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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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.

    Now Hiring: Mental Health Task Force Coordinator

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    Disability Rights Wisconsin is searching for an excellent communicator to take on our Mental Health Task Force Coordinator position as part of the Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force.

    The Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force (MHTF) was formed in 2004, in response to a crisis in inpatient psychiatric services that exposed major gaps in Milwaukee’s system of mental health care. The MHTF includes participants from community organizations, and other community members, who work collaboratively to advance the quality and responsiveness of mental health and substance use disorder services, give peers and families a strong voice, reduce stigma, and implement recovery principles. The MHTF co-chair has a seat on the Milwaukee County Mental Health Board.

    The Coordinator will staff and coordinate monthly MHTF meetings and special programs; staff monthly Steering Committee meetings; provide policy leadership for the MHTF; coordinate funding-related activities; and coordinate the task force’s social media and listserv.

    Milwaukee County residency is strongly preferred, with options for remote work. Many meetings are conducted in-person and the Coordinator must be able to attend in-person. The applicant must be a Wisconsin resident.

    The position will remain open until filled.

    Learn more about key responsibilities and qualifications for our Mental Health Task Force Coordinator position below:

    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.

      July 11, 2023 Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force meeting

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      Join us for the July Mental Health Task Force meeting on Tuesday, July 11, from 3 – 5 PM.

      The July 11 meeting will be held at Independence First, 540 S. 1st Street. This will be our first meeting back at Independence First since March 2020 and we are excited to return to in-person meetings after meeting virtually through the pandemic. We will also offer a virtual option via Zoom – but encourage you to attend in person.

      Meeting Agenda

      View the July 2023 Meeting Agenda (PDF).

      View the July 2023 Meeting Recording via Youtube.

      Our agenda will include the following:

      1. Welcome, Mary Neubauer and Christine Apple, co-chairs (3:00 – 3:10)
        • Thanks to Independence First for once again hosting Mental Health Task Force meetings, beginning July 11th
        • Ground rules for hybrid meetings
        • Volunteers are needed for our Karen Avery Forum planning committee. This year’s forum will focus how to address housing needs. Interested in helping? Email beckert@drwi.org. Thanks to those who have responded to date.
        • Save the date for our annual Milwaukee County Budget Briefing scheduled for Tuesday, August 8th at 3 PM with special guest County Executive David Crowley and department leadership.
      2. What’s Happening with Peer Support? Focus on Peer Run Respite and Peer Recovery Center with Our Space (3:10 – 3:40)
      3. Supported employment: Learn about the Club House model of supported employment, the work of Grand Avenue Club, and opportunities to get involved (3:40 – 4:10)
      4. Resiliency to Advocacy – Leading a Fulfilling Life through Peer Support (4:10 – 4:40)
        • Speaker: Mary Neubauer, MSW, CPS.
          Mary is a Milwaukee County trained Peer Specialist since 2006 and has been state certified since its inception. Join us as Mary chronicles various types of Peer Support she has provided over the past 40 years and shares the fulfillment of being a Certified Peer Specialist. She will share points of critical Peer Support she has received during the past 40 years and how it impacted her recovery and direction of her life.
      5. Policy Updates – State Budget and Milwaukee County Mental Health Board (4:40 – 5:00)

      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. Indicate if you plan to participate in person or by Zoom.

        In-PersonVirtually

        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.