Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District Receives Grant from The Wellmark Foundation to Expand Mental and Behavioral Health Services
The Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District has been awarded a three-year School-Centered Behavioral Health Grant from The Wellmark Foundation to strengthen and expand its existing in-person mental and behavioral health therapy services for students.
This grant will allow the district to enhance access to care, increase collaboration with local providers, and sustain long-term support for students’ mental and emotional well-being. By expanding its existing system of care, Vinton-Shellsburg will continue to remove barriers that often make it difficult for families in rural areas to access mental and behavioral health services.
“We are grateful for The Wellmark Foundation’s investment in our district and our community,” said Kyle Koeppen, Superintendent of Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District. “This grant allows us to build on the strong foundation we already have in place, ensuring that more students can receive the care they need, right at school, without adding stress or travel for families.”
Working families in rural Iowa often face challenges such as taking time off work or traveling long distances to access mental and behavioral health care. All but four of Iowa’s rural counties are designated as mental health professional shortage areas. Through the Wellmark Foundation’s support, Vinton-Shellsburg students can continue to access mental and behavioral health care at school, just as they would visit the school nurse for physical health needs.
“Schools play a vital role in our communities, and school-centered mental and behavioral health services can be a game changer for youth, families, and schools,” said Laura Jackson, executive vice president of health improvement at Wellmark and chair of The Wellmark Foundation. “By working together to close these gaps and address behavioral health challenges early, we can help students develop social and emotional skills that are important to living a long, healthy life.”
The Wellmark Foundation’s School-Centered Behavioral Health Grant program supports eligible rural Iowa schools that want to establish or sustain lasting mental and behavioral health services for youth. More information is available at Wellmark.com/SchoolBehavioralHealthGrant.
About Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District
The Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District serves approximately 1,500 students across five schools in Vinton and Shellsburg, Iowa. The district is committed to preparing all students for success through high-quality instruction, strong community partnerships, and a focus on developing the whole child, academically, socially, and emotionally.
About Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Wellmark, Inc., is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. As a mutual insurance company, we’re owned by our policyholders across Iowa and South Dakota. More than two million people in Iowa and South Dakota are covered by a Wellmark health plan. We work hard every day to make health care better as a trusted, innovative, and inclusive leader committed to improving the health of the people and communities we serve. Learn more at Wellmark.com.
About The Wellmark Foundation
The Wellmark Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created by Wellmark, Inc., to help Iowans and South Dakotans lead healthier and more meaningful lives. The Foundation supports projects that promote health improvement and increase access to care in communities across both states.
