State's Joint Finance Committee Approves Starting a Pilot Youth Mental Health Program in Outagamie County
Friday, January 17th, 2020 -- 9:46 AM
(WRN) -The legislature's Joint Finance Committee has approved funding to start a pilot youth mental health program in Outagamie County.The state's Joint Finance Committee has approved the funding for a school counselor pilot program in Outagamie County. Democrats were looking for more, but Republican Senator Duey Stroebel says that increased spending on counselors won't solve what he says is the real problem.
"Out biggest issues is from kids who come from single parent households. What we have here is, we're dealing with the symptoms, but I'd like to see us a little more focused on the cause."
Stroebel says the program is a good idea but it's only a start.
"I think we really need to look at the root causes of the issues we have with our youth mental health, and not just worry about putting bandaids on the symptoms."
Stroebel says Democrats asking for more funding aren't looking to fix what he says is the cause of the issue, single parent households.
"You know, I'd like to see that the other side is interested in promoting something that statistically will help our kids mental health."
The committee approved 350-thousand dollars in funding for the program. The bill passed unanimously, and heads back to the legislature for approval.
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