TLC), who fall under the Education pillar.”

TLC is a Philadelphia-based organization focused on social-emotional and academic support for high-needs populations.

“Like Wellpoint Care, we understand how trauma and instability affect every part of a family’s life, and we provide well-rounded supports that meet those needs,” said GT Freeman, Chief Executive Officer at TLC. “Together, we can bring comprehensive, adaptable care to significantly more people in Wisconsin.”

The organization was recently awarded an alternative program contract with Milwaukee Public Schools and will operate the program on Wellpoint Care’s campus.

“Leveraging the already-established Wellpoint Care campus strengthens connections and creates opportunities for families who often struggle to access school programs and services,” said Dina Bunke, Milwaukee Site Director for TLC. “This approach truly creates a supportive, trauma-informed environment where families can build lasting relationships and receive ongoing support to help their children succeed.”

The program will start with 10 students and aims to increase enrollment to 30 by the end of November. Part of this new collaboration also includes school-based mental health services. Therapists from Wellpoint Care Network will be integrated into each of the classrooms. Our Mental Health team will collaborate with TLC staff to identify and prioritize mental health activities within the program based on student needs. 

“By embedding therapists into the day-to-day routine, it reduces the stigma around mental health,” said Nancy Reed, Chief Program Officer at Wellpoint Care Network. “First of all, the students are not being pulled to go into a separate office or session where everyone can see them leaving. It also increases access because not only are they getting individual therapy, but they’re also getting group therapy. It’s just part of their everyday well-being and wellness in this type of setting. Rather than creating a separate time and space for mental health, it’s normalizing it as part of your school, your education. This is the future of school-based mental health.”

“This blended approach allows us to comprehensively understand each student and better individualize their learning plans,” added Bunke. “Our core goal is to provide holistic care and quality learning with one-to-one attention, allowing students to thrive in an environment that may be different from what they have experienced before.”

The partnership between Wellpoint Care Network and TLC is just one example of how we are creating pathways to a thriving tomorrow — for children, families and communities across Wisconsin.

“We can go further together,” said Kristi Scharl, Chief Operating and Financial Officer at Wellpoint Care Network. “As an organization, we could build out additional services ourselves, but that takes time and is a slower path to care. We know there are other people and organizations who are already providing the service and have a depth of experience, which will bring more efficiency and effectiveness. Together, we can accelerate impact and care, bringing the best of each organization together to create this community hub. We are located in northwest Milwaukee, an accessible and central part of the city, where there is a need for a space like this that can provide more service to the community. We’re amplifying our mission while also using our resources more wisely.”

If you share in our vision of a community where every child and family can thrive, learn how you can get involved today!