Improving Children’s Mental Health in Racine
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