Reflecting on 10 Years of Children’s Mental Health in Wisconsin
OCMH began operations in 2014. From that time, it has convened an impressive array of leaders who together have achieved much alignment, collaboration, and improvement of children’s mental health.
Join us for a panel discussion on children’s mental health data trends and accomplishments.
Tomorrow – Wednesday, December 11, 2024
12-1 pm / via Zoom
Register here.
Panelists:
- Patrick Synder (R- Schofield)
- Jill Billings (D - La Crosse)
- Julie Hueller, Manager – Racine Collaborative for Children's Mental Health
- Nick Krisko, Young Adult Lived Experience Partner – Office of Children's Mental Health
- Myra McNair, Founder – Anesis Center for Marriage and Family Therapy
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OCMH holds four children’s mental health learning meetings each year. Beginning in 2025, OCMH welcomes anyone interested in children’s mental health to join this distribution list to receive notice of the meetings and attend.
These quarterly meetings help attendees stay current on what is happening in children’s mental health in Wisconsin and connecting to a broad network of individuals working to improve children's well-being.
The group, known as the Collective Impact Council, beginning in 2025 will become the Children’s Mental Health Network. People currently on the Collective Impact Council will remain on the distribution list and see no change in meeting notifications, the meeting structure, and related follow up.
Meeting dates for 2025 are February 7, May 2, August 1, and November 7. The meetings will continue to be virtual with the meeting time 10 am-12 pm.
Meeting topics in 2024 included: early brain development and mental health, accessing children’s mental health services, leveraging peer workers in the mental health systems, and the youth crisis system. The 2025 topics will be equally robust.
Sign up to join OCMH’s Children’s Mental Health Network here.
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When asked to rate the importance of 14 goals, youth across the U.S. didn’t focus on fame or fortune but instead on personal safety and kindness. Learn more here.
The holidays are a wonderful time to connect with loved ones and spend time together. OCMH offers ideas on activities that will help make the holidays meaningful and build memories. Check them out:
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OCMH 2024 Annual Report – Release Event
You're invited......
To attend the release of OCMH's 2024 Annual Report :
"10-Year Focus on Children's Mental Health in Wisconsin":
Friday, Jan. 10, 2025 / 10-11 am
Virtual OR In-person
Wisconsin State Capital, GAR Hall (413 N)
Register here.
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OCMH 10th Anniversary Celebration Wraps Up
With OCMH celebrating 10 years of operation, we’ve been celebrating throughout 2024. We are wrapping up that celebration this month with the following:
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Special 10th Anniversary Panel Discussion – Reflecting on 10 Years of Children’s Mental Health in Wisconsin on December 11th (see above).
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Partner Reflections – we’ve invited OCMH partners to share their reflections on OCMH. With our final Partner Reflections, we hear from Lana Shklyar Nenide, Executive Director – Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health and Rebecca Murray, Executive Director – Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board who share their thoughts on OCMH creating connections and its collective impact focus. See their reflections here.
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Infographics on important children’s mental health data – this month we examine the facts on self-harm. See the infographic here.
See all our Partner Reflections and data infographics on our 10th Anniversary Web-page.
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Showcasing Solutions – Sixteenth Street Community Health Center
OCMH is committed to sharing good things happening in children’s mental health in Wisconsin, and one of the ways we do that is through our Showcasing Solutions that share a new story of an organization changing children’s well-being for the better. This month we look at Sixteenth Street Community Health Center in Milwaukee and Waukesha and their focus on improving environments to improve well-being. Read this Showcasing Solution here. See all our Showcasing Solutions here.
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Research News in Youth Mental Health
Each month Research News in Youth Mental Health recaps recent articles, resources, and research findings impacting youth mental health. Join over 2,000 other subscribers – sign up here. The newsletter is emailed the first Friday of every month. See prior issues here.
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Peer Recovery Services Rules. On December 18, the Department of Health Services will hold a public hearing on a permanent rule on peer recovery services and their providers and reimbursement under the Medical Assistance program. The rule will also address criteria for peer recovery coaches. DHS 72, 105, and 107 will be affected by the proposed rule. The virtual public hearing will take place on December 18, 2024, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Public comments may be submitted in writing from December 2-18, 2024. See public hearing notice and comment period information for submitting feedback.
Guidance to States on Essential Services. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently released guidance on state compliance with the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT). EPSDT, or HealthCheck as it is called in the Wisconsin Medical Assistance program, is the avenue for children to access all medically necessary services. The guidance includes information, strategies, and best practices to address the needs of children with behavioral health conditions. Best practices addressed in this guidance include, increasing access through transportation and care coordination services, leveraging incentives, sanctions and contractual requirements in the Medicaid managed care programs, expanding the children-focused workforce, improving care for children with specialized needs (including children in the child welfare system and children with disabilities), and expanding families' awareness of their children's rights under the program.
Governor Evers’ State Budget Listening Sessions
Governor Evers is hosting listening sessions on the 2025-2027 budget. This is an opportunity to advocate for children’s mental health policy and investments.
You can sign up for any of the listening sessions below. There are two in-person sessions and one virtual session remaining. You can also submit a written comment using the Governor’s online form.
Tuesday 12/10 - Milwaukee, 5:30-7 pm
ThriveOn King, 2153 N. Doctor M.L.K. Jr. Dr.
Registration Link
Thursday 12/12 - Ashland, 5:30-7 pm
Ashland High School, 1900 Beaser Ave.
Registration Link
Monday 12/16 - VIRTUAL, 4-5:30pm
Registration Link
Mental Health Professional Development ebook Available
The Wisconsin Out-of-School Time Alliance (WOSTA) has released a Mental Health Resource Guide ebook providing professional development for staff in out-of-school time programs working to support youth mental health. The content is delivered through recorded webinars, short videos, and podcasts. Access the guide here.
Wisconsin Wayfinder Supports Families with Special Health Care Needs
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services celebrates one year of Wisconsin Wayfinder Children’s Resource Network, a service connecting families of children with delays, disabilities, special health care needs, or mental health conditions to the resources and support they need to thrive.
PATCH Wisconsin Adolescent Health Calendar
There is a new way to stay updated on the adolescent health focused events happening in Wisconsin – the PATCH Wisconsin Adolescent Health Calendar. It is a shared public calendar of adolescent health related events and opportunities that is easy to integrate into existing calendars.
SAMHSA Accepting Public Comments on 2025 Draft National Guidelines for a Behavioral Health Coordinated System of Crisis Care
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is welcoming public comments on the 2025 Draft National Guidelines for a Behavioral Health Coordinated System of Crisis Care (National Guidelines 2025). Interested people are invited to submit written comments from Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, through Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Learn more.
Grant from UW-Whitewater provides access to all Wisconsin K-12 schools for the 2024-25 school year
This interactive platform promotes positivity and kindness among students. To get started, fill out the Free onboarding form on the YouUplift website. For more details, check out the School Kindness eWall website. If you have questions, please contact Ann Stadler at UWW (stadlera@uww.edu).
Your team at OCMH wishes you and yours the very best this holiday season. And, we extend our heartfelt thanks for your support and work to improve the well-being of Wisconsin’s children. We look forward to continuing our work with you in the new year!
Linda Hall – Director
Karen Katz – Operations Lead
Amy Marsman – Senior Research Analyst
Andrea Turtenwald – Family Relations Coordinator
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