Locally, fire departments are on the front line of the opioid crisis as they are the first to respond to a reported overdose. But beyond administering Narcan to revive the individual, there doesn't seem to be much more they can do to help the person.

"Then we go, hey, you should get some help," said Milwaukee Fire Department Deputy Chief Aaron Lipski, who also serves as the chair of the Milwaukee County Substance Abuse Prevention (MCSAP) coalition.

Fortunately, Lipski says, the next step is being taken with the formation of the Milwaukee Overdose Response Initiative (MORI), which pairs Milwaukee Fire Department community firefighter paramedics with two peer specialists to engage individuals who’d overdosed the previous day. In groups of two, the MORI participants return to the individual, encourage them to get into treatment, and provide resources so that if that person does want to get help, they know where to turn.

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When you give to Community Advocates Public Policy Institute on #GivingTuesday, December 3, you’re giving to our community members who are engaged in our life-changing initiatives. Your gift can provide vital public policy research and advocacy, mental health resource materials, meals for returned citizens participating in Circles of Support, and much more. Thank you for your generosity!

The Survival Coalition of Wisconsin will hold its Disability Advocacy Day in Madison on March 24, 2020. Registration is required and will open by February 2020. The day is designed to provide an opportunity for individuals with disabilities and their allies to discuss issues that are important to them with their legislators. Get details here.

The Coalition on Lead Emergency invites you to this free resource fair, which will provide youth and parents information on programs, services, and employment opportunities for youth and young adults ages 16-24 in Milwaukee. It will be held on Saturday, December 7, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at COA Goldin Center, 2320 W. Burleigh St., Milwaukee, and is brought to you by the Coalition on Lead Emergency (COLE) , Community Advocates Public Policy Institute , COA Youth & Family Centers , and MICAH . Interested in being a vendor? Download the application today!

The wonderful members of the Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force are organizing their yearly donation drive for new socks and menstrual supplies at the task force’s monthly meeting on December 10, from 3 to 5 p.m. at IndependenceFirst, 540 S. First St., Milwaukee. All donations made through the Sox Rox and Time of the Month Club campaigns will support people who are homeless in Milwaukee. Please bring your donations to the meeting or make a financial contribution on the club’s website. See the flyer for details.

Safe & Sound’s 27th Street West Drug Free Coalition is partnering with Neighborhood House to offer this panel discussion for young people about underage alcohol use. The SIP panel will be held on Friday, December 20, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Neighborhood House, 2810 W. Richardson Place, Milwaukee. Get more details here. Contact Zoe Whorrall at 414-345-7258 for more information.

The 27th Street West Drug Free Coalition is organizing an overnight Teen Lock-In focusing on the prevention of teen drug and alcohol use. There will be six prevention-focused workshops, each followed by six fun rooms or activities. It will be an opportunity for teens from different parts of the city to get to know one another and to learn about the effects of drugs and alcohol on teens and their communities at large.

The organizers are encouraging 6th-12th graders from the city of Milwaukee to attend this event. There will be dinner, snacks throughout the night, and a light takeaway breakfast in the morning. Teens should be dropped off at 8 p.m. on Friday night at Neighborhood House , 2810 W. Richardson Place, Milwaukee, and picked up promptly at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning. Teens should arrive in comfortable clothes (no one will be changing clothes) and bring sleeping bag or blanket and pillow to sleep. Please reach out to Zoe Whorrall at 414-345-7258 with any questions.

This two-day professional development workshop explores Motivational Interviewing from a trauma-informed lens. Led by Shawn Smith, Founder of Share Training and Co-founder of the Alma Institute, it’s designed for all human services professional and leaders. It will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on January 14 and January 21 at the Welford Sanders Enterprise Center, 2821 Vel R. Phillips Ave., Milwaukee. Cost is $135 and includes light breakfast and bag lunch. CEUs are available. Register and get details here.

Join Shawn Smith of Share Training to continue the journey of applying Motivational Interviewing to hold space for those you serve. Due to the contextual and experiential nature of the training, only 12 slots are available. Cost is $45. This session will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon on January 22 at the Welford Sanders Enterprise Center, 2821 Vel R. Phillips Ave., Milwaukee. Get details and register here.

This live webinar from Region V Public Health Training Center will introduce the idea of implicit bias and how it is relevant to all public health professionals, regardless of discipline or role in an agency. Participants will learn key definitions, examine data showing the implications of implicit bias in public health, and discuss some strategies to prevent it. "Implicit Bias in Public Health Practice" will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, December 4. Sign up for this free webinar here .

The Linda McFerrin Award recognizes an outstanding nonprofit executive who has provided exemplary leadership in the community. It’s awarded annually by the Diversity Leadership Society and the United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County Board Chair Cory Nettles and his wife Michelle. Check out this link for details. The deadline to apply is December 13; the winner will be recognized at the United Way Annual Meeting on February 27, 2020.

This report from Voices of Youth Count explores how youth homelessness can be prevented, and why. Download it here .

Voices of Youth Count found that youth who leave school before graduation were more likely to experience homelessness, and youth and young adults who experience homelessness were less likely to enroll in college. Get the full report here.