Join Teen Mental Wellness: Empowering Minds

Overview

Teen Mental Wellness: Empowering Minds provides school-based mental health resources to high schools with a goal of developing Mental Health Schools of Distinction. This means building a school’s toolkit to be ready to anticipate and meet students’ mental wellness needs.

By joining Teen Mental Wellness: Empowering Minds, schools agree to work to implement a comprehensive school mental health system informed by Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s School Mental Health Framework. Schools will receive up to $50,000 per year to support the development of the mental health services infrastructure as well as access to highly trained implementation coaches to advise the day-to-day work. On average, it takes schools anywhere from four to six years to implement the system. Once the implementation phase is complete, schools will enter into the sustainability phase receiving up to $25,000 for up to two years to support the long-term sustainability of the school’s mental health system.

Criteria

Teen Mental Wellness: Empowering Minds serves only high schools (or any school who serves grades 9-12) in our four-county service region which includes all of Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties, Germantown in Washington County, and the southern portion of Ozaukee County. We encourage schools of all sectors -- traditional public, charter, Choice and private tuition-funded schools -- to apply.

Need more information? Information sessions were held in January and have been recorded. The recorded sessions can be shared upon request by emailing Jim McLaughlin.

These information sessions provide additional details on the work, application process and questions, as well as advice for a successful application.

The Letter of Intent (LOI) will open on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, and a link to access the electronic LOI will be available below.
Details shared at the information sessions that will assist schools with their LOI will also be made available on this page on or before January 21, 2025. Successful applicants will be invited to complete a full application. Additional details on the application will be provided at a later date.

2025 Timeline

• January 21, 2025 – Letter of Intent submission period opens
• February 7, 2025 – Letter of Intent is due
• March 3, 2025 – Applicants notified whether they have qualified to complete a full application and receive instructions on how to complete and submit the application via email.
• March 28, 2025 – Application is due
• March 28 – May 7, 2025 – Review period, including meeting with applicants as needed
• May 14, 2025 – Empowering Minds schools are identified, pending approval from United Way Board of Directors
• June 30, 2025 – Signed Partnership Agreements from participating schools are due
• July 1, 2025 - Empowering Minds Schools notified of award status

Submit Your Letter of Intent

If you have any questions or would like to learn more, please contact Jim McLaughlin using the form below.