Data from the CDC shows us that more than a third of high school students reported they experienced poor mental health during COVID-19.
United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County brought together mental health experts to collaborate on solutions for youth mental health within our community to create our newest initiation, Teen Mental Wellness: Empowering Minds. The initiative works with schools to implement a comprehensive school mental health system informed by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s School Mental Health Framework.
The following participating schools have committed to to enhancing mental health services and resources for their students in the 2025-26 school year.
Meet the 2025-26 participating schools:
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School Milwaukee
County: Milwaukee
Description: Cristo Rey's goals are to further develop early intervention services, evaluate the effectiveness of their counseling program, and expanding overall capacity to meet all mental wellness needs of all students.
Marquette University High School
County: Milwaukee
Description: Marquette University High will work to strenghthen the comprehensive resources they provide, optimize data collection and response to this data, and enhance mental health education for students, staff, and families.
Pewaukee High School
County: Waukesha
Description: Pewaukee High School plans to refine familiy engagement, better understand and utilize data, and improve the continuum of mental health services for students, staff, and families.
Ronald Reagan High School
County: Milwaukee
Description: Reagan High School will work to increase sense of belonging among students and staff, increase capacity to meet the mental wellness needs of students, and increase mental health education.
Shorewood High School
County: Milwaukee
Description: Shorewood's goals are to increase access to mental health resources, develop a more collaborative team, and better utilize data driven decision making.
St. Augustine Preparatory Academy
County: Milwaukee
Description: St. Augustine Preparatory Acadmey will work to improve sense of belonging, access to mental health services, and coping skills among students.
Vel R. Philips Juvenile Justice Center School
County: Milwaukee
Description: Vel R. Philips School's three main goals are to improve student transition out of justice system, improve mental health referral process, better support mental wellness of teachers and staff.
Wauwatosa East High School
County: Milwaukee
Description: Wauwatosa East will focus on academic success and integrated mental health, access to mental health services, and data driven decision making for mental health needs.
Returning Schools
Dr. Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy High School
County: Milwaukee
Description: Dr. Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy identified three focuses during their first implementation year school year, which include a reduction in behavioral and disciplinary incidents, enhanced staff and student wellness, and a strengthened sense of belonging and community engagement. They will remain in the implementation phase for their second year.
Grafton High School
County: Ozaukee
Description: During the first implementation year, Grafton High School worked to enhance existing school-based mental health supports, broaden the Wellness Team to incorporate education staff, and establish a student-centered mental health program that prioritizes an inclusive school environment. They will remain in the implementation phase for their second year.
Messmer High School
County: Milwaukee
Description: Messmer focused on comprehensive resources during the first implementation year, including the goals that all students would identify a trust adult, staff's awareness of available resources for students, and creating an intentional structure to appropriately respond to trauma and adapt to life after trauma for students. They will remain in the implementation phase for their second year.
Milwaukee Academy of Science High School
County: Milwaukee
Description: Milwaukee Academy of Sciences focused on comprehensive resources during the first implementation year, including enhancing scholar engagement, participation, and investment in social emotional learning. It also worked to provide additional evidence-based interventions on a consistent basis while also providing professional development opportunities for staff to ensure they are equipped to best support students. They will remain in the implementation phase for their second year.
Pius XI
County: Milwaukee
Description: Pius XI focused on needs assessment, resource mapping, and fostering greater connections between students and teachers during the first implementaion year. They will remain in the implementation phase for their second year.
Waukesha South High School
County: Waukesha
Description: During their second implementation year, Waukesha South focused on the needs assessment they conducted at the beginning of the 2024-25 school year. They will remain in the implementation phase during their third year.
Waukesha West High School
County: Waukesha
Description: Waukesha West High Schools focused on comprehensive resources during the first implementation year, including the mapping of resources currently available, enhancing collaboration, and providing students and families with the information and resources they need to create safe and healthy home environments. They will remain in the implementation phase for their second year.
Wauwatosa West High School
County: Milwaukee
Description: Wauwatosa West High School focused on comprehensive resources during the first implementation year, including a reduction of students identified with challenges on the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, increasing coping skills, improvement in attendance, and reducing referrals related to conflict and substance use. They will remain in the implementation phase for their second year.
Interested in supporting Teen Mental Wellness: Empowering Minds?
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