Rhinelander, WI: School district wants mental health services

June 15, 2017, Rhinelander (WI) River News: School district committee approves adding mental health service http://www.rivernewsonline.com/main.asp?SectionID=6&SubSectionID=47&ArticleID=77993

School District of Rhinelander students with emotional or mental health issues and who require therapeutic counseling will have a second source for those services if the school board approves a proposal that cleared the operations and strategic planning committee Monday. If approved, Northwest Journey will take over the former Northern Achievement Center building behind James Williams Middle School and provide a more intense therapeutic environment day treatment program. The nearest such program is provided by Northwest Journey at its Wausau location, which means students must be transported both ways every weekday during the school year, according to Maggie Peterson, director of special education/pupil services. … "In the last couple years we have been working really hard on addressing mental health concerns," Jacobi said. "Having on-site services means that students don't lose out on hours and hours of school or don't get mental health care when they need it." … "As we get into it, though, we're realizing other needs and students with far more serious needs, and we didn't really have an option for them, and this is what that is addressing," Jacobi said.