Behavioral health grants available to county schools

Marshfield Clinic Health System and Security Health Plan, are now accepting applications from eligible school districts, to implement Behavioral Emotional Social Traits (b.e.s.t.) Universal Screening in the 2021-22 school year.

b.e.s.t. ® is an online screening tool designed to help educators build the emotional health of students and help identify students who may need additional positive behavioral support. Developed by school psychologist Eric P. Hartwig, Ph.D., the tool provides educators recommended actions to take with students based on their behaviors.

“Mental health was a priority, even before the COVID-19 pandemic, but the pandemic piled additional stressors on kids,” said Allison Machtan, director of community health for the health system. “The disruption in social interaction and familiar routines can affect students greatly, and gives us even more reason to carefully observe students’ behaviors and intervene with positive behavioral support, when needed.”

b.e.s.t. has been updated to include behavioral observations from adults outside the school, such as parents, tutors and family caregivers. Given the unique and unusual hybrid of services provided to students last year, providing consistent support, both within and outside of school, for children to manage their own behavioral health, is critically important.

Schools awarded a grant receive technical support, biannual screenings for students, and training consultation and support for teachers and staff. School districts eligible to receive the grant located counties around the area, include Chippewa, Rusk and Taylor.

For more information or to apply, visit securityhealth. org.