By Laurel White
A new federal grant will support UW–Madison school psychology graduate students as they complete internships and practicum experiences in Milwaukee public schools.
The $5 million, four-year Mental Health Demonstration Grant from the U.S. Department of Education will allow Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) to host an additional five internship positions through formalized partnerships with Alverno College and UW–Madison. It will also fund a half-time mentorship professional and a half-time practicum support professional and support mental health and supervision training initiatives for current MPS school psychologists.
Kristy Kelly, a clinical professor and co-director of the school psychology program in the School of Education’s Department of Educational Psychology, says the funding will provide graduate students with high-quality training and supervision while helping the district expand its capacity to meet rising mental health needs.
“We are deeply committed to strengthening the local workforce and supporting MPS as it builds a sustainable, community-centered model of mental health care for children and adolescents,” Kelly says. “We see this work as a clear expression of the Wisconsin Idea – bringing university expertise beyond campus to meet urgent community and statewide needs, especially in public education and children’s mental health.”
Kelly says the funding will help UW–Madison students by offering financial support for school through tuition scholarships and conference travel.
“The grant reduces barriers for our UW graduate students,” she says.
Faculty in the school psychology program will provide training and supervision to graduate students to prepare them for their roles in the district. They will also provide training to current MPS school psychologists focused on enhancing evidence-based mental health practices and supervision.
“This project strengthens both the district’s capacity to build a sustainable pipeline of trained school psychologists who understand the district’s needs and serves as a model for strengthening school mental health systems statewide by linking universities and districts in long-term workforce development,” Kelly says.
At a press conference in Milwaukee on Wednesday, MPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius lauded the initiative as a way to ensure more students can connect with trained mental health professionals to get the support they need to succeed in school.
“Students learn best when they feel supported, safe, and understood,” Cassellius said. “This investment allows MPS to expand access to school-based mental health services and ensure more students can connect with trained professionals who understand their needs.”
According to MPS, the district currently employs one school psychologist, counselor, and social worker for every 145 students. Some schools in the district meet recommended staffing levels, but many continue to exceed ideal ratios.
Demand for student mental health services in schools has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, roughly 1 in 5 teens experience symptoms of anxiety or depression.