Overview

Youth Mental Health Connections (YMHC) was formed in 2003 as a network of concerned organizations to assess and improve youth mental health services, programs and funding for Southeastern Wisconsin. Research revealed that no other such group existed with the charge of advancing the youth mental health agenda.  YMHC consists of more than two dozen organizations, local providers, associations, State, County and City representatives. YMHC is committed to child and adolescent rights, accessible treatment and educational programming. We fulfill our mission through research, collaborative projects, evaluation, social marketing and advocacy.

Our youth are in desperate need of support and help from the adults in their lives.

• In the United States, 1 in 7 children and adolescents suffer from mental illness. CDC research suggests, however, that in any given year that fewer than 20% of these children receive needed treatment and that the situation is aggravated by certain conditions such as poverty or trauma.
  

• Nationally, the suicide rate for persons 15 to 24 has tripled since 1950 (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1990).  The Wisconsin Bureau of Health Information reports, suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15-19 year olds, with male teens having suicide rates 3 to 5 times greater than females.
  

• Economically, Milwaukee is among the nation’s worst cities for kids in terms of poverty.  The 2000 U. S. Census ranks Milwaukee fourth with regard to the per capita number of children living in poverty.  Poverty impacts mental health.  There are 247,707 children living in Milwaukee County.  Almost all of the county’s low-income children and the county’s children of color also live in the city. Prevalence research predicts that about 37,000 of Milwaukee County children currently have need for treatment. About 26,000 of them live within the City.   About 8,500 live in low-income households.

The 2005 study, Connecting Need & Capacity:  A Study of Mental Health Services for Milwaukee County Youth highlighted two critical challenges regarding mental health services for low income youth in the Milwaukee area including

1. the Coordination and Access to Services, and
   

2. Cultural Competency among Mental Health Providers.

YMHC has adopted this study as a blueprint for improving youth mental health services in the Milwaukee County area.

YMHC supports the principles of healthy lifestyles, healthy choices and healthcare access. We advocate for community collaboration, outreach services and treatment partnerships. We are dedicated to eliminating disparities in mental health intervention and treatment for youth.

YMHC Standing Committee

Milwaukee Public Schools
City of Milwaukee Health Dept.
African American Alliance for Children & Families / AJA Counseling Center
The Counseling Center of Milwaukee, Inc.
InHealth Wisconsin
Shorehaven Behavioral Health
Mental Health America
Milwaukee County
State of Wisconsin, DHFS

Youth Mental Health Connections Contributing Agencies

Aurora
Aurora Family Service
Children’s Service Society/ Children’s Hospital of WI
CHOW Service Coordination
Disability Rights Wisconsin
Genesis Counseling Group
Impact Health Community Programs & Partners
Jerusalem Empowered Church
Kids Matter
Marquette Counseling Services
Medical College of Wisconsin
MUTT
Ozaukee Family Services
Path, Inc.
Rogers Memorial Hospital
Social Development Commission
St. Aemilian-Lakeside
St. Charles Youth & Family Services
United Community Center
Univ. of WI Madison – Center for the Study of Diversity in Healthcare
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Wisconsin Association for Perinatal Care
Youth & Family Project, Inc.

Milestones

2004

• A network of nonprofit, community-based mental health care providers, City Health Department and Milwaukee Public Schools officials convened to better understand and improve mental health services to low-income youth.
  
  
• In conjunction with the Milwaukee National Family Week Partnership, launched Community Study regarding Youth Mental Health care in November 2004.
  • Raised $36,000 for the effort, leveraging Alliance for Families and Children funds with local support.   

2005

• May 2005 Community Summit to release Study findings.
  • 150 people attended day-long summit;
• Key findings:
  • Poor access to healthcare and coordination of services
  • Cultural competency of workforce is a concern

• November 2005
  • Nationally recognized, Dr. Ken Hardy, keynoted a community summit, “Reclaiming Our Youth” , which focused on preventing youth violence and supporting the mental health needs of young people.
  • 150 attendees,  Strong media presence at event

2006

• Two community-wide action planning events, as well as monthly meetings focused on addressing the key findings.
  
  
• Partnership with University of WI Madison Center for Diversity in Healthcare (CDH) leads to consultation with University of South Florida national Research and Training Center for Child Mental Health.

2007

• Three goals frame YMHC’s work:  (1) Improving cultural competency of mental health workers; (2) Strengthening connections of community resources; (3) Developing models for collaboration and coordination of services.
  
  
• Five YHMC members participate in U of South Florida’s national conference on building better systems of care for child mental health services

Youth Mental Health Connections
Target Goals 2007

Goal #1: Improve the cultural competency of clinical providers and increase provider and consumer awareness of clinicians with whom clients can identify with.
Objectives

1. Develop and implement at least one cultural competency training to community clinicians, potentially in partnership with Clinicians of Color. 
2. Target date:  Fall 2007
3. Leadership:  Sue McKenzie,  Bishop Martin as liaison from March conference attendees
   

Goal #2:  To strengthen Connection of Community to Resources
Objectives

1. To support Mental Health Association’s development and implementation of a electronic database of mental health providers.
2. Target date:  Fall 2007, as per MHA timeline
3. Leadership:  Lisa Roehl

Goal #3:  Develop or help develop collaborative models for agency services.
Objectives

1. By December 31, 2007 develop and launch implementation of a youth mental health service coordination initiative.
1. Target Dates and milestones
   1. By May 31, 2007 draft work plan based on input from University of WI Medical School, Center for Cultural Diversity in Healthcare and University of South FL Research and Training Center for Child Mental Health.
   1. Progress:  On March 4-7,  YMHC subgroup attended conference on Systems of Care for Child Mental Health and consult with Dr. Mario Hernandez Team. 
      
      Major feedback from consultation with U of SFL team is that stronger focus on building robust relationships with people and organizations closest to the low-income youth we serve is critical.  Broader planning must emerge from these relationships.
      
      YMHC is in a process of building such relationships, identifying issues of shared critical concern, and developing position papers on those concerns.  The position papers, in turn, will provide substance for future proposals.
      
      
2. Leadership:  Lynn Godec, Bevelyn Johnson, Dan Magnuson, Bishop Martin, Lisa Roehl
   
   
2. By July 1, 2007, secure financial and/or in-kind resources to staff YMHC projects and management.
1. Progress:  in 2006 several YMHC members have collaborated in joint proposals on various youth mental health initiatives, including proposals to SAMHSA, US DOE, and others.  YMHC staffing currently provided by members with support of a UWM graduate intern.
   
   
2. Leadership:  Cathy Arney

Chair
Daniel O. Magnuson, MA, MSW
Phone 414.964-2565
dmagnuson@pathfindersmke.org