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In this Issue:
- News
- Events & Webinars
- Community Resources
- Los Recursos Familial en Español
- Family Resources in English
- Job Opportunities
| | Spotlight On: Youth Mental Health First Aid | | |
Being a kid is hard. Growing up means navigating a world of big emotions, challenges, and changes, often without the tools to understand or manage them. Many young people face emotional crisis but don’t always have the resources or support to cope in a healthy way. Whether it’s anxiety, depression, stress from school, or struggles at home, these feelings can become overwhelming. That’s why Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is such a critical program – it equips adults with the knowledge and skills to support young people in need.
One of the most significant protective factors in a young person’s life is a consistent, trusted adult. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, coach or mentor, your presence and support can make all the difference. When a young person knows they have someone to turn to, someone who listens without judgment, it can be life changing.
| | Share Your News in the Prevention Journal | | |
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.
| | Milwaukee Peace Week Returns May 5 to 10 | | |
Join Mayor Cavalier Johnson for Milwaukee Peace Week, a city-wide initiative to celebrate and promote peace, unity, and safety throughout Milwaukee. This meaningful week, observed from May 5 - 10, is made possible through the collaboration of city departments and local nonprofit organizations working together for a safer, more connected city.
Events include a Citywide Peace March & Rally, Peace & Violence Prevention Listening Session, United in Faith Peace Breakfast, Community Service Clean-Up Day, Citywide Career & Resource Fair, Community Kickball Games, and a Job Fair.
| | 2024 Milwaukee County Community Health Needs Assessment | | |
Milwaukee Health Care Partnership and Health Compass Milwaukee, a one-stop resource for trusted, comprehensive health-related data about Milwaukee County residents and communities, recently released the 2024 Milwaukee County Community Health Needs Assessment.
The results? Violence and mental health are at the top of the list of health issues, along with substance use, chronic disease, and maternal and child health.
Pulling from a community health survey, stakeholder interviews, and Health Compass Milwaukee, the Community Needs Assessment intends to serve as the foundation for which organizations develop community health improvement strategies.
| | Wisconsin Underage Tobacco and Vape Sales Decreased in 2024 | | |
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has reported a modest but meaningful drop in the number of underage attempts to purchase commercial tobacco and vape products. According to new data from its annual survey, the rate fell from 12.6% in 2023 to 11.8% in 2024. While this downward trend is encouraging, state officials say there is still work to be done.
State Health Officer Paula Tran emphasized that “the rate remains too high,” underscoring the ongoing risk of youth nicotine addiction and the critical need for strong enforcement of age restrictions. The data is part of Wisconsin’s broader efforts to prevent tobacco use among young people – an issue that continues to pose public health challenges despite years of education and regulation.
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Rise & Recover
Tuesday, May 6
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Join the Milwaukee County Overdose Prevention Team at the Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center for a day of mental health awareness and community support. Celebrate recovery, learn about overdose prevention, and experience demonstrations on how to use Narcan and fentanyl test strips. There will be food, music, and an opportunity to connect with local resources dedicated to supporting mental health and addiction recovery.
The event is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, May 6.
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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.
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9th Annual Health Fair
Thursday, May 8
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The Oak Creek Health Department is hosting their 9th Annual Health Fair where attendees can learn about local health resources, win prizes, and have fun! Learning opportunities include topics such as mental health, Narcan training, summer programs, financial literacy, and more.
The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 8 at The Salvation Army Oak Creek Senior Center, 8853 S. Howell Ave.
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National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day
Thursday, May 8
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Join Wraparound Milwaukee – Children’s Community Mental Health Services for an afternoon of resources and activities for youth and families. The event will have free food, music, and more!
The event is scheduled from 3 to 6 p.m. at Owen’s Place at 4610 W. Fond du Lac Ave., on Thursday, May 8.
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Milwaukee Rental Housing Resource Center’s Community Day Event
Monday, May 12
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Join the Milwaukee Rental Housing Resource Center to connect with local organizations, explore housing resources, and access support services. Community Day is a resources fair designed to connect Milwaukee residents with valuable resources and organizations that prioritize community needs. Attendees can expect access to housing assistance, legal aid, and financial support, meet local organizations dedicated to serving the community, and engage in meaningful conversations and find helpful resources.
Community Day is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, May 12, at the Milwaukee Rental Housing Resource Center located in Community Advocates, 728 N. James Lovell St., Milwaukee.
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Raising Resilient Teens: Navigating Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Monday, May 12
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Join the Wauwatosa School District for a presentation by Rada Drča, LPC, from Milwaukee County Behavioral Health, focusing on youth mental health and substance use. The Wauwatosa Health Department will also showcase their "Teen Bedroom Exhibit," where you can learn about the signs that may indicate that your child is using substances.
The event is scheduled at 4:30 p.m. on May 12 at Wauwatosa East High School auditorium, 7500 Milwaukee Ave., Wauwatosa.
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2025 Tour of the Big Cities Health Data Platform
Tuesday, May 13
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Join the Big Cities Health Coalition and Drexel University’s Urban Health Collaborative for a guided tour of the new features in their Big Cities Health Inventory, an interactive data platform with more than 125 health metrics for 35 of the largest cities in the U.S. New features include city-level data for 2023 including drug deaths, life expectancy, and social determinants of health, as well as four new metrics, including childhood lead poisoning, limited internet access, youth not in school and not working, and cost of rent.
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15th Annual Prevent Suicide Wisconsin Conference
Tuesday, May 13 through Friday, May 16
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Join Prevent Suicide Wisconsin for the 15th Annual Conference, a vital gathering dedicated to suicide prevention, education, and advocacy. This year's conference brings together experts, community leaders, and individuals with lived experience to share resources, strategies, and hope. Whether you're a mental health professional, educator, advocate, or someone passionate about creating change, this event offers valuable insights and connections.
The pre-conference in-person gathering is scheduled for May 13, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at ThriveOn King, 2153 N. Dr. MLK Jr. Drive, Milwaukee. The virtual conference, with keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and lived experience panel, will be held May 14-16 from 8 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
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Maternal and Child Health Summit
Wednesday, May 14
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Join the Wisconsin Department of Health Services for the 2025 Wisconsin Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Virtual Summit, a two-session gathering dedicated to understanding, exploring, and identifying solutions for the challenges facing mothers, children, and families.
The 2025 Wisconsin MCH Spring Session will focus on the importance of social connections in promoting maternal and child health. From the session, participants will be able to better understand the impact of social connections on maternal and child health, explore the intersection of social determinants of health and social connectedness, and identify strategies to strengthen social connections at community and policy levels.
The session is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on May 14.
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QPR Question Persuade Refer Suicide Prevention Training
Thursday, May 15
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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. We believe that quality education empowers all people, regardless of their background, to make a positive difference in the life of someone they know. This interactive introduction to suicide awareness and prevention will also cover statistics and intervention strategies.
This interactive introduction to suicide awareness and prevention will also cover statistics and intervention strategies. This session is scheduled from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 15.
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Smart & Sustainable: Social Media Tactics for Prevention Professionals
Thursday, May 15
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For many substance misuse prevention professionals, developing and maintaining a social media presence can feel overwhelming, especially when faced with limited time, staff, and competing priorities. Hosted by Great Lakes PTTC, this 90-minute webinar will focus on sustainable, realistic strategies for planning and implementing social media efforts that support and align with participants’ prevention goals. Participants will learn how a team approach to content creation, scheduling, and management can create a more impactful and engaging social media experience for their followers.
This webinar is scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon on May 15.
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Youth Mental Health First Aid
Friday, May 16
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Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed 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 might be experiencing a mental health challenge or is in crisis.
Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.
This session offered by Community Advocates Public Policy Institute is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on May 16 and will be held via Zoom. Please register by May 12 at noon.
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MindfulMe Annual Mental Health Resource Fair
Saturday, May 17
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Birch & Banyan Coffee will be hosting it’s 2nd annual Mental Health Resource Fair located at 150 E. Capitol Dr., Hartland. They have an incredible list of 32 organizations participating. The hope is to help take away the stigma of mental health conversations. Many of us could use a little help in the day, whether it’s an intensive treatment program, taking more time for self-care, or anything in between. Come learn about resources in the community help yourself and your loved ones.
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Washington Park Community Health & Wellness Fair
Saturday, May 17
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Live healthier and safer while having fun at the Washington Park Community Health and Wellness Fair. Stop by for health workshops and screenings, stress and anxiety management, mental health providers, and much more.
Attendees will receive information to give you and your family the opportunity to live healthier, better, and happier!
This event will be held at the Urban Ecology Center, 1859 N. 40th St., Milwaukee from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 17.
For more information, contact the Urban Ecology Center at 414-344-5460.
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Wisconsin Public Health Association Annual Conference
Tuesday, May 20 - Thursday, May 22
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Join over 500 public health “trailblazers” at WPHA’s 2025 Annual Conference. Featuring engaging speakers, diverse educational sessions, and opportunities to fill your cup personally and professionally, the conference aims to navigate the trail to better public health in Wisconsin. The conference objectives are to cultivate innovation and creativity to bring joy and belonging into public health, build a foundation and create space for the next generation of leaders in a community-centered, changing public landscape, and prioritize community-led solutions and opportunities to create collective messaging, build trust, strengthen cross-sector collaboration, and advance health outcomes.
The conference will be held at the Baird Center, 400 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, from Tuesday, May 20 to Thursday, May 22.
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ECOM Workshop: Mental Health
Wednesday, May 21
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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.
May’s topic is Mental Health.
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, May 16. This ECOM Workshop will be held at Community Advocates at 728 N. James Lovell St., Milwaukee.
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Adult Mental Health First Aid
Wednesday, May 28
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Adult Mental Health First Aid Training provides adults with the tools to assist other adults who may be developing a mental health problem or experiencing a crisis. It teaches you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders. This training delivered by Community Advocates Public Policy Institute gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial support to someone who may need help connecting to appropriate care.
This training will be held via Zoom from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. on May 28. Please register by May 20.
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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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The Better Ways to Cope Conference – Save the Date!
Friday, October 10 and Saturday, October 11
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The Better Ways to Cope Conference is powered by the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services. This event features coping experiences that increase Milwaukee County residents’ ability to deal effectively with life’s challenges. Experts, healers, educators, and businesses will immerse residents in experiences that help them achieve greater mindfulness, a deep sense of well-being, and continue their journey toward a dependency-free life.
Nonprofits and business are welcome to be conference presenters or vendors. The request for presenters will go live on Thursday, May 15. Registration is free and includes breakfast and lunch, youth (12-17) and adults are invited to participate in all activities, and attendees can register to attend one or both days.
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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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Policy and Practice Approaches To Predicting and Addressing Food Insecurity
The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Institute for Research on Poverty recently held a webinar on Policy and Practice Approaches to Predicting and Addressing Food Insecurity. For low-income households, especially those with children, maintaining access to nutritious, affordable, and appropriate food can be an ongoing challenge. The webinar provided and overview of the USDA’s role in food and nutrition assistance as well as trends in program participation and spending. You can watch a recording of the webinar here.
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SAMHSA’s Mental Health Awareness Month Toolkit
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to raise up mental health and well-being for everyone, encourage open conversations, and turn awareness into action. The 2025 Mental Health Awareness Month Toolkit is available and has resources you can use to promote mental health for people of all ages. Access the toolkit here.
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International Overdose Awareness Day Campaign Kit
International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) has announced the 2025 theme: One Big Family, Driven by Hope. This year, imagine a new meaning of what family can be. A family is driven by hope, love and action. Get the tools and templates to make an impact this August 31. The Campaign Kit includes kits for advocacy, education media support, and more. Click here to check it out.
| | Los Recursos Familial en Español | | |
Eliminar las influencias tóxicas
Ciertas personas y situaciones en la vida pueden provocar que nos sintamos mal con nosotros mismos o que tengamos comportamientos destructivos. Identificar las influencias tóxicas en nuestras vidas y tomar medidas para establecer límites o generar una nueva vida sin ellas puede mejorar la salud mental y física con el tiempo. Este hoja de trabajo de Mental Health America le puede ayudar a cumplir estos pasos en papel. Aprende más.
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¡Estoy tan estresado! hoja informativa
¿Te sientes abrumado? Lee esta hoja informativa para saber si se trata de estrés o ansiedad y qué puedes hacer para sobrellevar este sentimiento. Descarguelo aqui.
| | Family Resources in English | | |
Milwaukee Fatherhood FIRE
Take the first step. Fatherhood FIRE involves three blended core program services and workshops to help participants become the best father they can be. FIRE promotes fathers as Family-focused, Interconnected, Resilient, and Essential in the lives of their children, families, community, and society. Participants become stronger parents, more engaged partners, and more prepared for employment and advancement opportunities in the job market. Learn more about the programs here.
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Community Diaper Resources
Need diapers? If you or someone you know needs diaper support, Next Door Milwaukee has compiled a helpful list of local organizations offering free diaper resources. This includes distribution sites, contact information, and hours of operations. Click here for the full list of resources.
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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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