For the Tomahawk Leader
TOMAHAWK – The School District of Tomahawk recently received a pair of grants to help support behavioral health among students.
Earlier this month, Marshfield Clinic announced that it awarded a total of 60 grants to school districts and other organizations to initiate youth mental health programs across the health system’s service area.
Tomahawk received grants for b.e.s.t.® Universal Screening and Life Tools.
In a release, Marshfield Clinic said it issued 33 grants for b.e.s.t.® Universal Screening, an innovative online screening tool designed to assist educators in fostering the emotional health of students while identifying those who may require additional behavioral support.
“Developed by school psychologist Eric P. Hartwig, Ph.D., b.e.s.t. offers educators straightforward, positive strategies to help students thrive in their school environment,” Marshfield Clinic stated.
Life Tools is an early-intervention, skill-building program that equips students with practical coping and social-emotional skills through structured, facilitated group sessions with caregiver and school engagement. Marshfield Clinic awarded 27 grants for Life Tools.
The two programs serve distinct but complementary roles, according to Marshfield Clinic.
“b.e.s.t. Universal Screening helps schools proactively identify students (and provide high level support to teachers and school administration) who may need behavioral health support, while Life Tools provides a targeted, skill‑building intervention for students who would benefit from additional support,” Marshfield Clinic explained. “Together, they create a prevention‑to‑intervention continuum that addresses needs early and reduces escalation.”
This is the 12th year Marshfield Clinic has offered b.e.s.t. and the seventh year for Life Tools.
Numerous other area school districts received grant funding from Marshfield Clinic, including Arbor Vitae-Woodruff, Chequamegon, Crandon, Edgar, Flambeau, Marathon, Mellen, Prentice, Stratford and Wausau.
“At Marshfield Clinic, along with our valued partners, we are investing in the future of our communities by expanding opportunities that support the social, emotional and behavioral health of children and youth,” said Jay Shrader, Vice President, Community Impact. “Now more than ever, children and youth need strong support systems. Families and schools need these programs to help bridge gaps in care so young people can stay healthy, connected and ready to learn.”
Since 2013, Marshfield Clinic has championed the implementation of b.e.s.t. Universal Screening across 89 school districts, positively impacting more than 600,000 screeners complete and 12,000 educators and staff, according to the release.
Since 2019, Life Tools has been implemented in more than 50 school districts, benefiting over 1,000 students. incredibly grateful to Marshfield Clinic for this generous support.
School District of Tomahawk Administrator Wendell Quesinberry said the district is “incredibly grateful to Marshfield Clinic for this generous support.”
“These grants will help us strengthen our student mental health services by providing both early screening tools and targeted Life Tools programming that support students’ social, emotional and behavioral well-being,” Quesinberry stated. “Marshfield Clinic has a long-standing track record of partnering with and supporting school districts in their efforts to meet the needs of students, and we are honored to have been selected as a recipient of these grants. This investment will help us continue creating a positive environment where our students can learn, grow and thrive.”