In this Issue:

• News
• Events & Webinars
• Community Resources
• Los Recursos Familial en Español
• Family Resources in English
• Job Opportunities

The week spanning March 20 to March 26, during which we mark Light & Unite Red Week in Milwaukee and Alcohol Facts Week nationally, is especially important to our community members and partners. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, in 2021 there were 1,427 deaths in Wisconsin related to opioids. In Milwaukee County during that period there was a rate of 54 opioid-related deaths for every 100,000 individuals. That's more than double Wisconsin's rate as a whole, 24 opioid-related deaths per every 100,000 people.

This is why substance misuse education matters, and why prevention starts with each of us. For Light & Unite Red Week, please consider attending one of the many no-cost, substance-free events throughout the county. These include:

• Family Skate Night at Petit National Ice Center, March 21
• Family Movie Night, SHAZAM: Fury of the Gods, March 22
• Family Discovery Event at Discovery World, March 23
• AODA Trivia, Mocktails, Painting and More at Pathfinders
• Hidden in Plain Sight sponsored by The House of Kings and Priests, March 25
• 2023 Youth Summit at Gather organized by Milwaukee Christian Center, Neu-Life Community Development, RISE Drug Free MKE, and partners, March 25

We're also asking you to support RISE Drug Free MKE (formerly the Milwaukee County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition) on social media and in person where you are able. Prevention starts with us, and the decisions we make to support and connect within our community!

If you missed it, RISE Drug Free MKE collaborated with Walmart Action and CADCA for a virtual webinar discussing how to administer Naloxone. You can watch the webinar here; look for some familiar faces!

For a limited time, the Wisconsin Quit Line will offer one free 8-week shipment of nicotine replacement therapy patches, gum, or lozenges—or combination patch and gum or patch and lozenges—to registered participants. The Quit Line will also offer up to five proactive coaching calls for added support from specially trained quit line coaches.

Enhanced Quit Line services are available until June 30 or until available funding depletes, whichever comes first. After that, free nicotine replacement therapy medications will revert to a two-week supply and coaching support will shift to being initiated by the participant only.

Milwaukee County's Behavioral Health Division celebrated the accomplishments of its Better Ways to Cope 2022-2023 grantees with a gathering, demonstrations, and networking on March 6. Community Advocates Public Policy Institute teamed up with therapist and trainer Ana Paula Soares, who developed and piloted a Spanish-language mental health awareness and substance use prevention workshop, which was piloted by a great group of Promotores de Salud and community leaders. Look for these workshops throughout 2023. To learn more about Soares' campaign, Escucha Tus Emociones, visit her website to learn more.

The 2023-2025 Wisconsin State Budget has the power to impact each Wisconsinite in the next two years and beyond on issues that are central to our community. Hear from Greater Milwaukee legislators who will vote on it, and make your voice heard in this intimate, bipartisan gathering on March 27.



Community Advocates Public Policy Institute is hosting a panel discussion with State Rep. Evan Goyke (D-Milwaukee), State Sen. Rob Hutton (R-Brookfield), and State Sen. LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee) from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Monday, March 27, in our Downtown offices, 728 N. James Lovell St., Milwaukee.

Panel discussion topics will include:

+ Housing affordability and stability

+ Mental health and substance use disorder services

+ Tax credits for low-income individuals and families

+ Subsidized jobs

The panel discussion will be moderated by Community Advocates Public Policy Institute’s Senior Policy Advocate Julie Kerksick, who will provide the audience the opportunity to ask questions after the legislators speak on our main topics.

Doors open at 3:30 p.m. on March 27; the discussion will begin at 4 p.m. sharp. Light refreshments will be served. Registrations are required by March 24. If you require special accommodations, please register by March 22 and indicate your request where prompted on the registration form.

This series of Mindful Monday sessions will feature a wide range of evidence-based practices from different disciplines, including Art Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Movement, and Compassion Focused-Therapy. Each month will have a specific theme/focus with exercises from that discipline.

At the beginning of each session, participants will spend a few minutes grounding and learning about the practice for that day and then spend approximately 15-20 minutes in experiential practice, leaving a few minutes in the end for reflection and discussion. Register here.

Embrace, Encourage, and Engage: Family and Caregiver Access to Child and Youth Mental Health Resources

Wednesday, March 22

Please join the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), and parents, youth, and community leaders for a virtual event designed to provide parents and caregivers with tools and skills they need to support their children’s mental health. This session will be held at 5 p.m. on March 22. Register here.

Freshstart is designed to help any tobacco user, including those who may be unsure about wanting to quit, and specifically addresses ambivalence about quitting. The information, activities and discussion topics help participants discover why they smoke and what motivates them to quit.

Freshstart, which is offered by Advocate Aurora Health, is offered at no cost. Anyone who wants to quit using tobacco can participate in Freshstart.

The spring sessions will be held on four Thursdays starting March 23 at 6 to 7 p.m. Learn more and register here.

Greenfield Health Department is sponsoring this free testing event for those 14 years of age and up.

Tests include those for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis; resources include free condoms, dental dams, STI treatment, Narcan, fentanyl test strips, and information on human trafficking, domestic violence, and substance misuse.

This event will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on March 24 at The Ridge Community Church, 4500 S. 108th St., Greenfield.

Pre-Registration is offered at this link, but walk-ins are welcome!

Day of Empathy is the nation’s largest day of action for criminal justice reform, which brings together people from all walks of life who have been negatively impacted by America’s criminal justice system.

This includes survivors of violent crime, those who are currently incarcerated, loved ones on the outside who advocate for their freedom and systemic reforms, children of incarcerated parents, people on mass supervision, and all community members impacted by crime, public safety issues, and violence. Register here.

Owen's Place is hosting Grab & Go (Agarrar y Llevar) events the last Wednesday of the month. On Wednesday, March 29, from 3 to 5 p.m., stop by Owen's Place for free community resources, prevention materials, books, snacks, clothing items and more! Attendees are encouraged to bring along a few bags.

The Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board, Prevent Child Abuse Wisconsin, Office of Children’s Mental Health, SFTA and the Department of Children and Families are determined to ensure we build healthy children and strong families by shining a bright light on the issue of family strengthening. In April, we will come together to participate in activities that show our commitment to children and families.

Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, stable, and nurturing environment. Show your support by promoting and strengthening prevention efforts in Wisconsin. Take a picture of yourself and your colleagues wearing blue and share it on your favorite social media platform using the #familystrengthening hashtag. Learn more here.

Vaping remains a huge problem for teens both at school and at home - not just with nicotine vapes, but also for THC and marijuana products. Join Dr. Aaron Weiner, President of the Society of Addiction Psychology, for an exploration of vaping, including flavor restrictions, federal regulations, and THC products sold at gas stations. Most importantly, learn what you as parents can do to keep your teens healthy and safe. This webinar will be held from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. on April 11. Register here.

Join The Parenting Network to celebrate Family Strengthening Month. Get inspired by parent stories, enjoy beautiful family portraits on display and connect with fellow community members -- and kids are welcome! This event is Thursday, April 13, at 6 p.m. Registration required at the link below!

Mental Health America of Wisconsin is hosting this virtual two-day conference to be held April 13 and 14. This year’s theme is Holding Space, and our intention is to hold space for our communities and various practices of prevention. Suicide is not just a mental health issue, but a public health issue that requires us to think bigger and collaborate across communities and professions to build a world worth living in. This means we must hold space for the field of suicide prevention to grow and change through the incorporation of peer support, social justice and lived experience. We will explore current efforts in Wisconsin, what’s working and what we could be doing better, and continue to imagine a world worth living in. We hope you’ll join us to learn ideas and skills you can take back to your work and communities! Registration will open soon. Click here to learn more.

NAMI Wisconsin Annual Conference 2023 Friday, April 28 & Saturday, April 29

The NAMI Wisconsin Annual Conference is a two-day event for everyone interested in mental health.

The event hosts approximately 300 attendees including peers, family members, mental health providers, advocates, social workers, clinicians, government officials, and criminal justice partners. The conference includes keynote speakers and a variety of workshops designed to give attendees as much information and resources as possible.

This conference will be held April 28-29 at the Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake. Register here.

National Violent Death Reporting System Conference

May 16-18

Held in Milwaukee from May 16-18, NVDRS seeks to engage with an array of stakeholders who will showcase findings from the NVDRS and demonstrate how the use of NVDRS data has helped to develop, expand and sustain violence prevention programs and other related efforts.



The deadline to register is April 14, 2023.

Hey, there,

-- do you have:



• Job openings?
• Upcoming events?
• News to share?
• Suggestions?

Forward the information to Prevention@CommunityAdvocates.net.

Thank you for your service to Milwaukee!

Governor’s Health Equity Council’s Report:

Building a Better Wisconsin: Investing in the Health and Well-being of Wisconsinites

The Council utilized data from the Institute’s 2021 Wisconsin Population Health and Equity Report Card to illustrate the persistent health disparities in the state and to propose solutions for improving health and equity.

Read the report here.

"¿Qué es el fentanilo?" CDC

El fentanilo farmacéutico es un opioide sintético, aprobado para el tratamiento del dolor intenso, por lo general el dolor producido por el cáncer en estadio avanzado. Su potencia es entre 50 y 100 veces superior a la de la morfina. Se receta en forma de parches transdérmicos o pastillas para chupar, y se puede desviar para el consumo indebido y excesivo en los Estados Unidos. Obtener más información aquí

"¿Cómo se administra la naloxona?" NIDA

La naloxona es un medicamento que revierte rápidamente una sobredosis de opioides. Es un antagonista opioide, es decir, se adhiere a los receptores opioides y revierte y bloquea los efectos de otros opioides. La naloxona puede restablecer con rapidez la respiración normal de una persona que respira lentamente o ha dejado de respirar a causa de una sobredosis de opioides. Obtener más información aquí

"What is fentanyl?" CDC

Pharmaceutical fentanyl is a synthetic opioid, approved for treating severe pain, typically advanced cancer pain. It is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. It is prescribed in the form of transdermal patches or lozenges and can be diverted for misuse and abuse in the United States. Learn more here.

"What is naloxone?" NIDA

Naloxone is a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose. It is an opioid antagonist. This means that it attaches to opioid receptors and reverses and blocks the effects of other opioids. Naloxone can quickly restore normal breathing to a person if their breathing has slowed or stopped because of an opioid overdose. But, naloxone has no effect on someone who does not have opioids in their system, and it is not a treatment for opioid use disorder. Learn more here.

Job Opportunities

1. Big Brothers Big Sisters MKE - Match Support Specialists
2. Bread of Healing Clinic - Executive Director
3. Guest House of Milwaukee Inc - Housing Coordinator, Advocates and Case Manager
4. Meta House - Peer Specialist - Residential
5. Neighborhood House of Milwaukee - Executive Director
6. Pathfinders - Director of Housing Services
7. Pathfinders - Senior Manager of Anti-Violence Services
8. Wisconsin Community Services - Youth Advocate Community Improvement
9. Wisconsin PATCH - Milwaukee Site Coordinator

Community Advocates Public Policy Institute | 414-270-2950 

ppi.communityadvocates.net