The COVID-19 pandemic has caused immeasurable suffering and anxiety for all of us.

No one has been spared from making sacrifices, and the pandemic’s intrusion into daily life has taken an emotional toll on everyone, specifically students and educators who, for the first time ever, were forced to take the classroom online.

With the start of the new year, the Voices of Wisconsin Students Project aims to learn from these emotions, listening to the most pressing issues facing young people in our state.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services, the Medical College of Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service will be sponsoring a series of virtual, small group discussions for real students concerning COVID-19.

From January 26 to February 12, a total of twenty Zoom conferences will be held where young people are encouraged to express their thoughts about learning, coping, and building resilience during the pandemic.

The program is available to all middle and high school students, who, upon participating, will receive a $10 gift card.

Questions will identify challenges and examples of success, alike, and seek to gain feedback on students’ learning experiences in a pandemic.

Students can expect to be asked…

• How is school and learning going for you during COVID-19?
• What are current sources of stress or anxiety and what challenges are you experiencing?
• What is going well?  What new strategies are you and your fellow students using to cope better?
• What kinds of additional resources and support do you wish you had?
• What do you want school and community leaders to know about how COVID-19 is impacting students?

As the pandemic rages into its eleventh month, tracking its emotional and psychological effect on Wisconsin youth is critical.

The data collected will be used to help the Department of Health Services, schools, and community leaders create and expand vital programs for young people all across our state.

For more information or to register, visit https://wipps.org/research-partners/.

Further questions should be directed to Sharon Belton, project director, at [email protected], or 715-302-8483.