SSM Health is providing a $5,000 community benefit gift to the Fondy CARES school-based mental health program to help increase access to behavioral health services for underinsured and uninsured students throughout the Fond du Lac School District.
Established in 2018, Fondy CARES partners with community mental health agencies to provide licensed, evidence-based therapy services directly within schools during the school day for students in grades 4K through 12. By bringing care into school settings, the program removes barriers such as cost, transportation challenges, scheduling difficulties and stigma that often prevent children and families from receiving timely mental health support.
The funding will support a portion of a 15-session evidence-based counseling model for up to 20 underinsured and uninsured students during the 2026-2027 school year. Services are provided at no out-of-pocket cost to participating families, helping ensure financial hardship does not prevent students from receiving care.
“Students are experiencing increasingly complex mental health challenges, and timely access to care can make a significant difference in their well-being, academic success, and future health,” according to Shane Smith, SSM Health Fond du Lac Market president. “Through partnerships like Fondy CARES, we are helping ensure that students and families can access the support they need, regardless of financial circumstances.”
Since its inception, Fondy CARES has enrolled 2,277 students and provided 27,814 school-based counseling sessions, saving an estimated 20,860 community hours by reducing the need for parents and caregivers to travel to appointments or leave work. During the first semester of the 2025-2026 school year alone, the program received 292 referrals, served 363 actively enrolled students and completed 3,064 therapy sessions.
For the 2025-2026 school year, Fondy CARES expanded its services through a partnership with Cartwheel, a school-based telehealth provider offering rapid access to licensed therapists and child psychiatrists. The partnership strengthens early intervention efforts and helps meet growing demand for student mental health services.
“This investment will help us continue removing barriers to care and connecting students with the behavioral health services they need to thrive,” according to Vickie Flatt, MS, CSC, Fondy CARES mental health navigator – middle schools and STEM Academy. “Providing support within schools allows students to access care in a familiar environment while staying engaged in learning and connected to their support systems.”
Fondy CARES serves all 14 schools in the Fond du Lac School District and aligns with SSM Health’s commitment to improving access to behavioral health services, advancing health equity and supporting community well-being through early intervention and prevention.
Laura Nakielski, SSM Health Community Health manager (left), and Shane Smith (right), SSM Health Fond du Lac Market President, present a $5,000 gift to Vickie Flatt, MS, CSC, Fondy CARES mental health navigator – middle schools and STEM Academy.
Date posted: September 8, 2026