Issue 8-5| February 25, 2019
News
The weather was pretty terrible in January, but the polar vortex didn’t stop Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division’s Light & Unite Red Week , held January 21-27 during National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week. Light & Unite Red shines a spotlight on the dangers of substance abuse and shatters myths around them. Over the course of the week, about 35 organizations and businesses joined forces to raise awareness of the dangers of substance abuse and misuse.

"Light & Unite Red Week provided a great opportunity to engage Milwaukee County families in substance abuse prevention education," said Nzinga Khalid, BHD’s prevention coordinator. "Oftentimes, youth access information about substances from music and media. Light & Unite Red Week provided several fun learning opportunities to acquire the facts about how detrimental substances can be to their developing brains and brilliant futures." 
Activities included:

  • "I Pledge to Lead a Drug and Alcohol-Free Life": More than 340 young people signed this pledge to live substance free.

  • Light & Unite Red Dance-A-Thon at COA Youth & Family Centers' Goldin Center: On Thursday, January 24, COA’s Goldin Center was full of good vibes as it welcomed families for dinner, entertainment, and a community Dance-A-Thon. Amanda Clark provided information to young people and their parents and caretakers. Clark said the participants were very interested in the drug lockboxes she was distributing, which provide a safe, secure way for individuals to store their medication and keep it out of the wrong hands. 
MCSAP Youth Summit:
What’s Your Natural High?
Friday, March 15
MCSAP’s third annual youth summit will focus on positive alternatives to substance use. Youth ages 11 and up are encouraged to attend this gathering, which will include mini-workshops, some of them youth-led, as well as two keynote speakers, Kwabena Antoine Nixon and Khalil Coleman. The summit will be held on Friday, March 15, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Neu-Life Community Development, 2014 W. North Ave., Milwaukee. Bring your youth! Contact Jody Rhodes at [email protected] or 414-933-3924 to register. 
PSGM Presents Two Events with Dr. Stacy Freedenthal 
Prevent Suicide Greater Milwaukee is offering two events with Dr. Stacy Freedenthal, PhD, LCSW, a nationally acclaimed author and expert on suicide. 
 
Thursday, March 21: An evening conversation with Dr. Freedenthal , a free, community-oriented suicide prevention educational event, will be held from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Medical College of Wisconsin Alumni Center, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee. Please register in advance here .
 
Friday, March 22: This day-long workshop , "Helping the Suicidal Person," runs from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and is intended primarily for students, nonprofit staff, and other field professionals, at the MCW Alumni Center, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee. Registration rates vary by profession and affiliation; you can register and view them here .
 
Any questions for both events can be emailed to Dr. Bob Dubois or Dr. Tony Piparo .
Emergency Medical Service and Death Records Data
Combined for Opioid Fighting Tool 
A recent examination of data by Department of Health Services (DHS) experts Joe Tatar and Jennifer Broad has provided some new insight into the opioid epidemic. Of these new discoveries, Tatar and Broad found most overdose victims tended to be young, male and receiving multi-dose naloxone from first responders, according to the most recent report . Furthermore, an improvement in response and transportation time was noted by emergency service personnel, as well as an emphasis on the importance of carrying naloxone, as the need for immediate use to combat a suspected overdose tends to be a reality. A full opioid data portal is available here , via the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
Save the Date
Wisconsin's Opioid Crisis: A Trauma-Informed Response
April 2 & 3
Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ Wisconsin's Opioid Crisis: A Trauma-Informed Response is for mental health professionals, substance abuse counselors, medical professionals, law enforcement, and related professions. This event will feature workshops on trauma's role in the misuse and abuse of opioids. The registration fee will be $75 per person for the full conference, to be held at KI Convention Center in Green Bay. This event is part of Wisconsin's State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Registration is expected to open soon.
Events
Who Will Care for You: A Crisis in Care Community Conversation 
Tuesday, February 26
Independence First will host a discussion on staffing for home care, those with fragile health or other similar services that require aid. This conversation will shed light on the workforce crisis in care. Featured speakers are Janet Zander, Advocacy and Public Policy Coordinator for Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources, Lynn Breedlove, Co-Chair, Wisconsin Long-Term Care Coalition, and Robert Kraig, Executive Director, Citizen Action of Wisconsin. The event , located at 540 S. First St, Milwaukee, is from 6 to 8 p.m. Please contact Karen Kirsch at 414-588-0927 for any disability-related accommodation requests. 
No Small Matter Documentary Screening & Discussion
Wednesday, February 27
Originally scheduled to run during the January polar vortex, a screening of No Small Matter , a documentary regarding preschool progress in America, has been rescheduled for Wednesday, February 27, at 4:30 p.m., with a panel discussion afterwards with No Small Matter’s creators and Milwaukee experts within the early childhood field. The showing is at the Tony and Lucille Weasler Auditorium on the Marquette University Campus, 1506 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee. Please RSVP here . This screening is presented by Next Door , the Greater Milwaukee Foundation ,
Building Resilience in Children and Teens
Thursday, February 28
World-renowned pediatrician Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg will speak on strategies involving building resilience with our youth during this all-ages event at the Hamilton Fine Arts Center, W220 N6151 Town Line Road, in Sussex. The session runs from 6:30 to 8 p.m., with limited seating available. Registration is free, and can be completed here . This event is sponsored by REDgen West and Hamilton Connects .  
Reasons for Hope & Blueprint for Peace Summer Funding Opportunity
Thursday, February 28
Please join the City of Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention and the Greater Milwaukee Foundation for an update on the Blueprint for Peace and summer funding opportunity through the Foundation's Reasons for Hope fund . This meeting will provide information regarding funding for community-led summer projects that align with strategies in the Blueprint. It will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 28, at UWM Zilber School of Public Health, 1240 N. 10th St., First Floor Meeting Room, Milwaukee . This gathering is open to all Milwaukee residents and representatives of community-based organizations committed to preventing and reducing violence in Milwaukee. Space is limited so please RSVP at this link .
Memories in the Making Watercolor Painting Event
Fridays: March 1, March 8, March 22, March 29
Memories in the Making will offer an opportunity for artistic expression to families living with early-stage dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. The sessions are from 1 to 2:30 p.m., located at the Alzheimer’s Association, 620 S. 76th St., Suite 160, Milwaukee. Registration is required; please call 800-272-3900. This event is sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association of Southeast Wisconsin . 
PSGM Quarterly Coalition Partner Meeting
Friday, March 1
Prevent Suicide Greater Milwaukee (PSGM) will be holding their quarterly coalition partner meeting on Friday, March 1, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Independence First , 540 S. 1st Street, Milwaukee. Sue McKenzie of Rogers InHealth/WISE will present The Compassion Resilience Toolkit . Please RSVP here in order to ensure adequate materials and refreshments. 
May I Be Happy Screening
Monday, March 4
REDgen presents a screening of May I Be Happy , a documentary about mindfulness inside and outside the classroom. The event is Monday, March 4, at 7 p.m. at Dominican High School, 120 E. Silver Spring Drive, Milwaukee. Following the screening, a panel discussion with experts, parents, advocates and children will take place. Get your free tickets here .
Stepping On Workshops
Mondays: March 4 - April 15
Avoid a potentially dangerous and costly fall by attending the Stepping On workshops, proven to reduce falls by 30%. The sessions take place every Monday, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., at Greenfield Fire Station 92, 4333 S. 92nd St, Greenfield. Please register in advance by calling 414-329-5275. The event is sponsored by Greenfield Health Department , Greenfield Fire Department and the Milwaukee Department on Aging .  
Building the Future for Families Focus Groups
March 5 & 6
The Parenting Network is organizing three focus groups for parents or caregivers of children up to the age of 5 about why their children are or are not enrolled in early childhood programs. The focus groups are:

  • Tuesday, March 5: HeartLove Place (inside St. Francis de Assisi), 1927 Vel Phillips Ave., Milwaukee; Dinner, 5 to 5:30 p.m.; Conversation, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
  • Wednesday, March 6: The Parenting Network, 7516 W. Burleigh St., Milwaukee; Breakfast/Brunch, 10 to 10:30 a.m.; Conversation, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon.
  • Wednesday, March 6: New Life Center (Centro Nueva Vida), 835 W. Scott St., (Side Entrance/Entrada Al Lado), Milwaukee; Dinner, 5 to 5:30 p.m., 5:30 to 7 p.m., Dinner; Spanish interpretation provided. 

A meal, child care, and bus tickets will all be provided, and each parent/caregiver who attends will receive a $25 gift card for their time. Please register by March 1 by calling Andrea Libber at 414-671-5575 Ext. 12.
Marijuana: A Community Conversation
Thursday, March 7
Your Choice to Live, Inc. will host an informative community conversation that will examine myths, facts and the status of marijuana in a national and local context at the Waukesha County Expo Center, 1000 N. Northview Road, Waukesha. There is a lunch program (11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.) for professionals only and an evening program (6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.) open to community members. Two guest speakers of national importance will be headlining the event: Ed Shemelya , the National Coordinator for HIDTA’s National Marijuana Initiative, and Monte Stiles , former federal drug prosecutor. Registration is free, but required. You can register here . The event is sponsored by Your Choice , Waukesha County , The National Marijuana Initiative , The Addiction Resource Council and The Alliance Counseling Center . 
Samaritan Family Wellness Circle Training
Thursday, March 7 & Thursday, May 2
Samaritan Family Wellness , a Glendale nonprofit, will offer one-day facilitator trainings open to the public. These will include learning how to host a six-week Wellness Circle targeted to adult, parent or teen audiences. Future dates for these sessions will be held on Thursday, March 7, and Thursday, May 2. Both will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and are held at the Aurora Family Service Center at 3200 W. Highland Blvd., Milwaukee. Please RSVP to Holly Stoner ; there is a cost of $35 for the training, which includes lunch and materials. 
An Evening with Alex Kotlowitz, Author of
An American Summer: Love and Death in Chicago
Wednesday, March 13  
Alex Kotlowitz, author of There Are No Children Here , set out to chronicle one summer in Chicago by writing about individuals who have emerged from the violence and whose stories capture the capacity -- and the breaking point -- of the human heart and soul. The result, An American Summer: Love and Death in Chicago , is a spellbinding collection of deeply intimate profiles that upend what we think we know about gun violence in America. Community Advocates Public Policy Institute and the City of Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention are cosponsoring this evening at Boswell Book Co. ,   during which Kotlowitz will discuss and sign An American Summer: Love and Death in Chicago . Kotlowitz will appear from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13, at Boswell Book Company , 2559 N. Downer Ave., Milwaukee.

This event is free and open to the public, but please RSVP at this link to allow Boswell to plan for all of our guests.
Living Well Workshops
Thursdays: March 14 - April 18
Living Well workshops are designed to help you take charge of your life, especially when living with ailments such as diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, heart disease, chronic pain or anxiety. The sessions are every Thursday, from 5 to 7:30 p.m., at the Greendale Library , 5647 Broad Street, Greendale. Please call the Greenfield Health Department to register at 414-329-5275. The cost of the classes is free. 
Social Justice and Evaluation Conference
Friday, March 15 
¡Milwaukee Evaluation! will host its 2019 Social Justice and Evaluation Conference on Friday, March 15, at the Goodman Community Center in Madison. Activities will include keynote speaker Vu Le, the executive director of Rainier Valley Corps, as well as information and discussions regarding cutting-edge issues facing evaluators today, methods-based, capacity-building breakout sessions, and networking opportunities with evaluators across the state. ¡Milwaukee Evaluation! is the Wisconsin statewide AEA affiliate and has identified three goals: to promote the science and practice of evaluation in the public and private sectors, to provide a forum for professional evaluators, and to establish and maintain a pipeline for evaluators of color and underrepresented groups. Register for their conference here .
DHS Opioid Forum
March 19 & 20
~Registration is Open~
Join the Department of Health Services at KI Convention Center in Green Bay for its Opioid Forum , two days of workshops focused on best practices for prevention, treatment, and recovery.

The keynote speaker on March 19 will be  Bob Forrest . On March 20, Andre Johnson, President/CEO of the Detroit Recovery Project , will keynote.

The registration fee will be $75 per person for the full conference. The registration fee includes breakfast, lunch, and snacks on both days. Registration is open! Click here for details and to register.
Disability Advocacy Day
Wednesday, March 20
Disability Rights Wisconsin is hosting its Disability Advocacy Day at Monona Terrace (One John Nolen Drive, Madison), to connect Self-Advocates with their legislators to discuss important issues, including Medicaid, mental health services, transportation, and more. Register online here before Friday, March 8. There is a $10 registration fee, and participants are required to stay for the full day of activities. An optional $10 lunch is also available. Everyone in attendance must register using their home (voting) address, and it must be done in advance; there is no registration the day of the event. Check in begins at 9:30 a.m., with the day finishing up around 3 p.m. 
Ninth Annual Cancer Prevention Conference
for Community Health Workers
Friday, March 22
Kohl’s and the American Cancer Society will present the Cancer Prevention Conference for Community Health Workers on Friday, March 22, at the Italian Community Center (631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee). The conference, scheduled from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., is free for community health professionals interested in networking, learning best practices, and connecting cancer prevention with screening opportunities in the communities they serve. A complimentary continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. Please register by March 8 here or call 262-523-5512. 
Research & Resources
Free Legal Aid for Driver’s License Recovery
Every Second Tuesday of the Month 
The Milwaukee Christian Center , located at 807 S. 14th Street, Milwaukee, is offering free legal aid from 2 to 4 p.m. for those interested in recovering their driver’s license. Please call 414-645-5350 to schedule an appointment, as time slots fill up quickly. 

Asistencia Legal Gratuita para la recuperación de Licencia de Manejo cada segundo Martes del mes.
Horas: 2 p.m.-4 p.m.
Sitio: 807 S 14th St. Milwaukee
Habla a 414-645-5350 para hacer sita. Tiempos se ocupan rápido.  
Wisconsin Prevention Conference Substance Abuse Session Applications Due March 15
The Wisconsin Prevention Conference is now accepting one-hour session applications relating to substance use prevention efforts for their upcoming event on June 11 and 12 at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. Session proposals may include up to two presenters. You can fill out the application online here . If you have any questions regarding the application process, please contact Cecie Culp . The deadline is by the end of business hours, Friday, March 15. 
Nominations Now Open for HOPES Award
Due March 22
Recognize those who have contribute to and help build suicide prevention infrastructure in Wisconsin with a nomination for the HOPES Award. The prize is given annually at the Prevent Suicide Wisconsin Conference to an individual or organization demonstrating excellence in suicide prevention. You can download nomination forms for Microsoft Word or PDF .
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Community Advocates is supported by ReCAST MKE, a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services, under Grant No. 5H79SM063524.