April is Family Strengthening Month in Wisconsin, a transformation of the observance of National Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month with the mission to focus on the strengths families can draw on to build a safe and nurturing family environment. Led by the state Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board, Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, Children’s Wisconsin, and Prevent Child Abuse Wisconsin, with multiple local partners, the month allows organizations, policy leaders, and families to recommit to supporting and strengthening healthy family bonds.

In addition, this month Community Advocates Public Policy Institute and our partners Neu-Life Community Development and The Parenting Network are happy to announce a new resource for families who need support in building these healthy bonds. As a consortium, we are launching the Strengthening Families Program in Milwaukee County thanks to a five-year grant from the Department of Children and Families.

This grant enables the consortium partners to engage with families who have had contact with the Department of Milwaukee Child Protective Services (DMCPS) but were found not to be in need of further services from DMCPS. Nevertheless, these families may need extra supports and services provided by the consortium partners to prevent abuse from occurring at home. These supports can include housing assistance, domestic violence services, substance use treatment, parenting classes, positive youth activities, and more. All program participants will be referred by DMCPS and participation is voluntary.

The State Council on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (SCAODA) has released its report "Moving Forward: Policies and Strategies to Prevent and Reduce Excessive Alcohol Use in Wisconsin," which includes recommendations for various levels of government, as well as those in the health care or alcohol industries and members of civic organizations. To view this report, click here.

Click here to access sharable materials from the Comprehensive Injury Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin's Facebook page.

A new medication drop-box has been added at Aurora Edgerton Pharmacy in Greenfield, where you can safely dispose your unused or expired prescriptions. It is located at 6901 W. Edgerton Ave., Greenfield. To find more locations for medication drop-boxes in Greenfield, click here.

The Child Abuse & Neglect Prevention Board is looking for applicants to expand child sexual abuse prevention services in Wisconsin by building best practices, implementing trainings and technical assistance strategies, and more. For more information on this grant, click here. The deadline to apply is April 18.

The Parenting Network is hosting a #ListenLearnLove awareness event for Family Strengthening Month to share parenting experiences including the joys and challenges in a parent’s journey. The event is virtual and will be held Wednesday, April 6 at 12 p.m. To register for #ListenLearnLove, click here.

REDgen and University School of Milwaukee are hosting Dr. Lisa Damour, a clinical psychologist who specializes in working with teen girls struggling with stress and anxiety. Dr. Damour will speak about their research developments in order to provide practical guidance to children, parents, teachers, and advocates. It will be held on Thursday, April 7, from 7 - 8:15 p.m. The event is free and will be an in-person event at the University School of Milwaukee. If you are interested in attending, register here.

If you are a WI Zero Suicide Training 2022 applicant, Mental Health America (MHA) staff will review the application and expectations, and respond to any questions applicants may have. Registration is not required and there will be a recording available to watch later. The training will be held on Friday, April 8, from 12 noon to 1 p.m. Click here to be directed to the Zoom link.

Community Advocates is offering Youth Mental Health First Aid workshops 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 is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Community Advocates will offer this introductory session via Zoom at no cost. It's open to Milwaukee County residents and those who work with them.

Health Resources in Action is presenting a workshop sponsored by Alliance for Wisconsin Youth and Community Advocates Public Policy Institute that will discuss drug-related stigma at the community, individual, and structural level. You will be given tools to learn how to examine personal biases and challenge drug-related stigma at the interpersonal level. The workshop will be held via Zoom on Monday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. If you are interested in registering, email Hannah Lepper at hlepper@communityadvocates.net.

The Great Lakes MHTTC, National Hispanic & Latino MHTTC and El Consorcio are sponsoring this year’s conference on navigating behavioral health complexities in the Midwest Hispanic & Latinx communities. The conference will be held Thursday, May 5 to Friday, May 6 in Bloomington, Minnesota. For more information on this conference and registration, click here.

One Hope 27 is hosting their annual Mother’s Day 5k run on Saturday, May 7. There will be local vendors and free activities for the whole family to participate in. The run will begin at Washington Park at 9 a.m. Sign up by April 11 to guarantee you receive a shirt for the event! To register, click here.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services will be hosting the 2022 Opioids, Stimulants, and Trauma Summit. The summit will be highlighting strategies to address the use of opioids and stimulants in Wisconsin and will be open to all people interested in building healthy communities. The summit will be held on Tuesday, May 10 through 12 in La Crosse, but there is also a virtual option. The deadline to register is May 4. If you are interested in registering, click here.

The Region V Public Health Training Center will be hosting a series of training sessions for those in Public Health management or leadership roles. This training will help managers and leaders who on-boarded their position during the pandemic to build a network of peers, support and navigate leadership transitions in their careers. This training provides three sessions and active discussion among participants. Registration is open until April 15. To register, click here.

The Milwaukee Area Youth Golf Academy is hosting a summer 2022 Golf program for youth! This program is open to Milwaukee County youth ages 8-17. The program is free and will provide free usage of academy golf clubs, four days of golf lessons and playing opportunities. To get more details, call or email Bart Ferrara at 414-430-2533 or info@mkegolf.org. The deadline to apply to this program is Tuesday, May 31. Click here to access the program flyer and permission form.

The City of Greenfield Health Department will be providing Narcan training for anyone who wishes to learn how to administer it. To schedule a training, call (414) 329- 5275 or stop by 7325 W. Forest Home Ave., Room #104, Monday – Friday. Please visit safegreenfield.com for wellness resources in the City of Greenfield.

We all have a part to play in child abuse prevention. By working to build one or more protective factors in your own family or community, you can play a role in prevention too. To learn more about the five protective factors, and tips to incorporate them into your own family, click here.