In this Issue:

• News
• Events & Webinars
• Community Resources
• Los Recursos Familial en Español
• Family Resources in English
• Job Opportunities

Spotlight On:

Community Advocates Now Offering VitalCog Suicide Prevention in the Workplace Training

Community Advocates Public Policy Institute is pleased to announced that we are now offering VitalCog, a workshop on how to support those in the workplace who may have suicidal thoughts.

VitalCog trains organizations to proactively address the early warning signs of suicide in the workplace. This two-hour training gives participants the skills and tools to appreciate the critical need for suicide prevention while creating a forum for dialogue and critical thinking about workplace mental health challenges, and by promoting help-seeking and help-giving.

The course covers how to deal with someone in the workplace who may have suicidal thoughts, as well as how to handle their return to work. Supporting a coworker who lost a loved one to suicide also is part of the curriculum.

VitalCog workshops are best conducted in the workplace for groups of 7 to 25, with human resources staff present to discuss available services for employees.

To learn more and schedule a training, email certified trainer Rita Liesiefsky.

News

Light & Unite Red Week Celebrated the Benefits of Substance-Free Living

A big thank you goes out to the organizations and individuals who participated in Light & Unite Red Week last week.

RISE Drug Free MKE coalition partners, with the support of Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Services, offered a mix of enlightening events and activities to show support for preventing and reducing substance misuse in Milwaukee County.

Stakeholders included:

• Alliance for Wisconsin Youth
• Amani United
• Community Advocates Public Policy Institute
• Dominican Center for Women
• Light the Hoan
• Milwaukee Fire Department
• Neighborhood House of Milwaukee
• Pathfinders
• Safe & Sound
• Samad’s House
• South Shore CARES
• Volition Franklin 

23rd CADCA Mid-Year Training Institute

Registration Now Open

Join the 23rd CADCA Mid-Year Training Institute at the Hilton Chicago from July 14-18 for an unforgettable experience as industry leaders, federal partners, CADCA staff, master trainers, and coalition leaders share cutting-edge strategies, best practices, and innovative solutions. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a passionate advocate, this event offers a unique opportunity to expand your knowledge, sharpen your skills, and network with like-minded peers.

Region V Public Health Training Center:

Student Placement Stipend Applications Open

The Region V Public Health Training Center (RVPHTC) supports projects between students, faculty, and community partners that seek to improve public health in medically underserved communities. Awards are available for students completing individual placements with community partners or students participating in projects that involve both faculty and community partners. Students completing field placements in a health profession in Wisconsin are among those eligible to apply. Deadline to apply is April 14.

2024 Opioids, Stimulants, and Trauma Summit

May 7 through May 9

Registration Is Open

The Opioids, Stimulants, and Trauma Summit is an annual event organized by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services that highlights prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery strategies related to opioids, stimulants, and trauma. All people with an interest in building healthy communities are invited to attend. It will be held May 7-9 in person at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells but a virtual option is available. 

Trans Day of Visibility: March 31

March 31 each year marks Trans Day of Visibility, a day that highlights the lives, joy, and resilience of the trans community and raises awareness of the discrimination that trans people face every day. The Center of Excellence on LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health Equity has a wealth of resources that can help you learn more about the trans community and ways to support and advocate for the trans folks you serve, especially trans youth. 

Join the Northeast and Caribbean PTTC for this interactive webinar series to explore everything you ever needed to know about risk and protective factors.

Shared Risk and Protective Factors will make the case for prioritizing shared risk and protective factors, or factors that affect outcomes across multiple issues or behaviors, and will highlight examples of substance misuse-related factors that also influence other behavioral health issue areas across various contexts. It will be held on Tuesday, March 26, from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. RSVP here

Going Deeper on Protective Factors will explore the importance of harnessing protective factors to advance our prevention aims and the rationale for taking a systems-level approach to promoting healthy development for all members of our communities as part of our substance misuse prevention efforts. It will be held on April 2, from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. RSVP here

The final session in this three-part virtual series organized by the Southeast Region of the Alliance for Wisconsin Youth is to help those working in prevention and/or coalition leaders to facilitate top-notch meetings. It will be held from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on March 27, and will cover Setting Your Coalition Meetings Up for Success.

This session from the Center of Excellence on LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health Equity will address the importance of supportive and protective environments for building trans health equity. This session will cover (1) recent research on support (or the lack thereof) and trans health in the domains of the family, education, healthcare, and state-level policy, (2) provide application of the reviewed research for policy and practice, and (3) discuss the need for multifaceted and multilevel interventions aimed at creating supportive and protective environments for advancing trans health equity. The session will conclude with a Q&A and participants will gain strategies for improved practice with trans populations. It will be held from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on March 28. 

The Milwaukee Turners invite you to The University and Democracy: A Trust and The Vote Roundtable Discussion on March 28 at 1:30 p.m. on Zoom facilitated by UW-Milwaukee's Kennan Ferguson to hear the thoughts from diverse perspectives ranging from a university student who has collected student responses around these questions, a university professor and historian who challenges the economic practices of universities, as well as a university president.

This 90-minute webinar from the Great Lakes PTTC will address ways to develop and implement manageable and effective social media plans. The session will introduce tools to help broaden reach and enhance engagement. Participants will share tips for curating and creating engaging, original content for a variety of platforms. Additionally, participants will explore ways to use social media advertising, scheduling, and insights. This session will be held March 28, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. 

Sneak Preview of this intriguing exhibit. Same Game Different Smokers is an exploration of the troubling relationship the tobacco industry has had with the Black Community over the last 400+ years. A collection of archival ads and images are brought together to answer some extremely important questions. Guest speakers are Carol McGruder, the founding member and Co-Chair of the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council (AATCLC), and Tracy Brown, an Independent Curator, Artivist (Artist Activist) and Capacity Building Consultant. She is the curator of Same Game Different Smoker. This no-cost event will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. at America’s Black Holocaust Museum, 401 W. North Ave., Milwaukee.

The first step on your fostering journey is to attend one of these information sessions, held by Wellpoint Care Network specifically for prospective foster parents. Whether virtual or in-person, these sessions give you an opportunity to connect with Wellpoint Care staff, learn more about the licensing process and have your questions answered. This session will be held virtually from 5 to 7 p.m. on March 28.

Join Advocate Aurora Health’s Smoking Cessation Program, Freshstart, sponsored by the American Cancer Society. The primary goal of Freshstart is to help participants plan a successful quit attempt by teaching effective ways to overcome nicotine dependence. Freshstart information, activities and discussion topics help participants discover why they smoke and what motivates them to quit. Freshstart is offered at no cost, and will be held virtually via Zoom from 12 noon to 1 p.m. on four Tuesdays in April.

Many of the people we interact with are actively experiencing high levels of distress. This may be due to health conditions, poverty, family challenges, or other life stressors. The Creating Calm training series from the Great Lakes ATTC will focus on attendees’ experiences and provide concrete tools for engaging with clients in distress. It will be held on three Wednesdays in April, from 9 to 10 a.m. 

This is the fourth of six highly interactive sessions focused on taking a deep dive into principles of the code of ethics for substance misuse prevention specialists. The focus of this session will be on the principle of Nature of Services and how to apply it to the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF). After a short presentation, participants will work together in small groups to look at how this principle can be applied to the SPF. This session from the Great Lakes PTTC will be held from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on April 4. 

Join us for a night of putting community care in practice. A Narcan training will be hosted by Vivent Health and Behavioral Health Specialist Gloria Martinez will lead a collage project inviting youth and adults to express themselves through art. This event is free, but registration is required. Ages 13+ are welcome. This is a rescheduled event from Light & Unite Red Week 2024 and is sponsored by Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Services, RISE Drug Free MKE, and Community Advocates Public Policy Institute. It'll be held from 5:45 to 8 p.m. on April 5 at the Dominican Center.

In "Why Is Our Village Burning?" Brenda Wesley, Terri Ellzey, and Mary Neubauer take the community on a historic journey addressing the how’s and why’s of generational trauma impacting childhood development. This developmental trauma is based on environmental stressor of racism, which has triggered the struggles past and present in the Black community. “If the children are not embraced by the village, they will burn it down to feel its warmth.” These free workshops, presented by Staying on Track Inc., will be held on April 12 and May 11 at Center Street Branch Library, 2727 W. Fond du Lac Ave., Milwaukee. Registration is not required.

During this virtual workshop, 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 is organized by Community Advocates Public Policy Institute and will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on April 22 and from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on April 23 via Zoom.

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 two-hour interactive introduction to suicide awareness and prevention will also cover statistics and intervention strategies. It’s organized by Community Advocates Public Policy Institute and will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on April 23.

Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders. This training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to the appropriate care. It’s organized by Community Advocates Public Policy Institute and will be held on Zoom on April 29. Pre-course work is required.

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. It’s organized by Community Advocates Public Policy Institute and will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on April 29.

Mental Health America of WI is excited to host the 14th Annual Prevent Suicide Wisconsin Conference, taking place over Zoom Wednesday, May 1, and Thursday, May 2. A pre-conference in-person event will take place on Tuesday, April 30, in Madison.

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!

Social Work Month Toolkit

Social Work Month in March is a time to celebrate the great profession of social work. The theme for Social Work Month 2024 is Empowering Social Workers!. During Social Work Month take time to learn more about the many positive contributions of the profession, and use the items in the National Association of Social Workers toolkit to celebrate all the social workers you know. Get the toolkit.

April is Family Strengthening Month: Toolkit and Resources

The Family Strengthening Month toolkit from the Celebrate Children Foundation aims to support programs in Wisconsin that will introduce activities to help strengthen families during the month of April and throughout the year. It provides information to communities, organizations, and individuals on how to promote Family Strengthening efforts in April and throughout the year. Access the resources here.

¡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.

Healthy MKE

De Milwaukee Health Care Partnership y Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Services, el sitio web Healthy MKE ofrece una única fuente de información para los servicios públicos y privados en el condado de Milwaukee, donde los proveedores y los miembros de la comunidad pueden obtener la información que necesitan para ayudarse a sí mismos o a otros. Accede a ellos aquí.

Programa de intervención familiar (FIP)

Objetivo del programa de intervención familiar es eliminar importantes barreras que impiden latinos y afroamericanos individuos y familias de buscar servicios de asesoría tradicional. Este programa de manejo de caso intensivo, basado en el hogar, enfoque familiar ofrece servicios de apoyo a las familias que luchan con el impacto de la adicción a la sustancia y la violencia doméstica. Servicios son proporcionados sin costo a la familia. Para obtener más información sobre el programa de intervención familiar, por favor llame a 414-270-4600. Aprende más.

I’m So Stressed Out! Fact Sheet

Feeling overwhelmed? Read this National Institute of Mental Health fact sheet to learn whether it’s stress or anxiety, and what you can do to cope. Download it here.

Positive Options for Women Entering Recovery

Are you worried about your drinking or 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.

Family Intervention Program (FIP)

Struggling with drug and alcohol use can make you feel alone. Not being able to find a counselor who understands your unique treatment needs can make things even harder. The Family Intervention Program is a no-cost, bilingual English and Spanish drug and alcohol treatment program specifically designed for Black and Latinx individuals and families in Milwaukee. To learn more about the Milwaukee Women’s Center’s Family Intervention Program, please call 414-270-4600 or click this link.

Job Opportunities

• ARC Community Services: Substance Use Disorders Counselor
• Joseph J. Zilber College of Public Health, UWM: Maternal and Child Health Program Coordinator (Part Time)
• SHARP Literacy: Program Manager
• Walker’s Point Youth & Family Center: Director of Volunteer & AmeriCorps Programs
• Walker’s Point Youth & Family Center: Youth & Family Specialist Assistant (Intern)

This newsletter was created and delivered to you thanks to the financial support of Milwaukee County Department of Health & Human Services Behavioral Health Services and other funders.

Community Advocates Public Policy Institute | 414-270-2950 

ppi.communityadvocates.net