MILWAUKEE — A learning center in Milwaukee’s Harambee neighborhood is teaching students the importance of managing their behavior and mental health.

At Malaika Early Learning Center, staff serve children between ages of six weeks and 12 years. Over the past 19 years, it has helped more than 600 children from some of Milwaukee’s poorest neighborhoods.

Malaika staff said the children that they serve are often confronted with challenges that threaten to undermine their ability to succeed academically and become productive citizens later in life.

Staff help develop the cognitive, social and emotional skills necessary to be successful in school.

They started offering a wellness program about 5 years ago after noticing students were dealing with traumas outside of the classroom.

“It’s very rare that you’ll find an early education program that has a health and wellness program built into it,” said Tamara Johnson, executive director of Malaika.

Johnson said they work with each child and scholar individually. The goal is to teach them to better manage their behaviors and pinpoint how to do things like calm themselves in stressful situations. 

David Blackmon, student support coordinator at Malaika, works one-on-one with students that are dealing with certain behavioral issues and works to best meet their needs. 

“If we can address those issues earlier, then we set them up for more success as they grow older,” said Blackmon. 

He said they do all they can to help a student be successful with their studies and their mental wellness. 

The health and wellness program has three different tiers. Tier 1 is for teachers and staff. This is where they work to help teach students how to manage their emotions with different techniques.

In the second tier, staff pinpoint behaviors that could reoccur or cause other issues in the long run. 

“I always thought it was important to provide those services for younger students,” said Blackmon.

The third tier goes beyond the classroom and refers students or families to outside sources for day treatment.

Dr. Marica Tipton is the health and wellness specialist at Malaika. She said they work to encourage conversations around mental health not only with students but also with the parents.

“This program works because of the culture of this environment,” said Tipton. “It’s a family feel here in this community.”

Tipton said the topic of mental health can be taboo in the Milwaukee community and communities of color. Her goal is to help ease some of the stresses and fears around mental illnesses and help others understand what it is.

“We do see positive outcomes,” said Tipton. “Theres a lot of knowledge, teaching and a lot of understanding.”

According to its website, between fall 2007 and January 2008, all of Malaika’s three- and four-year-olds showed an increase in: self-awareness, speaking/listening, emergent literacy, writing, pre-academic math/science, music/art/creative play, and fine motor skills.

Staff say they pride themselves most on relationship building.

“It’s definitely the small things and details and just giving them the tools so that they trust that you have their best interest at hand,” said Blackmon.

Enrollment is now open for the fall semester. Those interested in learning more can click here.