Overview
In 2010 Milwaukee County began work to redesign the community’s behavioral health system. Private health systems, community health centers, community leaders, advocates, individuals with lived experience and experts in behavioral health have contributed to the redesign every step of the way. Our process included input from hundreds of community members. We established a goal to create a system less reliant on inpatient and institutional care, that meets people where they are with streamlined services, better access, culturally-competent care, No Wrong Doors and emphasizes proven practices like holistic and trauma informed care, stigma reduction and racial equity.
Milwaukee County has provided inpatient behavioral health services for more than 100 years. The Mental Health Complex was built more than 40 years ago to care for individuals with behavioral illness who, at the time, were expected to permanently reside in this facility. Since that time, best practices in care and laws have changed. Today, the Mental Health Complex is out of date, impacting service and patients.
Today, Behavioral Health Services (BHS) has expanded community-based behavioral health programs and services for residents in Milwaukee County. This approach has been so successful that inpatient hospital admissions have declined. Building a community-based system of care is a national best practice model. Partnering with our health systems and our community health centers will increase access to high-quality behavioral health services and reduce inpatient admissions.
The closure of the Mental Health Complex does not change Milwaukee County’s commitment to Behavioral Health Services or the scope and quality of services available. Through the mental health redesign, Milwaukee County residents can now access behavioral health services closer to home at more locations across the county instead of traveling to one location.
We are focused on improving access to care in the most underserved and vulnerable communities. In Milwaukee County, we believe that by achieving racial equity, Milwaukee will be the healthiest county in Wisconsin.
The redesign of Milwaukee County’s mental health system is a collective effort made possible because of our partnerships. Our BHS employees are vital partners in this process and in our future. Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley issued this proclamation thanking BHS Employees for their commitment.