Adults with mental illnesses are just as likely to be parents as those without a mental illness. In fact, the population of parents who have serious mental illnesses has increased in recent years. With the advent of improved services and medications, increased consumer advocacy, expansion of community-based care and decreased reliance on psychiatric hospitalization, more adults with serious mental illnesses have chosen to become parents.
The objective the Invisible Children's Program (ICP) is to support parents with mental illness in their parenting efforts and to keep the family together. The ICP is based on the idea that all parents want to be the best parents possible and the art of being a parent is tremendously rehabilitative. Its main priority, then, is to empower the parent to be a role model for their child.
Admission
The Invisible Children's Program (ICP) is for parents who:
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Are 18 years of age or older.
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Have a primary diagnosis of a mental health disorder (for example: depression, schizophrenia, personality disorder or bipolar).
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Have children 17 years of age and younger.
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Have custody of their child(ren) or want to regain custody.
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Receive mental health treatment with a psychiatrist, therapist, and have been medication compliant for at least 30 consecutive days.
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Want to create a safe home environment for their child(ren).
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Are willing to make a commitment to regularly attend the program and services.
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Are hard-of-hearing, visually impaired or physically impaired, or who use a language other than English. The ICP staff will work cooperatively with a program that better meets the clients needs. Planning will be on a case-by-case basis. Parents who have children who have physical disabilities will also be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Referral
The Invisible Children's Program
Download The Invisible Children's Program
Referral Form
Please note: The ICP does not accept self-referrals. A parent must be referred by a therapist or doctor. However, if a parent is involved with the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare (BMCW), then the referral must come from the site's family assessor.
Please return completed form(s) to:
Kristina Finnel, Supervisor of the Invisible Children's Program
Mental Health America of Wisconsin
734 N. 4th Street, Ste. 200
Milwaukee, WI 53203
(414) 276-3124 (fax)
For those parents who do not meet the requirements of the ICP and are still interested in taking the pscyhoeducational courses through Mental Health America's Specialized Resource Center, please download a Referral Form.
