The City of Milwaukee Health Department (MHD) is working to develop a five-year strategic plan to advance the health of Milwaukee through an anti-racist framework. MHD is looking for the voice and insights of staff, residents, and service organizations to better understand greater opportunities for community health. "We cannot do our jobs successfully without taking into consideration the valuable feedback from those who live, learn, work, play and worship in the city of Milwaukee," Milwaukee Health Commissioner Kirsten Johnson states. Milwaukee community members who are interested in sharing their thoughts and insights in helping MHD can access the survey here. The survey will be available through December 23, 2021.

The National Council for Mental Wellbeing is hosting a training to support Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) public health professionals navigate certain challenges in their field. The webinar will teach strategies to create and support safe spaces, encourage cultural humility, address microaggressions and engage in fruitful dialog around racial equity in the workplace, The webinar will be on Wednesday, December 1 from 11am-12pm CST. To register, click here.

The Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division has received $130,000 from the State of Wisconsin to support substance use disorder prevention efforts, wellness, and assisting people in connecting to needed behavioral health services. Proposals are being accepted until all funds are dispersed. Funds will be dispersed for approved projects in mid-January and must be used by March 14, 2022. Please email Jeremy Triblett for more information on submitting your proposal at jeremy.triblett@milwaukeecountywi.gov.

CUPH and DHS will be hosting a free training on the Social Determinants of Health, presented by Philip W. Graham. The training will identify how conditions in which we are born, live and learn plays a powerful influence on the health of individuals and communities. You will learn how to define social determinants of health, explain how inequities in neighborhood conditions, education, income and wealth affect health outcome and disparities, and many more key objectives. The training will be held via zoom on Wednesday, December 8 at 2:00pm. To register, click here.

MHS Health Wisconsin is offering a virtual training to learn about the MHSWI Resource Directory, which can help connect individuals in our community to free and reduced-cost programs and services. There will be two virtual trainings available to teach how social service providers can take advantage of this platform. Trainings will be on Tuesday, December 7 from 11 a.m. to 12 noon or Thursday, December 9 from 10 to 11 a.m.

Mental Health First Aid-Adult teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders in adults. This training will give 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. Community Advocates is offering virtual MHFA-Adult sessions in the month of December.

Click on the following dates to register:

The Office of Children's Mental Health (OCMH) has released a Youth Listening Session. It includes six insights from the OCMH Resilience team and 11 recommendations for action. Each recommendation includes resources and/or examples to aid in consideration or implementation in organizations. To view OCMH's recommendations document, click here

Join in and listen to The Region V Public Health Training Center's podcast, "Ideas for Practice." This podcast aims to share insights that may spark ideas among those working in the public health field. The episodes will introduce new frameworks and encourage public health professionals to implement new strategies in their practice. To listen to episodes, click here

Children 5 years and older can now get the Covid-19 vaccine to help fight and protect from the Covid-19 virus and Delta Variant. Outreach Resources about Covid-19 vaccinations for children ages 5+ and posters for vaccination providers are available. To learn more about vaccinations for children visit the CDC website.