Welcome to our November newsletter!

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Wisconsin CONNECT is a collaborative. We seek to provide technical assistance and training opportunities for substance use prevention and treatment grantees, providers, clinicians, social workers, and support staff.

We draw on local and national academic and community resources to reduce and prevent substance use and improve overall health and wellness in Wisconsin.

To that end, we want to help you connect the dots with this newsletter. It is a tool to support our efforts to promote new research, share tools and trainings that aim to help you engage in different communities, enhance practice and improve the health of your clients and program participants.

Peer Crisis Survey

from Wisconsin DHS

"Do you identify as a peer? You are invited to share your expertise!

We are conducting a 30-question survey to learn more about peers in systems transformation, specifically in crisis models. It will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. The deadline to participate is November 30, 2023.

Survey details

Participation in this survey is intended for individuals at least 18 years of age who identify as a peer. We need your peer perspective to:

• Assist us with transformation of the crisis services system.
• Help us understand how peers are currently working in crisis services system.
• Help us understand how comfortable peers are working in crisis services.
• Help us understand the needs in the state and availability of peers to work in regional areas/types of programming.

We ask that you do not complete this survey if you solely identify as a parent peer specialist or youth peer specialist. This specific survey does not apply to those groups.

If you have any questions about this survey, please contact Katie Sparks."

Click here to take the survey.

DHS Launches Wisconsin Wayfinder: Children’s Resource Network

Connecting Wisconsin families with special health care needs to essential support and resources

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) today launched a new service that will transform the support structure for families of children with delays, disabilities, special health care needs, or mental health conditions. Wisconsin Wayfinder: Children’s Resource Network includes a user-friendly website and toll-free helpline that lets families easily connect with real people – dedicated children’s resource guides – who will help navigate through the essential services and supports that will enable their children to thrive.

“This service is a critical step toward improving the way families with special health care needs access and connect with the vital resources they need, especially during crucial moments like after an initial diagnosis,” said DHS Deputy Secretary Deb Standridge. “Our children’s resource guides are people committed to personally assisting families on this journey. Wisconsin Wayfinder embodies our commitment to inclusivity, support, and accessibility for our state’s children and their families.”

A statewide, user-friendly website, dhs.wi.gov/wiscway, and toll-free number, 877-WiscWay (877-947-2929), provide families with convenient, direct access to compassionate and knowledgeable children’s resource guides.

View the entire news release.

Wisconsin Adds New Hub to Pilot Program

Northwest Milwaukee site to join effort to test model emphasizing care coordination in the treatment of substance use disorder

The Department of Health Services (DHS) will be adding a fourth site to a program initiated in 2020 that pilots a hub and spoke approach to treating Wisconsin Medicaid members affected by substance use disorder and physical and behavioral health issues that challenge their efforts in recovery. Vin Baker Recovery of Milwaukee was selected in a process earlier this year. The organization's startup costs as a pilot program participant will be funded through Wisconsin’s 2022 share of the National Prescription Opiate Litigation settlement. Nearly all of those funds have been distributed to agencies providing prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery support.

Under the pilot, individual organizations take the lead as a “hub” on the care of people in their program, ensuring that substance use disorder treatment and other health care needs are addressed. Hub teams include peer providers who have lived experience with substance use to improve member engagement with their treatment. Each team develops individualized integrated care plans, implements those plans through connections and referrals, and facilitates members’ treatment across different settings. Each hub then works with a network of “spoke” organizations that provide a range of services customized to further address each member’s unique circumstances.

“Adding a site to this promising pilot will increase our understanding of how this model works in another setting,” said DHS Secretary-designee Kirsten Johnson. “Better yet, it means more members can receive individualized services and improved access to the necessary physical health care providers, prescribers, and behavior health specialists, leading to better overall health outcomes.”

View the entire news release.

Empowerment Coalition of Milwaukee: Peer Support Services

Wednesday, November 15 

The Empowerment Coalition of Milwaukee (ECOM) is a monthly gathering of social services professionals, advocates, and consumers organized by Community Advocates Public Policy Institute. ECOM explores topics that are vital to Milwaukee’s human services professionals. This month's topic is Peer Support Services.

ECOM will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Wednesday, November 15, at Community Advocates, 728 N. James Lovell St., Milwaukee. Fee is $5 for light refreshments and materials and are not refundable. Kindly make sure to RSVP by Friday, November 10.

RSVP here.

Recognizing Racial Stigma and Opportunities for Change

from the Northeast Caribbean PTTC

Thursday, November 16

Stigma is associated with negative and often fear-based perspectives and misunderstandings of people with mental health or substance use problems, or physical disabilities. Add layers of race and ethnicity, and you have racial stigma, referring to how people of diverse backgrounds are unfairly perceived and treated. The combined impact plays a major role in why many who would benefit from treatment do not seek care.

This interactive four-hour workshop will review how mitigating factors such as stress, discrimination, microaggressions and societal attributions influence racial stigma and differential prevention services.

This session from the Northeast Caribbean PTTC will begin at 8:30 a.m. on November 16. 

Register here.

Assuring Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services

from ERI Training Center

November 6, 2023

10-11:30 am



"The words we choose are crucial, but what happens when linguistic barriers remain unaddressed? In this session led by Harold Gates, President and Co-founder of the Midwest Center for Cultural Competence, and featuring Lisa Demmon, Community Program Coordinator for Deaf Inspire, LLC, we will explore meaningful efforts to engage with people who speak diverse languages and to communicate effectively with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. Culturally and linguistically appropriate services (CLAS) are a way to enhance the quality of services provided to all individuals, ultimately aiding in reducing health disparities and achieving health equity. Participants will learn the fundamentals of CLAS, receive suggestions on how to communicate effectively with diverse speakers and listeners, and share their experiences of working with linguistically diverse individuals."

Visit this page to enroll.

Contemporary multicultural issues in rural behavioral health communities

from Arbor Place

November 15, 2023

12:00-1:00pm

Presenter: Carrie L. Acklin, Ph.D.

Session Description: In this session, Dr. Acklin will expand upon the principles detailed in the August 17th Eau Claire, WI Learning Event Session "Forging the New Frontier: Contemporary Multicultural Considerations in Rural Populations". Specifically, Dr. Acklin will speak on how to appropriately apply multicultural considerations for several rural populations, how our unconscious bias may impede the helping relationship, and why sometimes validation is not enough to form a strong working alliance.

Learn more and sign up here.

Connecting the Dots

Friday, November 10, 2023

Topic: Overdose in Pregnancy

The Women and SUD ECHO series is going to look different from now on! We are calling this new programming Connecting the Dots. Join us for an interactive discussion between the original ECHO team and YOU, our experts in the field.

November will be the last live, interactive discussion in this series. The conversation is on what we know about overdose during pregnancy.

Free continuing education credit will be offered for attendance.

Register here.

Adult Mental Health First Aid

from Community Advocates Public Policy Institute

Monday, November 13

RSVP by November 6

Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders. This training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to the appropriate care.

What the Mental Health First Aid Course offers:

·       Common signs and symptoms of mental illness

·       Common signs and symptoms of substance use

·       How to interact with a person in crisis

·       How to connect the person with help

·       Content on trauma, addiction, and self-care

This Zoom session will be held on Zoom from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on November 13.

RSVP here.

Moving Beyond Imposter Syndrome

from UW-Stevens Point

Tuesdays, November 21-December 5, 2023

12:00-1:30pm

Online via Zoom

In this 3-session online course with others who are similarly challenged, you will learn tools and practices that will change the way you see yourself and allow you freedom to choose how you'd like to live.

What will you learn?

• To change the way you see your challenge
• A new, practical interpretation of emotions that turns them into a tool for daily life and makes them your ally rather than an adversary
• To identify emotions that are provoking your challenge and emotions that are barriers to overcoming it
• Practices for self-empowerment
• A path forward based on dignity, self-respect, and self-care



…and you will connect and build relationships with other participants who support your journey!

Visit their site to register.

Wisconsin Addiction Recovery Helpline Marks Five Years of Service

More than 31,000 calls, texts, and chats for support answered since 2018

The Wisconsin Addiction Recovery Helpline reached a significant milestone this October – five years of connecting state residents experiencing substance use concerns with local services and support. This free and confidential service supported by a grant from the Department Health Services (DHS) and managed by 211 Wisconsin debuted in October 2018 as part of efforts by state officials to reduce drug overdoses. Since then, staff have answered 31,591 calls, texts, and chats from all 72 Wisconsin counties and nine of the 11 federally recognized Tribal nations with members in Wisconsin. These contacts resulted in 78,646 referrals to agencies providing substance use disorder assessment services, counseling, inpatient care, residential care, outpatient care, medication-assisted treatment, and supports from people in recovery from a substance use disorder trained to help others.

“For five years, the Wisconsin Addiction Recovery Helpline has offered people hope at a time when they may feel overwhelmed by what steps to take for health and healing,” said DHS Secretary-designee Kirsten Johnson. “Staffed by caring, trained specialists, it is a safe, trusted resource to turn to for information. We are grateful for the work of 211 Wisconsin and all the people who have made this service a success.”

View the entire news release.

Heads Up!

Save the Date for Conferences

Wisconsin Counseling Association Annual Conference

November 3-4, 2023

In-person at the Double Tree in Madison, WI.

Children Come First Conference

November 6-7, 2023

In-person at the Kalahari Resort in the Wisconsin Dells.

FOCUS 2023 Conference

November 15-16, 2023

In-person at the Kalahari Resort in the Wisconsin Dells.