There is a growing need to support youth who have experienced trauma or have unmet behavioral health needs. Millage funding supports initiatives that reach students within their schools. Many initiatives focus on destigmatizing mental health and empowering youth.
The Health Department's #WishYouKnew campaign receives significant funding from the mental health millage. In 2021 alone, millage dollars enabled a substantial increase in #WishYouKnew's campaign reach. With millage funding, the campaign began to connect with youth through Spotify and Comcast—with 132,486 and 60,576 plays respectively. READ MORE
In 2021, the millage continued to provide mini grants to schools across Washtenaw County to support a variety of school-based programs designed to promote help-seeking behavior, reduce stigma, and make sure that students and families are aware of the county's 24/7 access number. In 2021, 24 schools received grants of up to $5,000 each. READ MORE
Millage dollars are used to fuel a partnership between Washtenaw County Community Mental Health and Washtenaw County Children’s Services—a county facility that provides temporary custody and care for juveniles who have come into contact with the justice system. Millage-funded social workers are now embedded in Children’s Services and use trauma-informed treatment to help youth while referring them to additional care in the community. READ MORE
Millage matching dollars enabled WISD schools to receive a grant from the State of Michigan to hire mental health professionals—including licensed or limited-license social workers, counselors, and nurses, as well as psychiatrists, psychologists, and others—to work with general education students. Four behavioral health professionals are now serving high-need schools in Milan, Ypsilanti, Saline, and Lincoln, providing support services to many students. READ MORE.