Clinic announces youth behavioral health grant recipients

Marshfield Clinic has awarded 60 total grants to school districts and other organizations to initiate youth mental health programs across the Marshfield Clinic service area.

Marshfield Clinic 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.

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. 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. 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.

“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. Since 2019, Life Tools has been implemented in more than 50 school districts benefiting over 1,000 students.

b.e.s.t. recipients:

• School District of Altoona
• School District of Auburndale 
• Arbor Vitae-Woodruff School District
• Beaver Dam Unified School District
• Bruce School District
• Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District
• Unified School District of De Pere
• Dodgeland School District
• Edgar School District
• Eleva Strum School District
• Lac Du Flambeau Public School District
• Lake Holcombe School District
• School District of Loana
• Loyal School District
• Marathon School District
• Marathon County Child Development Agency Head Start 
• Mellen School District 
• Mercer School District
• Mondovi Elementary School
• Osseo-Fairchild School District
• Port Edwards School District
• Randolph School District
• Rosholt School District
• Stanley-Boyd School District
• Stevens Point Area Public School District 
• Stratford School District
• School District of Tomahawk
• School District of Turtle Lake
• Waupaca School District
• Wausau School District
• Webster School District
• Wild Rose School District
• Wisconsin Heights School District

Life Tools recipients:

• Stevens Point Area School District
• School District of Tomahawk
• Mayville School District
• Beaver Dam Unified School District
• Fall Creek School District
• Lake Holcombe School District
• Osseo-Fairchild School District
• Dodgeland School District
• Auburndale School District
• Wild Rose School District
• Stratford School District
• Chequamegon School District
• Prentice School District
• D.C. Everest School District
• Port Edwards School District
• Lac Du Flambeau Public School District
• School District of Horicon
• Columbus School District
• Flambeau School District
• Loyal School District
• Wautoma School District
• Bruce School District
• Superior School District
• Crandon School District
• Mayville Open Door
• Harvest Your Zen (Edgar)
• Marathon Venture Academy