MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – The U.P. Wellness Task Force met Tuesday morning for its first meeting of the 2026-27 school year.
Amid concerns of educator burnout, a rise in screen time, AI, and even changes in healthcare access, these formative brainstorming sessions hope to bring new methods to social emotional learning, and how to properly handle struggles in mental health.
“Every meeting we come up with a 90-day plan. We meet periodically, go over that plan, and see how far we’ve come and what our next steps are,” said MARESA Regional School Health Coordinator, Kristi Hillock.
Those 3 month periods bring a new perspective from each attending group, says Hillock.
“I’ve noticed a lot of progress,” she said. “Participants here have been able to bring Professional Development into their classrooms, added more green time with less technology, and helped with the Uplift Conference for educators. Just a really great opportunity to come together as a community and give back.”
The meetings also serve as a platform for updates from local organizations on how these inputs can go further than just within the school system.
This week, Pathways Community Mental Health CEO Matt Maskart was able to share updates on a joint project with the Marquette County Sheriff’s Office. The idea would provide officers with an iPad connected to a 24/7 team if a call required mental health services.
“Essentially, the sheriff’s office has a virtual ride-along with a mental health provider, as a second layer of what we’ve already been doing in crisis intervention training,” he said.
The task force will reconvene again on January 14. Each meeting is free for community members to attend.
