Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force

The Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force is the voice of the community on issues related to the quality and responsiveness of mental health and substance abuse disorder services.

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Mental Health Task Force November 10th virtual meeting

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The Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force will be meeting on November 10th from 3:00 – 5:00 pm.

Meeting Agenda (pdf)

Meeting Summary and Materials

  • We are very fortunate to welcome as our speakers Otis Winstead, Executive Director of Great Lakes Dry Hootch, and Mark Flower, Peer Mentor, Veterans Peer Respite.  Otis and Mark will speak to us about their work,  resources for veterans, and guidance on how to support veterans in manner that is trauma informed and respectful.  Reminder that Veterans Day is November 11th. 
  • Supported Employment.  People who live with a mental illness have a high rate of unemployment.  Our speakers will update us on the options for supported employment offered by Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division.

Speakers include:

    • Beth Andrea Lohmann |Integrated Services Coordinator, Employment Services | Individual Placement and Support
    • Keith Schroeder, IPS Supervisor from Goodwill
    • Darrel Lofton, IPS Employment Specialist from Easterseals

Presentation: Work is Recovery 2020

Video: Shawn’s Story  With the help of Goodwill, Shawn landed his dream job at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport.

 

Mental Health: Resources for Veterans and Military Families

Reminders, etc.

Meeting Logistics

  • ASL Interpreters will be available.  If you use an ASL interpreter or have other disability related accommodation needs, please email me at beckert@drwi.org so we can be responsive to your needs.
  • Meeting materials will be posted on the here prior to the meeting.

If you don’t have the link to join the meeting, please fill out the form below.  The meeting link will be sent to your email.

    MHTF Testimony on 2021 County Budget Priorities

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    The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors held their annual Public Hearing on the County Budget on Friday October 30th.  Information about the hearing is posted on the Board of Supervisors website pages.  Share this testimony regarding our priorities for the 2021 budget.  Note that the 2021 budget for behavioral health services was approved earlier this year by the Milwaukee County Mental Health Board.

    Karen Avery Forum: Materials and Resources

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    Forum Materials

    Forum Agenda

    Forum Speakers

    2020 MHTF Award Recipients

    Presentations

    Fair Housing Law for People with Mental Health Disabilities presentation

    Housing = Healthcare presentation

    Breakout Session Speakers, Facilitators and Notetakers

    Breakout Session Directions and Roles

    Breakout Session Notes Form

    Housing Related Resources

    2020 Forum Resource List

    Housing Resources

    Fair Housing – Know Your Rights (Milwaukee Area)

    Red Flags of Housing Discrimination (MMFHC)

    MATC Protective Services, Crisis Intervention, AODA and Homeless Outreach Resource Guide

    About the Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force

    2020 MHTF Steering Committee Members

    2021 MHTF Supporting Members

    Voting Resources

    Make Your Plan to Vote – Statewide version   (for anyone who is not in the City of Milwaukee)

    Make Your Plan to Vote – City of Milwaukee version  (for City of Milwaukee residents only)

    Disability Vote Coalition Absentee Voting Fact Sheet – 2020 Elections (updated 9-7-2020)

    Milwaukee County 2021 Proposed Budget by County Exec

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    County Executive David Crowley has released his recommended budget for 2021.  You can view the proposed budget here.   The Mental Health Task Force Steering Committee is reviewing the budget and will share our priorities soon. The County budget provides funding for mental health services, transportation, housing, disability services, services for older adults, and for youth and adults in the justice system.

    Here is the Mental Health Task Force September testimony on department budget requests, shared with the County Executive at the September 8th budget hearing.

    Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force Congratulates 2020 Award Recipients

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    The Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force (MHTF) is extremely gratified to congratulate the remarkable recipients of our 2020 awards recognizing outstanding leadership and mental health advocacy.  The awards will be presented Tuesday afternoon October 13th at the 2020 Karen Avery Forum, “Housing: Opportunities, Rights and Resources.”

    A printable (PDF) version of this announcement is available here.

    Karen Avery Award

    Otis Winstead will be the seventh recipient of the Karen Avery Award. The award was established to honor Karen Avery’s legacy as an advocate, mentor, peer, and leader in advancing the rights of people with disabilities.

    Otis WinsteadOtis Winstead, VPS,WCPS, NPS, Executive Director of Great Lakes Dryhootch has dedicated his career to serving as an advocate, peer mentor, and leader in his community, which makes him the perfect person to honor the values and legacy of Karen Avery.  His heart can be found in walking alongside and providing support to other Veterans and peers in recovery.  As a peer mentor, Otis uses his recovery as a way to connect with others and use his lived experience to spread the message of hope and resilience to the Veterans he mentors.  Otis is a constant advocate for Veteran health. He teaches his community and academic partners from a first-hand perspective about the struggles of opioid recovery and the need to address personal life trauma, adversity, and mental health.  A Vietnam Era Army Veteran, Otis is a leader among Veterans who leads by example and practices what he teaches.

    The nomination noted that: “Otis Winstead exemplifies what it means to be a community partner and a mental health advocate. He collaborates, he teaches, he questions, he advocates, and he always seeks to ensure the voice of the Veteran is included in the work we are doing. Strong leaders like Otis are essential to supporting peers and creating lasting community-academic partnerships that can develop innovative strategies to address complex problems. Wisconsin Veterans and Otis’s academic and community partners are thankful for his dedication to serve.“

    Marie C. Perry Rising Leader Award

    DeShanda Williams will be the 2nd recipient of the Marie C. Perry Rising Leader Award.  Inspired by the dedication of our inaugural recipient, the Award honors Marie’s memory and recognizes visionary leadership by an individual who is a rising and/or young leader in the Milwaukee area mental health community.

    DeShanda WilliamsDeShanda Williams, MSCP is the Director of Runaway and Homeless Youth Services for Pathfinders in Milwaukee. She has spent 9 years with Pathfinders. DeShanda is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Training and holds a MS in Community Psychology from Alverno College and a BS in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Her passion is in supporting and uplifting youth and young adults, especially those dealing with overlapping social identities.  DeShanda has been a trailblazer in visioning non-traditional mental health services for Milwaukee youth, and has demonstrated a deep commitment to keeping young people’s voices at the center of care.

    The nomination noted that: “The positive changes DeShanda has made within the organization and for individual young people are immeasurable. Her ability and desire to genuinely connect with a young person’s mental health challenges make her an exceptional, trustworthy ally to Milwaukee’s young people and the mental health community in Milwaukee.”

    As the recipient of the Marie C. Perry award, DeShanda will receive a scholarship for conference registration, fees, and logistics or continuing education to further her professional development in the field of health and human services. This was generously endowed by Marie’s family.

    Congratulations to the 2020 award recipients and we thank them for their dedicated advocacy.

    Please join the Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force on October 13th at 2:30 PM for the 2020 Karen Avery Forum, Housing: Opportunities, Rights and Resources and awards presentation.  Pre-registration is required for this virtual event.

    Many people who live with a mental illness struggle to find and maintain safe, accessible, affordable housing. Access to housing is key to maintaining recovery. This virtual forum will explore opportunities to expand access to housing, tenant rights including disability related accommodations, and resources to support consumers with maintaining housing.

    Featured speakers are Andy McMahon, Vice President of Health and Human Services Policy at UnitedHealthcare Community & State, and Monica Murphy, Managing Attorney Disability Rights Wisconsin.

    Additional information about the October 13th forum including online registration is available at: https://www.milwaukeemhtf.org/2020forum/