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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Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force September 28th Testimony

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The Milwaukee County Mental Health Board held a public hearing on September 28th at Washington Park Senior Center. The Mental Health Task Force submitted comments addressing mental health care at the jail, waiting for treatment to competency, mobile crisis services, the closure of youth crisis stabilization, and the need to promote board listening sessions. Thanks to Steering Committee member, Nicole Damiano, for speaking at the hearing.

October 10, 2023 Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force meeting

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Join us for the October Mental Health Task Force meeting on Tuesday, October 10, from 3 – 5 PM. Our speakers will provide an update on Granite Hills Hospital from their CEO, information about Uplift, the new statewide Warmline, and the Mental Health Navigation Initiative. The October meeting will be held at Independence First, 540 S. 1st Street. We will also offer a virtual option via Zoom – but encourage you to attend in person.

Meeting Agenda

View the October 10, 2023 Meeting Agenda here (PDF).

View the October 10, 2023 Meeting Recording via Youtube.

Our agenda will include the following:

  1. Welcome, Susan Gadacz and Robin Pedersen, acting co-chairs and Steering Committee members (3 – 3:10)
    • Meeting ground rules
    • Thank you to Nicole Damiano for speaking on behalf of the MHTF at the Mental Health Board Public Comments session.
    • Welcome to Sally Smaida, new Mental Health Task Force Coordinator
    • Our annual membership campaign will kick off this fall. Watch for details – your support is vital to the work of the Mental Health Task Force.
  2. Granite Hills Hospital: An Update, Angela Sanders, Psy.D., Chief Executive Officer of Granite Hills Hospital (3:10 – 3:50)
    • Dr. Sanders provide an update on Granite Hills Hospital, including addressing questions provided by the Mental Health Task Force. We will also have some time for questions from attendees. Milwaukee County has a contract with Granite Hills to serve involuntary and uninsured patients.
    • View the Granite Hills Hospital presentation (PDF).
  3. Uplift WI: Wisconsin’s New Statewide Warmline Provides Peer Support, Jensen Bosio (she/they), Uplift WI Program Supervisor, Mental Health America of Wisconsin (3:50 – 4:20)
    • Uplift WI is for Wisconsin residents and is staffed by certified peer specialists. Call this line if you need someone to talk to for support when things are difficult, or when you just need a peer to connect with. This line is fully anonymous and confidential. It is not directly connected to crisis linkage services. Uplift will not call emergency services unless you specifically request this from us, and that process will be led by you.
    • View the Uplift WI presentation (PDF).
    • View Questions Regarding Granite Hills (PDF).
  4. Mental Health Navigation Initiative: Improving Connections to Mental Health and Substance Services in Milwaukee County

Meeting materials will be posted on our website as we receive them.

Meeting Registration

Our meetings are open to all. To register for the meeting, complete the form on our website. Indicate if you plan to participate in person at Independence First or by Zoom. You will receive an email response with the Zoom link.

Chemical Sensitivity Policy

For the safety and comfort of all those with chemical and environmental sensitivities, Independence First requests that attendees please refrain from using any perfumed products such as scented soaps, deodorants, perfumes, colognes, and heavily scented fabric softeners.

Reasonable Accommodations

ASL interpreters will be provided. To request other disability-related accommodations, please email barbara.beckert@drwi.org as soon as possible. We will do our best to respond to all requests.

    In-PersonVirtually

     

    September 12, 2023 Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force meeting

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    Join us for the September Mental Health Task Force meeting on Tuesday, September 12, from 3 – 5 PM. The September meeting will be held at Independence First, 540 S. 1st Street.  We will also offer a virtual option via Zoom – but encourage you to attend in-person. Our speakers will address suicide prevention, recovery resources, and an update on Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Services Division.

    Meeting Agenda

    View the September 12, 2023 meeting agenda (PDF).

    View the September 12, 2023 meeting recording via Youtube.

    Our agenda will include the following:

    1. Welcome – Mary Neubauer& Christine Apple, co-chairs (3 – 3:10)
      • Meeting ground rules
    2. Suicide Prevention: What’s Happening in Wisconsin? (3:10 – 3:40)
    3. A Focus on National Recovery Month, including Speakers from The Phoenix and sharing recovery resources. (3:40 – 4:10)
      • Speakers:
        • Christine Ullstrup, LCSW, CSAC, Meta House, will introduce our speakers.
        • The Phoenix is a national nonprofit organization that provides free physical activities and social events for anyone in recovery or sober curious with 48 hours of continuous sobriety.
        • Susan Gadacz, MHTF Steering Committee member, will share recovery resources.
      • September marks National Recovery Month, a time to share the message that treatment can save a life and can help people with substance use disorders recover from addiction’s powerful effects on their brain and behavior.
    4. Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Services Division (BHS) Update (4:10 – 4:40)
    5. Policy Updates – Milwaukee County Mental Health Board, State updates (4:40 – 5)

    Meeting materials will be posted on our website as we receive them.

    Save the Date!

    Our October 10th meeting will include the following:

    • Granite Hills update from Angela Sanders, CEO
    • State Warmline update: Maddison Wagner, Uplift Program Supervisor, and Jensen Bosio, Uplift Program Manager
    • Mental Health Navigation Initiative, supported by INPOWER, to share recommendations for improving navigation resources with the Mental Health system

    Meeting Registration

    Our meetings are open to all. To register for the meeting, complete the form. Indicate if you plan to participate in person at Independence First or by Zoom. You will receive an email response with the Zoom link.

      In-PersonVirtually

      Chemical Sensitivity Policy

      For the safety and comfort of all those with chemical and environmental sensitivities, Independence First requests that attendees please refrain from using any perfumed products such as scented soaps, deodorants, perfumes, colognes, and heavily scented fabric softeners.

      Reasonable Accommodations

      ASL interpreters will be provided. To request other disability related accommodations, please email barbara.beckert@drwi.org as soon as possible. We will do our best to respond to all requests.

      August 8, 2023 Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force meeting

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      Briefing on Proposed 2024 Milwaukee County Department Budget Requests

      As Submitted to the County Executive

      Join us for the August Mental Health Task Force Annual County Budget Briefing on Tuesday, August 8, from 3 – 5 PM. The briefing will feature County Executive David Crowley and department leadership as listed below. This is an important opportunity to get a preview of the proposed budget early in the process, while there is still time to influence the budget.

      The meeting will be held at Independence First, 540 S. 1st Street. All speakers plan to attend in person. We will also offer a virtual option via Zoom – but encourage you to attend in person. Please register below to help us with planning.

      Meeting Agenda

      View the August 8, 2023 meeting agenda (PDF).

      View the August 8, 2023 meeting recording via Youtube.

      Our speakers and topics will include the following:

      1. Welcome (3 – 3:05)
        • Mental Health Task Force Co-Chairs, Mary Neubauer and Christine Apple
      2. Opening Remarks:
      3. Milwaukee County Transit System (3:40 – 3:55)
      4. Milwaukee County Health & Human Services, including Aging & Disability Services;
        Behavioral Health; Children, Youth & Families; Housing; & Veterans Services (3:55 – 4:15)

      5. Milwaukee County Community Reintegration Center (4:15 – 4:30)
      6. Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office (4:30 – 4:45)
      7. Wrap up, Call to Action and Next Steps – Coalition Leadership (4:45 – 5)
        • Mary Neubauer and Christine Apple, MHTF Co-chairs
        • Barbara Beckert, MHTF Coordinator – Disability Rights Wisconsin

      Meeting materials will be posted on our website as we receive them.

      Resources for the 2024 Milwaukee County Budget

      Meeting Registration

      Our meetings are open to all. To register for the meeting, complete the form below. Indicate if you plan to participate in person or by Zoom.

        In-PersonVirtually

        For the safety and comfort of all those with chemical and environmental sensitivities, Independence First requests that attendees please refrain from using any perfumed products such as scented soaps, deodorants, perfumes, colognes, and heavily scented fabric softeners.

        Accommodations

        ASL interpreters will be provided. To request other disability related accommodations, please email barbara.beckert@drwi.org as soon as possible. We will do our best to respond to all requests.