The Milwaukee County Substance Abuse Prevention (MCSAP) Coalition is putting together efforts for safe disposal of prescription drugs in Milwaukee County neighborhoods. MCSAP is currently in search of real estate agents who would be willing to partner up and educate families and clients on where they can dispose of prescription drugs. If you are a real estate agent or know someone who would be interested in this partnership, please contact Alexandria Kohn.

The work of City of Milwaukee Tobacco-Free Alliance, Hold On To Your Butt MKE, and Plastic-Free Milwaukee was covered in the Pride Month issue of the Shepherd Express. The article by Anna Ostermeier covers the allied groups' efforts to address the intersecting harms to environmental and public health caused by Big Tobacco and Big Plastic. You can read the article here.

The Drug Abuse Warning Network recently released the preliminary report on drug-related emergency department visits in 2021. The findings measured substances such as alcohol, opioids, methamphetamine, marijuana, and cocaine as the top five drugs involved in those emergency visits. In a sentinel event, hospitals are recording a decrease in trends for alcohol, methamphetamine, marijuana and heroin-related ED and an increase fentanyl and an unspecified narcotic. To read more about this report, click here.

Street Angels is accepting nominations for their 2022 Jeanne Lowry Street Angels Service Award. This award will recognize an individual working in the field of homeless services who exemplifies the characteristics shown by Jeanne Lowry in her committed service to the community. Nominations will close on Friday, June 17, at 5 p.m. For more information on the award, click here.

NAMI Peer-to-Peer is a program for adults with mental health conditions who are looking to better understand themselves and their recovery. It is an 8-week education program offered at no cost. This program will be held Saturdays through July 30 from 1 to 3 p.m. If you are interested in registering online, click here. For additional questions, please contact Theresa Jemison at 414-326-3454 or email tjemison@namisoutheastwi.org.

Your Choice Prevention is hosting an encore of their summer webinar series from June 13 to August 15. Their series will include free access to their popular webinars and free certificates of completion. Each webinar will be up for a week so you can work on your own time with flexibility. If you are interested in this program and would like to receive more information on webinars and dates, click here.

The Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force is hosting a webinar on "The Intersection between Mental Health and Human Trafficking," which will include a panel that will discuss issues related to human trafficking and share resources and recommendations to combat human trafficking and support victims and survivors. The webinar will be held on Tuesday, June 14, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. To register, click here.

The Milwaukee LGBT Community Center will be hosting a discussion about ableism featuring a panel of individuals who will be sharing their experiences and ways to counter ableist actions and attitudes. This session will be held on Zoom Tuesday, June 14, from 5 to 6 p.m. To register, click here.

Community Advocates is offering a Mindful Gratitude workshop that teaches participants how to put the art of appreciation into practice. Presented by author Christel B. Wendelberger, this 1-hour evidence-based workshop explores research that shows that mindfulness and gratitude can help us cope with difficulties and improve mental, emotional and physical wellness. This workshop will be held Thursday, June 16, from 4 - 5 p.m. This workshop will be held in person at Community Advocates Training Center, 6900 W. Brown Deer Rd., Milwaukee. To register, click here.

Community Advocates is offering a virtual De-Escalation Techniques training to teach participants how to defuse a situation and increase safety using verbal de-escalation techniques. This workshop is aimed toward individuals who encounter conflict in the workplace, at home, or in the community, whether you are a parent or educator, work in the helping professions, or otherwise work with the public in potentially tense situations. This online workshop is free and open to anyone who lives or works in Milwaukee County. Click on the following dates to register:

SAMHSA is hosting a virtual discussion about engaging fathers in services for families affected by substance use disorders. This session will help families learn strategies to overcome challenges of father involvement, fears and misunderstandings on different approaches to programs, and co-parenting. The session will also help families identify next steps with child welfare, treatment providers, and court systems in order to help strengthen the family dynamic. Join the session on Wednesday, June 22, at 1 p.m. To register, click here.

Community Advocates is offering Trauma and the Brain: An Introduction, which covers trauma's effect on the brain in the short term and long term, provides a space to discuss risk factors and substance use disorders and helps participants develop their strategy for intervention methods for a specific population. This 2-hour interactive, evidence-based workshop is aimed toward community members and professionals who want to learn more about the importance of prevention and self-care as healers and as trauma survivors. To register, click on the following dates:

Community Advocates is offering Youth Mental Health First Aid workshops to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Community Advocates will offer this session via Zoom at no cost, Friday, June 24, from 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. It's open to Milwaukee County residents and those who work with them. Click here to register.

The Great Lakes PTTC is providing a virtual series that will offer a training and education on the history and framework of harm reduction strategies. This series will explore how the goals and values of prevention can align with harm reduction and how individuals can enhance strategies of care in their communities. Part one of the virtual series will be held Tuesday, June 28, and part two will be held Thursday, June 30. Registration for this series is required. Click to register for part one and part two.

The City of Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention is offering the Summer of Healing initiative in which you can learn about community resources, holistic healing practices, cultural practices and self-defense techniques. This program will also have activities and prizes for youth and teens. The next program will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 9, at the Milwaukee Black Historical Society/Museum, 2620 W. Center St., Milwaukee. If you are interested in attending and have any additional questions, reach out to the Office of Violence Prevention through Facebook by clicking here.

The Wisconsin Peer Recover Conference is now open for registration. The conference will be held August 18-19 and will be an in-person event. This conference is an opportunity to learn about effective support within community services, mental health and substance use recovery. The Peer Recovery Conference registration will be open through Wednesday, August 10, with a registration fee of $100. Advocates, mental health professionals and peer specialists are encouraged to attend. To register, click here.

June is Pride Month and Mental Health America is continuing to advocate for the LGBTQ+ community by providing resources, hosting webinars, and providing social media images and messages to share on all platforms. Click here to read more about how MHA is helping the LGBTQ+ community push through adversities and to explore the resources offered.

CADCA is partnering with AmerisourceBergen Foundation to provide a series of engaging, story-telling based videos on safe storage and disposal of medications for individuals and families. To access the series, click here.