Rockford School Leaders Call For Equitable Mental Health Funding

School leaders in Rockford are urging county officials to allocate more funds toward addressing mental health needs within the community, with a focus on equity and accessibility.

In 2019, Winnebago County established the Winnebago County Community Mental Health Board, which oversees a half-percent mental health sales tax. This tax has generated an estimated $15 million annually for mental health initiatives across the county.

Now, advocates are calling for a more equitable distribution of those funds, with a particular emphasis on expanding mental health services for underserved populations.

Keishona Williamson, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Kikifer’s Entrepreneurial Academy, has been vocal about the issue. “It’s absolutely urgent,” Williamson said, stressing the need for immediate action. “If we want to change Winnebago County, if we want real change in our community, we have to fund it now.”

Kikifer’s Entrepreneurial Academy, a private school focused on entrepreneurship and life skills, is one of the organizations pushing for funding from the mental health tax revenue. Williamson highlighted that, should the academy receive the funds, it would be the first Black-led organization to do so since the creation of the mental health board.

The academy aims to extend its current mental health programming, which includes mentorship and trauma support, to a wider community. “Not everyone has a formal diagnosis. Some of us are simply dealing with trauma, and we need someone to talk to—mentorship, mental health resources, to help process that trauma,” Williamson explained.

Leaders from Kikifer’s Entrepreneurial Academy and other local advocates are scheduled to attend the upcoming Winnebago County Board meeting on January 9, 2025, where the board is expected to vote on the proposed funding allocation. If approved, the funds could support a more robust mental health infrastructure, benefiting both students and the broader community.