The Wisconsin Department of Health Services Office of Children’s Mental Health Director Linda Hall announced the publication of a new fact sheet about improving school outcomes and what communities can do to make a difference.

Highlights include: 

• Students who struggle with mental health issues are at especially high risk for expulsion, perform lower on academic achievement tests, and have decreased graduation rates.
• Early child care and education providers should increase their understanding of the importance of using trauma-informed principles and addressing their own racial and gender implicit biases.
• Preschool providers should implement a curriculum that builds children’s social and emotional skills and increase family engagement to address challenging behaviors and reduce expulsions. 
• Parents should set expectations about time spent on each class per week and regularly check in with teachers to gain a better understanding of the areas in which their child may be struggling.
• Policymakers should prioritize spending on early care and education to reduce the school-to-prison pipeline.

Read the full fact sheet HERE.

  Department of Health Services Updates