|
In this Issue:
- News
- Events & Webinars
- Community Resources
- Los Recursos Familial en Español
- Family Resources in English
- Job Opportunities
| | |
Spotlight On:
The Link Between Mental Health and Substance Use Prevention
| | |
Community Advocates Public Policy Institute’s Mental Health and Wellness Coordinator, Cecilia Tenorio, talks about what it feels like to want to numb the pain of depression or anxiety — to want to escape. In a blog written in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, Cecilia discusses what she’s learned through both personal experience and professional work in the field.
She also shares a list of books that has helped her better understand the deep and often overlooked relationship between mental health and substance misuse, saying the books have offered her invaluable insights into public health, trauma, healing, and the urgent need to shift how we support vulnerable communities.
| | 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.
| | Wisconsin Department of Health Services Seeks Public Input | | |
The Governor’s Interagency Council on Mental Health is asking Wisconsinites to provide input on how the State of Wisconsin can continue working to improve the mental health of residents. The council connects the dots across 10 state agencies to create a statewide action plan to address Wisconsin's mental health crisis. The plan will include recommendations to expand prevention efforts and increase access to mental health services when and where people need them.
The opportunity to provide feedback is open until June 30.
| | No Menthol Sunday 2025 Wisconsin Toolkit | |
No Menthol Sunday is The Center for Black Health & Equity’s annual call to action to highlight the detrimental impact commercial menthol tobacco products have on Black communities. This year’s toolkit offers initiatives, resources and tools to advocates for policy change and protect Black communities from the predatory tactics of the commercial tobacco industry. The No Menthol Sunday 2025 Wisconsin toolkit will help you equip your community by providing strategies, facts and talking points for a tobacco-free future.
| | Paid Remote Early Language Intervention Research Study Opportunity | | |
The Language, Literacy, and Learning Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is offering a paid remote early language intervention research study opportunity. The study’s aim is to investigate what promotes positive caregiver-child interactions and how positive interactions can help children with language difficulties. You might be eligible to apply if you are a Wisconsin parent or legal guardian at least 18 years old with children 2.5-4 years/30-48 months who meet criteria for language delay or disorder at screening.
| | |
Data Toolks Workshop
Tuesday, May 20
| | |
Ready to jump into new data? Join Data You Can Use for a Data Tools Workshop. This workshop will serve as a learning opportunity for the recently updated Neighborhood Portrait and MKE Indicator tools. In the workshop, Data You Can Use will provide an overview of the history of their data tools and how they can be used to better inform and serve the community.
This virtual workshop is scheduled from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20, via Zoom.
| | |
Harnessing Power to Drive Policy Change
Tuesday, May 20
| | |
County Health Rankings & Roadmaps is hosting a webinar to help communities advance policy changes that improve health and equity. Join Harnessing Power to Drive Policy Change to discuss ways to engage in policy and systems change in our work and everyday lives. Public health and health care practitioners have a role to play in advancing policy changes that improve health and equity by working with communities to build power together, advocating for policy change, and shifting power to those who are most impacted.
This webinar is scheduled at 2 p.m. on May 20 via Zoom.
| | |
Work Requirments and Safety Net Coverage
Wednesday, May 28
| | |
Work requirements for safety net programs like SNAP and Medicaid are intended to promote employment among program participants. However, research indicates work requirements can make it difficult to access and maintain those benefits, even among those who are eligible.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Institute for Research on Poverty is hosting a webinar with panelists discussing the stated goals of work requirements and how they function in practice, as well as what they mean for the experiences of eligible individuals and families. The webinar is scheduled from 1 to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 28.
| | |
QPR Question Persuade Refer Suicide Prevention Training
Tuesday, June 3
| | |
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.
Two sessions of this interactive introduction to suicide awareness and prevention are scheduled for Tuesday, June 3. They're hosted by Community Advocates Public Policy Insitute and are free and open to all.
• 9 to 10:30 a.m.
• 1 to 2:30 p.m.
| | |
Embrace Your Power
Wednesday, June 4
| | |
The South Milwaukee Health Department is hosting a community event focused on substance use disorder and mental health. The resource fair will include vendor tables, Narcan training, giveaways, and keynote speaker Tom Farley, who will discuss his lived experience with addiction and recovery, as well as the impact of the substance use issues experienced by his late brother, actor and comedian Chris Farely.
The event will be held on Wednesday, June 4, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Bucyrus Club & Event Center, 1919 12th Ave., South Milwaukee.
| | |
Data Visualization for Local Prevention
Wednesday, June 4
| | |
Strong data is essential to substance use prevention – but the way that data is presented can make all the difference. This 90-minute webinar from the Mountain Plains Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) offers practical strategies and resources for visualizing data in ways that inform decisions, engage partners, and improve community outcomes. Whether participants are designing a dashboard, preparing a report, or crafting a quick graphic for stakeholders, this session will give them the tools to tell compelling stories with their data.
The webinar is scheduled from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on June 4.
| | |
Trauma and the Brain: An Introduction
Tuesday, June 10
| | |
As a result of this workshop, participants will gain a better understanding as to how trauma affects the brain, discuss risk factors for substance use disorders, and develop their strategy for intervention methods for a particular population.
What will be discussed:
• Trauma definition
• How trauma affects the brain
• Statistics on substance use and ACEs
• Risk factors
• Strategies for care
• Stress reducers
• Prioritizing risk factors
• Beginning a call to action
This training from Community Advocates Public Policy Institute will be held via Zoom from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on June 10.
| | |
Verbal De-Escalation
Tuesday, June 17
| | |
During this virtual workshop from Community Advocates Public Policy Institute, you will learn how to increase safety by utilizing verbal de-escalation techniques. Participants will explore foundational information on how to reduce the level of conflict through self-knowledge, understand how past experiences influence current behavior, and practice de-escalation.
This session will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on June 17 via Zoom.
| | |
Adult Mental Health First Aid
Tuesday, June 24
| | |
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 June 24. Please register by Friday, June 13.
| | |
Resilience and Thriving: The Secret Power of Stress
Wednesday, June 25
| | |
How well do you cope with stress? And can stress ever be good for you? Community Advocates Public Policy Institute is offering Resilience and Thriving, a two-hour webinar in which participants will be able to identify early warning signs of stress, types of stress, and effects of stress. Participants will learn specific skills to cope well with and thrive from stress, and understand positive and negative coping styles, plus their personal coping style! This session is open to everyone and is offered free of charge.
This session is scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. on June 25.
| | |
2025 Wisconsin Harm Reduction Conference
Wednesday, July 16, and Thursday, July 17
| | |
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.
| | |
The Better Ways to Cope Conference – Save the Date!
Friday, October 10 and Saturday, October 11
| | |
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.
| | |
Hey, there,
-- do you have:
-
Job openings?
- Upcoming events?
- News to share?
- Suggestions?
Forward the information to Prevention@CommunityAdvocates.net.
Thank you for your service to Milwaukee!
| | |
SAMHSA’s Tips for Engaging in Respectful Conversations Around Mental Health
SAMHSA has developed a conversation guide to support a friend or loved one by providing them with access to services for mental health or substance use. This guide helps start conversations respectfully and helps guide the friend or loved one to resources that could help. View the conversation guide here.
| | |
Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ Suicide Prevention: Help for Someone Else
When someone you know is experiencing a difficult time, it can be scary to know how to act and what to do. From information on signs of concern to a 5-step action plan, The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has resources to help you support someone else. Click here to learn more.
| | Los Recursos Familial en Español | | |
Línea Nacional de Salud Mental Materna
¿Eres mamá o estás a punto de serlo? La Línea Nacional de Salud Mental Materna de la Administración de Recursos y Servicios de Salud (1-833-TLC-MAMA) es un servicio gratuito y confidencial que ofrece apoyo las 24 horas, los 7 días de la semana, por teléfono o mensaje de texto a madres primerizas y futuras, y a sus seres queridos. Está disponible en inglés y español, y cuenta con intérpretes en más de 60 idiomas. Los consejeros capacitados de la línea ayudan a miles de mujeres y sus familias que necesitan apoyo emocional durante o después del embarazo. Haz clic aquí para obtener más información.
| | |
Guía de Acción para el Mes de la Salud Mental 2025 de MHA
Mental Health America fundó el Mes de la Salud Mental en 1949 y ha liderado el esfuerzo cada mayo para promover el bienestar mental en todo el país. Aprende a actuar para mejorar tu salud mental personal o como parte del movimiento de salud mental más amplio con Mental Health America Guía de Acción para el Mes de la Salud Mental. Compruébalo aquí.
| | |
“Mental Health Minute” con Ana Paula Soares
De “Better Ways to Cope”, aquí hay una entrevista con Ana Paula Soares sobre la salud mental y los residentes hispanos/latinos de Milwaukee. Haga clic aquí para ver.
| | Family Resources in English | | |
National Maternal Mental Health Hotline
New mom or about to be? The Health Resources and Services Administration’s National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (1-833-TLC-MAMA) is a free and confidential service offering 24/7 support via call or text to new and expecting moms and their loved ones. It is available in English and Spanish and offers interpreters in more than 60 languages. The hotline’s trained counselors help thousands of women and their families needing emotional support during or after the pregnancy. Click here to learn more.
| | |
Next Door Milwaukee – Parent Digital Learning Tools – Training Videos
Looking for ways to support your child’s learning at home? Next Door has created a series of short, easy-to-follow training videos to help parents and caregivers navigate digital learning tools. Click here to check them out.
| | |
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.
| | | | |
