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In this Issue:
- News
- Events & Webinars
- Community Resources
- Los Recursos Familial en Español
- Family Resources in English
- Job Opportunities
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Spotlight On: Addressing Stigma: Mental Health Conversations in Black Communities | |
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Mental health stigma within Black communities remains an on-going challenge, deeply rooted with historical trauma and systemic mistrust. The history of discrimination, along with cultural and socioeconomic factors, has contributed to a silence around mental health issues. Yet, within this complex story, there is also a rich tradition of resilience and strength.
By decreasing stigma and promoting healing, we honor our past while paving the way for a healthier, more supportive future.
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Share Your News in the Prevention Journal | |
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Calling all Community Partners: Do you have upcoming events, news to share, or job openings? Email the information to prevention@communityadvocates.net to be featured in upcoming Prevention Journals sent to over 1,000 friends, colleagues, and social service providers every other week.
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Light and Unite Red Week 2025
March 17-March 23
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Each year, partners across Milwaukee County join forces for Light and Unite Red Week to promote community-wide substance use prevention education and is in alignment with National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week, from March 17-23.
With a MythBusters theme, RISE Drug Free MKE is spending the week debunking common misconceptions about alcohol and other drugs through trainings, workshops, events, digital and printed materials, and more!
Join us throughout the week or participate by wearing red. You can check out the various events, activities, and resources on RISE Drug Free MKE website coming soon.
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More than a Store: How the Tobacco Industry Uses Retail Spaces to Hook Consumers | |
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Tobacco displays in stores are powerful marketing opportunities. The industry uses retail outlets as a way to normalize their products, attract young users and build allies. Some tobacco companies even offer incentives to retailers who utilize prominent cigarette advertising displays. STOP: A Global Tobacco Industry Watchdog explores marketing tactics and policy recommendations to protect consumers.
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Virtual Narcan Training
Wednesday, February 26
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Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services is hosting a virtual Narcan training. Narcan training helps you understand what an opioid is, how to identify and respond to possible signs and symptoms of an overdose, understand and respond to signs of mental health issues, and laws and procedures related to Narcan. This training is for employers, police officers, hospital staff, first responders, and caring individuals. This training is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on February 26.
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Community Coffee Hour with Johnny's Ambassadors
Tuesday, March 4
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Community Alliance: Hales Corners and Greendale, Hales Corners Lutheran, and Johnny’s Ambassadors are hosting a presentation by and discussion with Laura Stack, founder and CEO of Johnny’s Ambassadors, to provide prevention education on youth marijuana use, especially high-potency THC products. The event will also feature a Wake-Up Call Teen Bedroom simulation (for those 18+). The event will begin with coffee from 8:30 to 9 a.m., with Laura’s presentation scheduled for 9 to 10 a.m. at Hales Corners Lutheran, 123000 W. Janesville Road, Hales Corners. Registration is highly encouraged but not required.
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Professional Development Workshop
Tuesday, March 4
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After Laura Stack's presentation, join Community Alliance: Hales Corners and Greendale, Alliance for Wisconsin Youth, and Community Advocates Public Policy Institute for a professional development workshop for public health and/or substance misuse prevention specialists and coalition coordinators. Kat Becker, coordinator of the Southeast Region of the Alliance for Wisconsin Youth, and Holly Miller, Public Health Specialist with the Greendale Public Health Department, will discuss high-potency THC products, youth substance use, and actionable steps. This workshop is scheduled from 10:15 to 11:30 a.m. on March 4 at Hales Corners Lutheran, 123000 W. Janesville Road, Hales Corners.
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Family Wellness Event
Tuesday, March 4
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Join Community Alliance: Hales Corners and Greendale, Greendale Schools, and Johnny's Ambassadors for a Family Wellness Event at Greendale Middle School. It includes a vendor fair of local health and wellness services and organizations, 8th Grade Health Advocacy Poster Presentations, and a featured presentation from Johnny's Ambassadors - Youth THC Prevention's Founder Laura Stack.
This free event is scheduled from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on March 4 at Greendale Middle School, and is open to the public without registration.
For questions or accommodations related to this event, please contact Greendale Public Health Department at 414-423-2110 or greendalehealth@greendale.org.
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Evidence-Based Policy and Practice Approaches to Addressing Homelessness in the United States
Wednesday, March 5
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The 2024 rate of U.S. homelessness increased by 18% over the previous year, with a 39% rise in families experiencing homelessness. According to an annual survey conducted in communities across the country, more than 770,000 people were living in shelters or outside, the largest number since the report was initiated in 2007. The University of Wisconsin-Madison's Institute for Research on Poverty will host a webinar in which panelists will provide historical context for homelessness in the United States, as well as research findings on the effectiveness of various policy and practice approaches to decreasing homelessness and supporting unhoused families and individuals. This webinar is scheduled from 1 to 2 p.m. on March 5.
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Samad's House 5th Annual Black Balloon Day
Thursday, March 6
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Save the Date!
Join Samad’s House as they continue to put boots on the ground to provide harm reduction resources to the most vulnerable communities. Black Balloon Day is an event to remember those who have lost their lives to drug overdose.
The event will be held from 11 am - 1 pm at Rise N Grind Café at 2737 North Dr. MLK Jr. Drive, Milwaukee.
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Trauma and the Brain: An Introduction
Tuesday, March 11
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Community Advocates Public Policy Institute will offer Trauma and the Brain to provide participants a better understanding of how trauma affects the brain, risk factors for substance use disorders, and strategies for intervention methods for a particular population. This session is scheduled from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on March 11.
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Resilience and Thriving: The Secret Power of Stress
Wednesday, March 12
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How well do you cope with stress? And can stress ever be good for you? Community Advocates Public Policy Institute is offering Resilience and Thriving, a two-hour webinar in which participants will be able to identify early warning signs of stress, types of stress, and effects of stress. Participants will learn specific skills to cope well with and thrive from stress, and understand positive and negative coping styles, plus their personal coping style! This session is open to everyone and is offered free of charge. This session is scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. on March 12.
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Wisconsin Day of Empathy: Transforming Supervision
Thursday, March 13
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Join the Milwaukee Turners for a legislative day at the Wisconsin State Capitol to uplift your voice alongside justice impacted people, families, and allies to discuss with legislators how supervision (probation, parole and extended supervision) should be changed to transform our state toward public safety and thriving communities for all people. This event is scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 13.
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QPR Question Persuade Refer Suicide Prevention Training
Thursday, March 13
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We can all save lives. The QPR mission is to reduce suicidal behaviors and save lives by providing innovative, practical and proven suicide prevention training. The signs of crisis are all around us. Community Advocates Public Policy Institute believes that quality education empowers all people, regardless of their background, to make a positive difference in the life of someone they know. This two-hour interactive introduction to suicide awareness and prevention will also cover statistics and intervention strategies. The session is 9 to 10:30 a.m. on March 13.
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ECOM Workshop: Legal Services
Wednesday, March 19
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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. Each session features multiple presentations from experts and opportunities to share resources.
This month’s topic is Legal Services.
Fee is $5 for light refreshments and materials and can be paid via credit card. Registrations are not refundable. Kindly make sure to RSVP by Friday, March 14. Location is TBD.
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Ready to Rescue
Sunday, March 23
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Join Fight Anxiety, Addiction and Adversity Corp with UMatter and Vivent Health for a crucial training under their Ready Rescue Initiative. This event is designed to equip community members with life-saving skills to respond to crisis effectively. The event will host QPR Suicide Prevention Training and Narcan Administration Training. All participants will receive official certifications and recognition as a Ready Rescue Guard. There is a $10 registration fee that will be fully refunded upon attendance. The event is scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. on March 23 at Tippecanoe Branch Library Community Room, 3912 South Howell Ave., Milwaukee.
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2025 Opioids, Stimulants, and Trauma Summit
Tuesday May 6 - Thursday, May 8
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You are invited to join the Wisconsin Department of Health and Services – Division of Care and Treatment Services to learn strategies to save lives and build healthy communities. The Opioids, Stimulants, and Trauma Summit is an annual event that highlights prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery strategies related to opioids, stimulants, and trauma. This event is tailored for professionals spanning diverse fields, including corrections agents, counselors, doctors, educators, mental health service providers, nurses, pharmacists, peer specialists, recovery coaches, and social workers. It will be held virtually and in-person at Kalahari Resort, Wisconsin Dells, on May 6 through May 8. Early bird prices run through March 7.
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2025 Wisconsin Harm Reduction Conference
Wednesday, July 16 and Thursday, July 17
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The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has opened registration for the 2025 Wisconsin Harm Reduction Conference at the Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells, with a virtual option. The conference aims to provide safe spaces for the exchange of ideas and cutting-edge practices that reduce harms associated with drug use, create networking opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds committed to program and policy change and reform, promote the delivery of harm reduction services in Wisconsin and Tribal nations that engage people who use drugs to support connection, safety, and improved quality of life, and provide the opportunity to discuss the benefits of harm reduction, best practices, resources, policies, and areas needing development and support. The conference will be held on July 16 and 17.
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Hey, there,
-- do you have:
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Job openings?
- Upcoming events?
- News to share?
- Suggestions?
Forward the information to Prevention@CommunityAdvocates.net.
Thank you for your service to Milwaukee!
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Serenity Inns Drop-In Clinic
Olga Neighborhood Wellness Services, staffed by licensed counselors and peer support specialists, is expanding access to care with their new Drop-In Clinic. This safe, welcoming space offers harm-reduction-focused services for anyone affected by substance use disorders. This is a free, low-barrier support for substance use recovery that offers substance use assessments, Narcan training and distribution, Fentanyl test strips, and more. Click here to learn more or call 414-238-8132.
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Black Space HQ
Black Space HQ provides free group therapeutic experiences by and for Milwaukee's Black and Brown residents. They aim to normalize therapy, ensuring that voices are heard, loved, lifted, and celebrated. Check them out here.
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GRASP: Grief Recovery After a Substance Passing
GRASP is a community of support and healing, offering local meetings, resources, and community for those who have lost someone to substance use or addiction. GRASP was created to offer understanding, compassion, and support to those who have lost someone they love through addiction and overdose. The Milwaukee/Greenfield Chapter meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Click here to learn more and join your local Chapter.
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Los Recursos Familial en Español | |
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Programa de Intervención Familiar (FIP)
El objetivo del programa de intervención familiar es eliminar barreras importantes que impiden que las personas y las familias busquen servicios de asesoramiento tradicionales.
Este programa intensivo de gestión de casos centrado en la familia, basado en el hogar, de Community Advocates ofrece servicios de apoyo a familias que luchan contra el impacto de la adicción a sustancias y la violencia doméstica/inestabilidad de vivienda. Los servicios se pueden proporcionar en inglés y español. Obtenga más información aquí.
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Healthy MKE
De Milwaukee Health Care Partnership y Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Services, el sitio web Healthy MKE ofrece una única fuente de información para los servicios públicos y privados en el condado de Milwaukee, donde los proveedores y los miembros de la comunidad pueden obtener la información que necesitan para ayudarse a sí mismos o a otros. Accede a ellos aquí.
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Family Resources in English | |
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Milwaukee Recreation Twilight Centers
Milwaukee Recreation Twilight Centers are providing safe, fun spaces for our community’s elementary and middle school students. They offer programming and extended hours at select school locations so young people in Milwaukee have a safe place to go during the evenings for free. With board games, esports, open gym, field trips, college and career conversations, and many more enrichment activities, Twilight Centers are the perfect space to take your friends or meet new friends. Learn more here.
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Family Intervention Program (FIP)
The Family Intervention Program’s goal is to remove significant barriers that prevent individuals and families from seeking traditional counseling services.
This intensive, home-based, family-focused case management program provides supportive services to families struggling with the impact of substance use disorder and domestic violence/housing instability. Services can be provided in English and Spanish. Learn more here.
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Positive Options for Women Entering Recovery
Are you worried about your drinking or other drug use? You aren’t alone. The Positive Options for Women Entering Recovery (POWER) is here to help. The Milwaukee Women’s Center’s POWER provides FREE day treatment for women struggling with alcohol and other drug issues. Click here to learn more or call 414-270-4600 to get help.
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