Mental Health Policy Initiative

The Mental Health Policy Initiative is a multiyear project that aims to improve state and local policies for individuals suffering from mental illness. Funded by a 2009 gift from Wildflower
Communities, the Mental Health Policy Initiative seeks to increase funding for mental health services, ensure the availability of appropriate inpatient and outpatient mental health services in Milwaukee County, and improve the decision-making process among agencies that serve those with mental illness.

Journal Sentinel Series Leads to Increase in Supportive Housing Units

In March of 2006 the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel published the Pulitzer Prize-winning series “Abandoning Our Mentally Ill," exposing the appalling living conditions experienced by men and women living with severe and debilitating mental illness.

Since the series, 340 new supportive housing units have opened in Milwaukee, including a 91-apartment complex built on the site of the old Johnston Health Clinic at 2150 S. 13th St. Additionally, 48 units at Empowerment Village at the old Oakton Manor, 1527 W. National Ave., and 52 units for veterans at N. 35th St. and W. Wisconsin Ave. are to open in December 2010.

In this insightful article, George Stanley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Managing Editor, put into context the series' positive effects on local housing for those suffering from mental illness and hopes that a similar series on conditions at the Milwaukee Mental Health Complex may result in similar systemic changes.

Community Advocates is currently assisting the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County in the formulation of a county-wide supportive housing plan for people who have a mental illness, have a disability or are at risk of homelessness. This project also includes assisting the City with the development of zoning ordinance changes that will improve the development and siting process.

The project has been engaged in:

  • Helping to eliminate the stigma associated with mental illness to ensure that it is regarded and treated as the chronic medical condition that it is.
  • Increasing public and private funding for mental health services as part of the extension of insurance to all Wisconsin residents. The Public Policy Institute played a major role in the 2010 enactment of the Wisconsin Parity Act. This Act requires that all commercially purchased group health insurance plans provide mental health and substance use disorder insurance benefits at parity levels of coverage with physical conditions. We are now involved in helping to promulgate the administrative rules that will implement the law.
  • Integrating mental health treatment with substance use disorder treatment, physical health services, and non-health services such as employment and housing.
  • Improving the decision-making processes used by governmental agencies and private organizations as they work with those who have a mental illness.
  • Assisting the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County in the formulation of a county-wide supportive housing plan for people who have a mental illness, have a disability or are at risk of homelessness. This project also includes assisting the City with the development of zoning ordinance changes that will improve the development and siting process.