Advocacy

ARC Milwaukee

7203 W. Center Street
Milwaukee, WI 53210 414-774-6255
information@arcmilwaukee.org
www.arcmilwaukee.org

Provides programs and services for people with developmental and related disabilities, their families, and the community through, information, education, advocacy, and life planning services. Services include; Information and Assistance; Case Management; Corporate Guardianship; Community Training; Advocacy; and Community Trust Services.

ASHA Family Services

4738 W. Lisbon Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53208
414-875-1511
asha@ashafamilyservices.com
www.ashafamilyservices.com

Our Children's Advocacy Project (OCAP) - Provides services on-site and at area schools. OCAP provides direct services, advocacy, and support for children who experience violence in the home and teaches children how to protect themselves by developing safety and support systems. Family and Individual Case Management - Family violence prevention advocates provide intense case management and advocacy services for families who need assistance in accessing community services and supports.  Case managers assist families in developing an individualized case plan for all family members and monitor the plan’s progress.  

Children's Hospital of Wisconsin
Child Abuse Prevention Fund

P.O. Box 1997, MS 3085
Milwaukee, WI 53201
414-266-6300
www.capfund.org

The CAP Fund is committed to ensuring a safe environment for children through financial support of primary prevention activities throughout Wisconsin, as well as educating professionals and the public about the role of prevention in eliminating child abuse.

Children's Hospital of Wisconsin
Child Protection Center

9000 W. Wisconsin Avenue
Wauwatosa, WI 53226
414-266-2090
www.chw.org

Provides comprehensive assessments of children suspected to be victims of child abuse and neglect and performs foster care screenings. The center also advocates for safe and secure living environment for Wisconsin children.

Community Advocates
Disability Advocacy (SSI/SSD Program)

4906 W. Fond du Lac Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53216
414-449-4777

Provides assistance for individuals with chronic disabilities through a review and referral process for Social Security Disability (SSD), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Interim Disability Assistance Program (IDAP). 

Community Advocates
Med-Line

4906 W. Fond du Lac Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53216
414-449-4777

Provides resources, referrals, and/or advocacy for health care needs and related issues. Individuals who need assistance with Medicaid benefits, either with applying or resolving problems on current cases, can also call Med-Line. Calls are taken Tuesday through Friday from 9a.m. to noon. Staff can only take five calls per day so people should call early.

Council for the Spanish Speaking

614 W. National Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53207 414-384-3700
www.councilforthespanishspeakingmilw.org

Provides education, housing and social services to help families and individuals overcome the social, economic, and cultural barriers to self-sufficiency and productivity. Social service programs provide assistance with immigration, legal translations, W-7 applications, family support services and senior job training; education programs include a Head Start program and adult education and training; the housing program helps to provide quality affordable housing to seniors and people with disabilities. Bilingual: Spanish.

Department of Health and Family Services
Bureau of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

1 W. Wilson Street, Room 434
P.O. Box 7851
Madison, WI  53707
608-267-7792 

Works to support and improve the quality and effectiveness of mental health and substance abuse services in order to create a recovery-focused system for the people of Wisconsin.

Department of Health and Family Services Client Rights Office

1 W. Wilson Street, Room 851
Madison, WI  53707
608-266-5525

Oversees the grievance procedures for the state operated facilities and the grievance process for the community.

Department of Health and Family Services
Office of Quality Assurance

P.O. Box 2969
Madison, WI 53701
608-266-8481

Responsible for assuring the safety, welfare and health of persons using health and community care provider services in Wisconsin.

Disability Rights Wisconsin    

6737 W. Washington Street, Suite 3230
Milwaukee, WI  53214
414-773-4646/ 888-758-6049 (TDDTYY)

A statewide resource for individuals, families, service professionals and others concerned with disability issues. Helps people across Wisconsin gain access to services and opportunities through its advocacy and legal expertise. Provides information and skill-building training on rights, self-advocacy and effective strategies; works one-on-one to overcome barriers and access benefits and offers legal support to challenge discriminatory practices. Focus areas include abuse and neglect, employment and inclusive education.

Disability Rights Wisconsin
SSI Managed Care External Advocacy

6737 W. Washington Street, Suite 3230
Milwaukee, WI 53214
414-773-4646 or 800-708-3034
www.drwi.org

A service for adult Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Social Security Disability (SSD) Medicaid recipients who are enrolled in a Managed Care Organization (MCO). Or, recipients who may enroll in the future who have questions about or problems with the MCO or their medical, mental health or AODA providers and who are not satisfied with the answers or solutions the MCO has given them.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

310 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 800
Milwaukee, WI 53203
800-669-4000/ 800-669-6820 (TDD)
www.eeoc.gov

A federal agency authorized to accept, investigate, resolve, or make findings related to charges of employment discrimination.

Independence First

600 W. Virginia Street, 4th Floor
Milwaukee, WI 53204
414-291-7520
info@independencefirst.org
www.independencefirst.org

An Independent Living Center (ILC) that provides services to people with any type of disability. Services include advocacy; Independent Living Services; information and referral; and peer support. ILC staff and Board members are comprised of a majority of persons with disabilities. Also offers people assistance with disability benefits and employment services. Bilingual: Spanish; Russian.

Justice 2000, Inc.
Pre-trial Mental Health Intervention

821 W. State St. Room 417
Milwaukee, WI 53233
414-278-2140
www.justice-2000.org

Provides services to mentally ill adult defendants in MilwaukeeCounty. Services include evaluation of defendant risk and needs; recommendation for conditions for release; linkages to essential services provided by community-based organizations; on-going case management services; support and monitoring of defendant participation in treatment; and progress and compliance reports to the Circuit Courts in MilwaukeeCounty. Referrals may come from the court, jail social workers, attorneys, and families. Bilingual: Spanish.

Kid's Matter, Inc.
Fostering Healing Program

2929 W. Highland Boulevard
Milwaukee, WI 53208
414-344-1220

Provides assistance to children who have been victims of crime or violence. The program is designed to support grandparents, foster parents or other relative caregivers while they care for children who have suffered from abandonment, battery, witnessing of domestic violence, neglect, physical or sexual abuse, or the murder of a parent or sibling.  

Mental Health America of Wisconsin
Invisible Children's Program (ICP)

734 N. 4th Street, Suite 200
Milwaukee, WI 53203
414-257-3122
info@mhawisconsin.org
www.mhawisconsin.org

The ICP serves parents, as well as their children, whose lives have been touched by mental illness. Parents are referred to the program by their therapist, doctor or case worker. The program empowers parents with a mental illness to meet their children's needs, improve the overall health of the family, and strengthen family relationships. Services offered include family advocacy, education, support groups, and family outings. 

Mental Health America of Wisconsin
Office of Public Policy

133 S. Butler Street, Room 330
Madison, WI  53703
08-250-4368
www.mhawisconsin.org

The MHA provides leadership on mental health advocacy both locally and statewide. Provides information about important public policy issues in Milwaukee, Madison and Washington, D.C. MHA's staff serves on several state mental health committees and elevates mental health policy concerns in a cross-systems context through these organizations.  MHA also utilizes its prevention/early intervention activities as a springboard to impact mental health policy.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Greater Milwaukee

3732 W. Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53208
414-344-0447
namigrm@execpc.com
www.namigrm.org

NAMI offers a helpline; information and referral to appropriate resources; support group for families and loved ones of someone with a mental illness; and systems advocacy services for individuals and families coping with mental illness. Monthly educational meetings and a quarterly newsletter are available.

Representative Payees 

If a person who receives Social Security benefits needs help managing his or her money, Social Security, after careful investigation, appoints a relative, friend or other interested party to serve as the recipients "representative payee". This means the person's benefits are then paid to the payee on the recipient's behalf. The agencies listed are potential payees and may be contacted for additional information: 

First Choice Outreach Services
2040 W Wisconsin Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53233
414- 535-1763

Money Manager and Personal Services
1646 N. 27th St.
Milwaukee, WI  53208
414-931-8921

Open Door Services
6915 W. Capitol Dr.
Milwaukee, WI  53216
414-616-6480

Open Gate
1131 N. 12th St.
Milwaukee, WI  53205
414-344-7582

Supportive Community Services
1126 S. 70th St., Suite S106
West Allis, WI  53214
414-475-2666

Schizophrenics Understood SU Friends

5617 W. National Avenue
West Allis, WI 53214
414-258-2438
sufriends@aol.com

A social and recreational drop-in center that promotes mental health. SU is comprised of consumers, family members, professionals, and other concerned persons.  SU offers meetings, networking, and advocacy. Provides opportunities for growth and development to people coping with a serious mental illness. SU is a self-help group of consumers who understand and support each other. Members promote self-acceptance and create a sense of belonging, which leads to recovery. Open Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
 

Social Rehabilitation and Residential Resources, Inc.

9330 W. Lincoln Avenue, Suite 21
West Allis, WI  53227
414-546-6880 x111
 

Offers private pay case management services for persons with a severe and persistent mental illness. Services include medication management; payeeship; budgeting; case coordination; housing support and shopping; and daily living task training.

Sojourner Truth House
Domestic Abuse Victim Advocates

949 N. 9th Street
Milwaukee, WI
414-278-4978
www.sojournertruthhouse.org

The Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate Program within the Milwaukee County District Attorney's office, personally contacts victims of domestic abuse and conducts intake assessments. It is during that time that the Advocates explain the victim's rights to them and advocate for them to support those rights. When needed, they accompany victims throughout criminal and civil justice court proceedings and make appropriate and timely referrals to other community resources and service providers. They work closely with the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Domestic Violence Unit and are often called upon by Milwaukee County Circuit judges to clarify issues and enhance timely court case resolutions. Bilingual: Spanish.

Supportive Community Services

1126 S. 70th Street, Suite S106
West Allis, WI 53214
414-475-2666
www.supportivecommunityservices.org

A social service agency designed to provide services for the elderly, developmentally disabled, and the mentally ill through advocacy, guardianship, financial management and case management services. Financial management services include representative payee service; tax assistance; advocacy; development of individual budgets; and money management. Corporate guardianship services include court-ordered services; case management; and coordination with health and social service providers. Bilingual: Spanish. 

Task Force on Family Violence

Transitional Living Services
Winged Victory Program

1040 S. 70th Street
Milwaukee, WI 53214
414-257-4817
www.tlservices.org

Helps eligible consumers navigate the application process, submit medical evidence to the Disability Determination Bureau and access benefits such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability (SSDI), Medicare (Title 18), and Medicaid (Title 19). Also provides financial screening to determine which disability program a consumer is eligible for. A benefit specialist from the Winged Victory staff will serve as an "authorized representative" during the application process for all Social Security and Medicaid benefits. Winged Victory staff are located at sites throughout the Milwaukee area. Call for more information.

Vital Voices for Mental Health

912 N. Hawley Road
Milwaukee, WI 53213
414-771-4368
vitalvoices@sbcglobal.net

Vital Voices advocates for adults using mental health care services provided by the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division and its contract agencies. Services are available to individuals with mental illness, their family members, providers, and others with concerns about the quality of mental health care services.

Wisconsin Family Ties

16 N. Carroll Street, Suite 640
Madison, WI 53703
800-422-7145
info@wifamilyties.org
www.wifamilyties.org

A statewide, parent-run organization. Provides services to parents, grandparents, and teachers who have children with severe mental, emotional or behavioral problems. Provides families with emotional support through support groups, phone contact and personal visits; information on disorders, treatment options, and special education; referral resources; advocacy on an individual basis with schools and social services; and education and training.