The Wisconsin National Guard is being sent to mental health and disability care facilities across the state to plug the state’s worker shortage.
The state’s Department of Health Services says about 60 troops have been sent to work as nursing assistants in the Mendota Mental Health Institute, Winnebago Mental Health Institute, Southern Wisconsin Center and Central Wisconsin Center. The troops have completed a 16-hour nursing assistant class, and are working to finish the official 59-hour class to become certified nursing assistants.
Guard commanders say this is the first time that troops have been sent to these types of facilities. Governor Evers has relied on the guard for many different missions over the past two years, including coronavirus testing and covering the state’s polls.
