Thanks to a long-term investment, ThedaCare is providing kids hope, help and strength in Northeast and Central Wisconsin. The hospital system is funding $280,000 over five years to expand the universal Sources of Strength prevention program in rural communities.
Developed in 1998 by Mark LoMurray, a North Dakota counselor, Sources of Strength (SoS) has blossomed across the U.S. and in other parts of the world. The highly respected and effective peer-led program addresses suicide prevention among teens. It also helps children with interpersonal violence, bullying and substance-use challenges.
SoS has been prevalent in the Fox Cities, previously implemented in 17 schools through the ThedaCare-supported N.E.W. Mental Health Connection. The Connection is expanding the program to all interested high schools in Calumet, Outagamie and Winnebago counties.
“Sources of Strength uses peer relationships to build resilience, increase connection and teach healthy coping strategies,” said Tracey Ratzburg, a Community Health Specialist with the ThedaCare Community Health Improvement team. “Recognizing our strengths that bring us through challenging times is foundational to strong mental health. It is a skill that will carry students through life. SoS gets upstream by engaging youth and will positively impact the entire community.”
The major funding by ThedaCare resulted in the expansion of SoS to five rural school districts during the 2019-20 school year.
School districts commit to three years of training and support in the program with an option for two additional years. The ThedaCare funding helps reduce the training cost to schools by about 75%, from $15,000 to $3,875, for the first three years of the program.
Expanding SoS to partner school districts in the rural counties was a strategy identified through work by ThedaCare to address mental-health and substance-use challenges among youth and to build their resiliency during these challenging years.
Each SoS program has a blend of peer leaders and adult advisers from the school and community.