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Welcome to the first edition of the Midwest Hub Newsletter—your bimonthly update on tools, insights, and opportunities to help you implement effective mental health practices.
The Midwest Hub is located at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Center for Health Enhancement Systems Studies (CHESS). Our team is led by our director, Todd Molfenter, PhD, and our co-director, Sherrie Nichols, MS, LMFT.
In this issue, you'll find upcoming learning opportunities, featured resources, the Midwest Hub staff spotlight, and our introductory infographic explaining the core implementation concepts that drive the work we do. Read on to learn more!
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Check out the Midwest Hub's 1-page infographic explaining what we do and who we serve! | | | | | NIATx Change Leader Academy (CLA) | | |
The Midwest Hub is offering the NIATx Change Leader Academy (CLA) for organizations and practitioners in HHS Regions 5 and 7 (IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, OH, and WI).
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The NIATx Change Leader Academy has given thousands of behavioral health organizations the tools to make real changes that improve their systems of care. This interactive, expert-led program includes four weekly 90-minute learning sessions. An optional organizational consultation is available following the four sessions. This learning series and consultation are offered at no cost and are supported by funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Questions? Contact our team at midwest@cmhisupport.org.
When: August 28, September 4, 11, & 18 from 1:30-3:00 PM CST.
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Access the CMHIS resource library for free, evidence-based resources to support your organization's implementation goals!
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We invite you to peruse the many resources available in CMHIS's resource library, including the featured items linked below!
Quality Improvement Strategy Pt 1: Tools to Make and Measure Improvement
The Quality Improvement Strategy Implementation guide is an evidence-based CQI 101 guide including approaches, tools, and stories from the field.
NIATx: Easy and Powerful Process Improvement for Behavioral Health
NIATx is a process improvement model. The NIATx website provides a description, tools, resources, and examples of the NIATx model in practice.
Social Marketing Primer
This guide is a 10-step process for developing a social marketing campaign and should be used to create the framework for a campaign before development begins.
Community Needs Assessment
In order to assist consumer organizations become effective change agents, NCSTAC has developed The Community Needs Assessment. The Community Needs Assessment is designed to assist mental health stakeholders in determining the current strengths and service gaps in their local mental health system.
| | Get To Know The Midwest Hub Team | | The Midwest Hub is excited to share our passion for effective and sustainable mental health implementation with everyone we serve! We'll be highlighting one of our team members' bios in each of our upcoming bimonthly newsletters, and we look forward to learning about and working with the mental health service providers of HHS Regions 5 and 7. | | | | |
Sherrie Nichols, MS, LMFT
Co-Director, Midwest Hub
Sherrie Nichols has been with the Center for Health Enhancement Systems Studies (CHESS) at UW–Madison since 2021. Prior to her current role as the co-director for the Midwest Hub for the Center for Mental Health Implementation Support (CMHIS), Sherrie worked for 13 years as a therapist and a behavioral health manager in Wisconsin County Human Services supporting mental health and substance use disorders, including crisis response and wraparound programs. She has served people from across all lifespans. Sherrie was also previously the co-director for the Great Lakes MHTTC.
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We’d love to hear from you! Is there something you want us to cover in an upcoming newsletter? Send us your thoughts, stories, or feedback.
What to Expect Next Month
In September 2025, you’ll receive the newsletter from CMHIS, with nationwide updates and highlights.
We’ll be back in October 2025 with more Midwest Hub news, stories, and insights. In the meantime, feel free to visit our website, send us an email, or follow us on LinkedIn.
Request Support
As part of the Center for Mental Health Implementation Support (CMHIS), the Midwest Hub offers assistance to grantees funded by SAMHSA’s Center for Mental Health Services and mental health service providers in HHS Regions 5 and 7 (IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, OH, and WI). We can help you strengthen your mental health programs through community engagement, implementation planning, data use, outcome evaluation, and more. Please review our guidelines and submit a request.
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