As a network of providers committed to increasing mental health treatment options for our Wisconsin children and families, we affirm the action of the Wisconsin State Assembly today to approve SB 106 – legislation that will expand Wisconsin’s continuum of care for children and youth with complex needs.
By passing SB 106 today, our Wisconsin Assembly honors the stories of struggle shared by our county professionals, our provider community and countless parents and caregivers. More importantly it honors the stories of the hundreds of Wisconsin children who have experienced the trauma and disruption of out-of-state placement, while also inviting us to hope for a future in which children receive the right support at the right time, right here in our own state.
We are grateful for the work of the Legislative Council Study Committee on Emergency Detention and Civil Commitment of Minors who prioritized this bill following impactful testimony from state and national voices regarding better options for youth with intensive mental health treatment needs. We are further grateful for the leadership of Rep. Patrick Snyder as co-chair for the Study Committee and Rep. Barbara Dittrich who first championed this legislation and shepherded support through the Assembly. Thanks to these collective efforts, Wisconsin is one step closer to better treatment alternatives closer to home.
