Improving Children’s Mental Health in Racine

It’s All Connected…

Because we’re all connected.

Healthy children develop into healthy, contributing adults who keep Racine strong and growing. Mental health is a critical component of child wellbeing—yet thousands of children in Racine develop mental health problems that go undetected and untreated. The consequences are real and measurable: Without appropriate services, our children may face school failure, juvenile justice involvement, hospitalization, and even death.

It’s time to work together to increase access to high-quality mental health support and intervention—to help children lead healthier, more productive lives, and to help Racine thrive.

Because we’re all connected.

ChallengeChildren across Racine need better access to mental health services.

An estimated 7,000 children face mental health disorders.

More than 10 percent show serious behavior problems before age 5.

An estimated 80 percent of children do not receive the treatment they need.

The Racine Collaborative for Children’s Mental Health, convened through The Johnson Foundation at Wingspread, unites more than 80 community leaders to improve care access and coordination.

Connect to bring hopeSolution

Reduce juvenile justice involvement due to mental health issues

Decrease school suspensions and expulsions

Increase high school graduation rates for students with mental health issues

Improve children’s social and emotional health

Here are our goals:

The lines are long. The walls are high.

Challenge

• Insurance issues and high service costs• Transportation difficulties• Overburdened caregivers• Language barriers• Unclear starting points• Social stigma• Workforce and service shortages

Children and families seeking care face staggering barriers:

Connect children to careSolution

Here’s how we’ll increase the likelihood of detection and treatment:

24/7 phone line to connect families to the right service

In-school mental health services

Screening for early detection

Education for teachers and parents

Community-wide anti-stigma campaign

The system is fragmented and confusing.

Challenge

Services to improve children’s mental health in

Racine don’t coordinate efforts. It’s hard to know

what’s available. Families and children must

often navigate on their own.

Connect providers, referrers and families

Solution

Here’s how we’ll bring the parts together:

Care organizers to help families develop and follow a plan

Children’s Mental Health Network to link providers and referrers

Lunch-and-learn sessions to educate pediatricians and nurse practitioners

The problem’s roots are deep and complex.

Challenge

Risk factors such as early childhood trauma,

low birth weight, and prenatal damage from

alcohol, drugs or tobacco can’t be removed

overnight. Racine faces additional challenges,

such as high rates of child poverty.

Connect with usSolution

Get informed. Download “Top of Mind,” a clear summary of our research and Racine’s challenges, at www.johnsonfdn.org

Learn more about the collaborative, tell your story, or find out about mental health resources in our community at www.HealthyRacineKids.org

Here’s how you can help our collaborative speak up for Racine’s children:

If you or someone you know needs help now, start here:

Racine County Crisis Services Line: 262-638-6741

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in Racine: 262-637-0582 or www.namiracine.org

Summer 2014• Launch 24/7 phone line

• Launch care organizers

Fall 2014• Promote 24/7 phone line

and care organizers

• Launch community-wide anti-stigma campaign

• Pilot mental health literacy program

• Expand hospital lunch-and-learn sessions

• Assess desire for and design provider network

Taking Action

2015• Implement provider network

• Pilot school-based mental health services

• Pilot screening tool

• Continue and refine programs and solutions

Let’s all work together to improve Racine children’s mental health and wellbeing. Here’s our plan for the next year.

Taking Action

Mission: The Racine Collaborative for Children’s Mental Health educates, advocates and mobilizes community leaders and professional resources to deliver quality, coordinated and comprehensive support services so that all children might lead healthy and vibrant lives.

Vision: We envision a community that recognizes and provides for the mental health needs of all children and maintains a supportive and coordinated system of care dedicated to relieving unnecessary suffering and optimizing opportunities for children to enjoy fulfilling and productive lives.

Partners:Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee

CESA 5 (Cooperative Educational Service Agency)

Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Community Services

City of Racine Police Department

Family Service of Racine

Granite Diagnostic Laboratories, Inc.

Juvenile Aftercare Ministries (JAM)

Kane Communications Group

LGBT Center of Southeastern Wisconsin

Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin

Martin & Rosanne Poe Psychologists

Medical Support Services, Inc.

NAMI Racine County

Next Generation Now

Portis Marriage and Child Therapy Clinic

Professional Services Group, Inc.

Racine Community Foundation, Inc.

Racine County Circuit Court

Racine County Human Services Department

Racine County University of Wisconsin — Extension

Racine Kenosha Community Action Agency (RKCAA)

Racine Unified School District

Rondi J. Rork, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist

SAFE Haven of Racine

St. Rita’s Catholic Grade School

The Johnson Foundation at Wingspread

Therapy House

United Way of Racine County

University of Pennsylvania

Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare — All Saints

Wisconsin Department of Health Services

Wisconsin Initiative for Stigma Elimination (WISE)/Rogers InHealth

Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Office

Word of Life Christian Worship Center

www.HealthyRacineKids.org

© 2014Published by The Johnson Foundation at Wingspread

Design: Modern Media

Writer: Mary Jo Thome

Printed on recycled paper