Milwaukee County Exec Crowley: Encourages residents to access services and resources throughout Mental Health Awareness Month

Events and programs will connect children and adults to holistic, person-centered care

MILWAUKEE – In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Behavioral Health Services (BHS) is raising awareness of its community-based services and resources available to all Milwaukee County residents.

Milwaukee County BHS continues to meet people where they are at with community-based services, including Community Access to Recovery Services (CARS) and Comprehensive Community Services (CCS), Milwaukee Mobile Crisis (MMC), Access Clinics, the Milwaukee County Mental Health Clinic, Wraparound Milwaukee-Children’s Community Mental Health Services, Mental Health Emergency Center, along with other services and resources.

If a child or adult is having a mental health or substance use crisis, residents are encouraged to call Milwaukee Mobile Crisis, the 24/7 Crisis Line at 414-257-7222, where callers will receive support and connection to services, including Mobile Crisis Clinicians dispatched anywhere in the community to provide in-person assessment, stabilization, connection to additional services, and appropriate follow-up.

“Milwaukee County provides critical behavioral health services to children and adults, while continuing to invest in prevention though our Better Ways To Cope initiative, community-based partnerships, and innovative programs,” said County Executive Crowley. “I encourage Milwaukee County residents to explore the services and programs available to them. There are mental health and substance use crisis resources here within our community, and local teams are ready to help. Let’s keep working to break down barriers and help people experiencing mental health challenges receive the care and support they need.”

“Our goal is to ensure residents across our community know where and how to access behavioral health services. Mental Health Awareness Month gives us the opportunity to highlight the critical services provided to children and adults,” said Katharine Bottoni, Chair, Milwaukee County Mental Health Board. “We strongly encourage anyone in need of support to explore the wide range of behavioral health services offered through Milwaukee County.”

Several events taking place to get critical resources and information to individuals, children, and families:

• National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day: Thursday, May 7, from 3:00pm-6:00pm at Owen’s Place (4610 W. Fond du Lac Avenue). Wraparound Milwaukee-Children’s Community Mental Health is hosting a celebration in honor of Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day with resources, activities, food, music, youth activities, and much more. The event is rain or shine.

• Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force + BHS Resource Fair: Tuesday, June 9, from 12:30pm-2:15pm and 4:15pm-4:45pm at Independence First (540 S. 1^st Street). Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force Meeting and resource fair for the community. Doors open at 2:00pm. Forum from 2:30pm-4:15pm.

• 1,000 Doors Challenge in Celebration of National Harm Reduction Day + Resource Fair: Friday, June 12, from 2:00pm-5:00pm at Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center (1531 W. Vliet Street): Information on mental health resources, treatment, and basic needs, along with CPR and AED training, live Narcan demonstrations, and interactive exhibits that center lived experiences and recovery stories. Throughout the day, there will be a community-driven effort to canvass neighborhoods and distribute life-saving harm reduction supplies.

“My organization, Uniting Garden Homes, is working to improve community health and end stigma around mental wellness and substance misuse. By rebuilding our community one person at a time, we will interrupt violence,” said Desilynn Smith, Executive Director, Uniting Garden Homes, Inc. and Milwaukee County Mental Health Board Member. “We believe that if we make meaningful connections for our neighbors to behavioral health services, that will truly make a difference. When we are called, we respond.”

BHS is shining a spotlight on Comprehensive Community Services (CCS) that serves youth and adults by providing support for mental health or substance use issues. CCS is a voluntary community-based program that addresses needs throughout a person’s lifespan with a coordinated and comprehensive array of recovery, treatment and psychosocial rehabilitation services. CCS operates 11 Adult Care Coordination teams, 9 Youth Care Coordination teams, and partners with over 100 community-based agencies.

“CCS works with people across the lifespan to help them achieve personal goals. It is a voluntary program providing support for people to build skills to be independent and thrive,” said Beth Lohmann, Director, BHS Comprehensive Community Services. “The program features community-based support designed for children, youth, and adults managing mental health or substance abuse challenges. It is a comprehensive approach to recovery, and offers treatment, and psychosocial rehabilitation services tailored to the individual.”

Additionally, since 2021, the Better Ways To Cope movement has been instrumental in creating awareness of prevention resources by hosting events, offering trainings, and regranting substance use prevention funds to community-based programs. Leveraging this successful track record is furthering collective impact by directing resources toward transformative initiatives aimed at tackling challenges related to the opioid epidemic.

In 2022, DHHS launched Harm Reduction MKE, an initiative that began with placing 27 harm reduction vending machines throughout the community, providing easy access to supplies, including nasal naloxone, fentanyl test strips, drug deactivation pouches, medication lock bags, and gun locks. Through a program called “Pull Up & Pick Up,” residents can order free supplies and pick them up from the Coakley Brothers building on the third Friday of every month. Additionally, in partnership with Vivent Health Depot, residents can now have free harm reduction supplies delivered directly to their homes.

About Milwaukee County DHHS Behavioral Health Services

Milwaukee County DHHS Behavioral Health Services provides care and treatment to adults, children, and adolescents with mental illness and substance use disorders through both County-operated programs and contracts with community agencies. Services include intensive short-term treatment through crisis services and inpatient services, and a full array of supportive community services for persons with serious mental illness and substance use disorders.