Milwaukee County

Welcome to Milwaukee County

Milwaukee County’s goal is to enrich your life by providing essential services that meet your needs and those of your family, neighbors, co-workers and friends.

Our County

We enhance the quality of life in Milwaukee County through great public service.

Residents

Milwaukee County is home to over 950,000 people living in one of 19 communities, which range in size from the City of Milwaukee, with 595,000 residents, to the Village of River Hills, with roughly 1,600 residents.

Businesses

Still a manufacturing stronghold, the region features 16 Fortune 1000 companies and thousands of others in the financial services, medical device, hospitality and retailing industries.

News & Events

Find information about things to do and happenings in Milwaukee County.

Prevention & Awareness

Recovery | Suicide Prevention | | Alcohol Awareness | Mental Health

Get help with COVID-19: Apply for energy assistance, rent or mortgage assistance and learn more about Milwaukee County’s ongoing response.

Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services Update in Response to Coronavirus (COVID-19)

The Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services is committed to the safety and needs of the individuals that we serve. We are taking the current situation with the Coronavirus very seriously and working closely with public officials and community partners to ensure access to services. Look for any changes and updates to services on the divisions' landing pages. You can also call 2-1-1 for information. IMPACT 2-1-1 provides a coordinated point for those in need.

View a Complete List of Milwaukee County and Community Partner Resources

Quick Links

Light & Unite Red

Fall 2020 Virtual Takeover

Don’t be in the dark this fall, turn the light on addiction.

Milwaukee County is raising awareness this fall about the dangers of substance use. In 2020, the Light & Unite Red campaign is critically important. Substance use has seen a dramatic increase during the pandemic, making it more important than ever to raise awareness through Light & Unite Red.

Everyone is encouraged to participate in this fall’s Light & Unite Red Virtual Takeover!

Join the movement to raise awareness about the dangers of substance use and ways to be well.

Take the National Drug & Alcohol IQ Challenge! | Spanish

Suicide Prevention Webinar Registration

Nov. 29, 2020, 6 p.m.

Dec. 13, 2020, 6 p.m.

Dec. 27, 2020, 6 p.m.

Creating Healthy Homes Resources

Thank You to Our Light & Unite Red Partners

Beyond Addiction

Neu Media

Recovery Month/Suicide Prevention Week

Recovery Month: Sept.1-30, 2020 | Suicide Prevention Week: Sept. 6-12, 2020

31st Annual National Recovery Month, September 2020

Every September, SAMHSA sponsors Recovery Month to increase awareness and understanding of mental and substance use disorders and celebrate the people who recover. The annual campaign is Join the Voices for Recovery: Celebrating Connections.

Suicide Prevention Week

Although there is no single cause of suicide, one of the risks for suicide is social isolation, and there’s scientific evidence for reducing suicide risk by making sure we connect with one another. We can all play a role through the power of connection by having real conversations about mental health with people in everyday moments – whether it’s with those closest to us, or the coffee barista, parking lot attendant, or the grocery store clerk.

Why Red?

Red is the national color for substance abuse awareness.

Light & Unite Red is a community-wide prevention committee led by the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division (BHD). In 2018, nearly 50 community organizations, surrounding health departments, high schools, libraries and government entities are working together to shine a spotlight on the dangers of substance use and to unite our community to engage in prevention, encourage treatment and support recovery throughout the year.

Light & Unite Red logo

Shine a Light on Social Media

#414GoesRed | #LightUniteRed

Light & Unite Red Toolkit

Everything you need to empower safe, healthy, meaningful lives through the power of prevention.

211info

(iOS | Android)

211 is an important, national hotline for people who need help with just about anything. Shelter, warmth, broken furnace, addiction, mental health crisis, all can be helped by 211. Now, the national 211 group has an app to make connecting to help even easier.

A Friend Asks

(iOS | Android)

"A Friend Asks" is a free app that helps provide resources and information if you or a friend are struggling with thoughts of suicide.

My3

(iOS | Android)

If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, My3 helps you define your network and your plan to stay safe, or to help others do the same.

notOK

(iOS | Android)

It's okay to be notOK. The notOK app is a free, mental health S.O.S. call. Simply open the app, tap the "notOK" button, and a text message along with your current GPS location will be sent to your pre-selected contacts.

Myth-Shattering Resources

National Drug & Alcohol Fact Week (NDAFW) site
NDAFW Resources
Full Toolkit Here

Light & Unite Red Community Partners

Alcohol Awareness Month

April 1-30, 2020

Help for Today, Hope for Tomorrow

Founded and sponsored by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (now Facing Addiction with NCADD), Alcohol Awareness Month was established in 1987 to help reduce the stigma so often associated with alcohol addiction by encouraging communities to reach out to the American public each April with information about alcohol, alcohol addiction, and recovery. Alcohol addiction is a chronic, progressive disease, genetically predisposed and fatal if untreated. However, people can and do recover. In fact, it is estimated that as many as 20 million individuals and family members are living lives in recovery from alcohol use!

1 in 12

One in twelve adults, or 17.6 million Americans, suffer from alcohol use disorder or alcohol dependence according to FacingAddiction.org.

Mental Health Month

May 1-31, 2020

Get Involved

This May, BHD is proud to partner with Mental Health America to recognize Mental Health Month by promoting Fitness #4Mind4Body. We know taking care of both mental and physical health contributes to a person’s overall wellness — and we want your help to share this with people whose health you care about.

Online

Throughout May, BHD will share a #4Mind4Body challenge on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages encouraging you to make small changes that will make a big impact on your overall wellness. We encourage you to share your progress online using #4Mind4Body.

In Person

Several of our community partners will host free community events to promote Fitness #4Mind4Body. We encourage you to participate wherever you are able and share these with your networks.

Get the Resources

Mental Health America Toolkit

MILWAUKEE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

1220 W. Vliet St.

Suite 301

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53205

Access DHHS

How We Help

Our Vision

Together, creating healthy communities.

Our Mission

Empowering safe, healthy, meaningful lives.

Our Values

Partnership, Respect, Integrity,

Diversity, Excellence

Milwaukee County

ACCESS

Established in 1835, Milwaukee County is home to more than 950,000 residents and is the hub of the 37th largest regional economy in the United States.
About Us | Municipalities | Contact Us

Welcome to Milwaukee County

Our County

Residents

Businesses

News & Events

Prevention & Awareness

Recovery | Suicide Prevention | | Alcohol Awareness | Mental Health

Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services Update in Response to Coronavirus (COVID-19)

View a Complete List of Milwaukee County and Community Partner Resources

Quick Links

Light & Unite Red

Fall 2020 Virtual Takeover

Suicide Prevention Webinar Registration

Creating Healthy Homes Resources