posted by Office Children’s Mental Health (OCMH)

The Office Children’s Mental Health (OCMH) urges sustainable investments be made in school-based mental health services. In his 2025-2027 State Budget proposal, Gov. Evers recommended an ongoing $83.9 million for school mental health, with the greater of $100,000 or $100 per student enrolled in the previous year. However, last week the Joint Finance Committee on a partisan vote (12-4) recommended one-time funding of $10 million in each year of the biennium.

Children spend the majority of their days in school, and that is where many receive mental health services. Although 84% of schools provided individual-based mental health treatment last year, less than half say they can keep up with the demand.

School-based mental health services include more than individual therapy. School-based mental health is a continuum of support and can include building students’ stress management skills, developing the ability to resolve conflicts without aggression, screening students for negative mental health, and understanding how to get help if a student or their peers need it.

See the full list of OCMH’s children’s mental health budget priorities here.