MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, alongside Community Advocates Public Policy Institute, announced an $800,000 investment in the youth and families of Milwaukee County on Thursday.
That $800,000 will be divided among Jewish Family Services, The Parenting Network, Penfield Children’s Center, United Community Center, Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health and Wisconsin Latino Chamber of Commerce.
The funding comes from the federal American Rescue Plan. Funds were designated by the county specifically for early childhood and family strengthening projects.
Crowley said the grant is an investment and will impact the entire state of Wisconsin.
“At the end of the day, when it comes down to our children and our families right here in Milwaukee County, we have to do a better job of making sure that we not only support them but invest more upstream to make sure that we can create better outcomes for everybody. And what’s good for Milwaukee children and Milwaukee families is good for our entire region and the state of Wisconsin,” said Crowley.
Jewish Family Services provides mental health services, social services and affordable housing for Milwaukee County. The organization serves about 2,500 people each year through its programs.
Jenny Heyden, with Jewish Family Services, said the funding will create new opportunities for teachers to have increased training opportunities.
“We are incredibly grateful to be implementing this new program where we will be able to train teachers and our therapists to work with [kindergarten through fourth grade] students in the classrooms, so they don’t have to leave the classroom to go do professional development,” said Heyden.