Christian Family Solutions receives grant from the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation to serve youth facing mental health conditions

MILWAUKEE, Wis. — The Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation awarded Christian Family Solutions (CFS) a $5,000 grant to help fill the gap in funding for children being treated for mental health conditions in its STRONG Child & Adolescent Day Treatment Program. CFS was among the grant recipients invited to network with foundation supporters at the 2024 Health and Harmony Event on April 5 in Madison, Wis.

Through the STRONG program, CFS offers day treatment for children ages 4-17 who are suffering from behavioral or mental health conditions. Day treatment includes trauma-informed and culturally sensitive therapy five days a week for an average of four to six months. Children spend three hours per day in group therapy, while individual and family sessions help reinforce the skills learned during group time. Services take place at The STRONG Milwaukee Center, 510 E. Burleigh Street in Milwaukee.

Most of the children referred to STRONG receive services and transportation through Medicaid. Medicaid reimbursements do not cover the full cost of such intensive treatment. The STRONG program is able to operate in Milwaukee thanks to generous donors such as the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation.

“We are committed to providing services to youth in need, regardless of their family’s ability to pay,” says Dr. Ashley Schoof, Senior Clinical Director for CFS. “That is why we seek grants, donations, and every available means to make our program sustainable.”

STRONG uses a neurological approach to therapy, meaning it focuses first on healing the brain, and then on equipping children with behavioral and coping skills they can apply in other settings. STRONG also offers wraparound services with families and schools. Family sessions and educational meetings with school staff keep caregivers and educators informed on the child’s treatment process and the supports the child needs outside of treatment.

“The results of our treatment for the child and the community are long-lasting and generational,” Dr. Schoof adds. “The impact is evident through improvements in mental health symptoms, behavior, and academics.”

About STRONG:

The STRONG Child & Adolescent Day Treatment Program is an in-person day treatment for children with significant behavior and mental health issues. STRONG stands for Successfully Treating and Reaching Our Next Generation. STRONG was developed in 2016 by Christian Family Solutions to meet the mental health needs of children and adolescents who typically do not have access to mental health care, whose futures depend on accessing treatment. Learn more at ChristianFamilySolutions.org.

About the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation:

The mission of the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation is to advance the health of the people of Wisconsin by supporting medical education and health initiatives. The Foundation provides scholarships for medical students, funds medical research projects, and supports community health initiatives such as STRONG. Learn more at https://foundation.wismed.org/foundation/foundation/Home.as