Specialized Family Resource Center

New Strong Families Healthy Homes newsletter, The Voice- Spring 2008

Download the Family Center/Invisible Children's Program Event Calendar for May.

Mental Health America of Wisconsin (formerly Mental Health Association) has received a grant from the Children's Trust Fund, an agency dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect. The grant has been used to develop our Specialized Family Resource Center which supports families with special mental health needs through education, advocacy and social opportunities.

The Family Center currently provides both educational classes and fun activities for all ages.The Wellness Recovery class focuses on the parent's recovery from mental illness. The Parenting Class increases the parent's knowledge and understanding of their mental illness and its effects on parenting. The Freedom Self-Advocacy Class provides the tools for parents to better self advocate for themselves and their families within the community. Other addition offerings include, but are not limited to: family events and outings, fun activities for both parents and children, and educational courses about nutrition, budgeting, self care, health benefits, housing, community resources and more. Most importantly, the Family Center will be staffed by Peer Support Specialists. These Specialists are mental health consumers who have embraced the recovery philosophy and have completed a 70 hour certification process in order to work directly with the visitors to the Family Center.

MHA is proud to be the first in Milwaukee to provide this Specialized Family Center. MHA will be providing training and technical support services to Family Resource Centers across the state, as well as to other mental health organizations. In addition to trainings, the MHA will also develop a tool kit of curriculum and mental health resources to better serve this population of families.

Attention Parents: Could you or your family benefit from the Family Resource Center? If so, please fill out the application form or call Kristina Finnel at (414) 276-3119 or (414) 276-3122 to schedule a tour.

Attention Professionals: Do you know a client who could benefit from the Family Resource Center? If so, fill out the referral form.

**Please send a release of information to accompany the referral form in order to share the person's information with us and so that we may contact the client.

What's Happening at the Family Center

Download the Strong Families Healthy Homes newsletter, The Voice- Spring 2008

Drop-in Time at the family center, offered every Wednesdy and Thursday, from 10am-12pm. Play cards, browse the lending library, socialize with other parents, work on an arts & crafts projects, and much more! For more information, call (414) 276-3119.

Freedom Self-Advocacy Class , offered every Tuesday from Noon-2pm.

Wellness Recovery Class, offered every Wednesday from Noon-2pm

Parenting, every Thursday, Noon-2pm

Family Center Wish List

Mittens/hats/gloves for kids
Infant/Toddler Car Seats (less than 5 years old to meet safety regulations)
Bunn two pot coffee machine
Coffee, tea, hot cocoa, filters
Magazine/newspaper subscription for the family center (e.g. Parenting, Highlights, Family Fun, Ladies Home Journal, Cooking Light, O (Oprah) Magazine, Ebony, People, Milwaukee Journal, USA Today)
CD player/boombox
Children's videos/DVDs
Sewing Machines
Children's toys and books
High chairs
Fans
$5 value door prizes used for giveaways (e.g. candles, books, colgne, perfume)
C leaning supplies (e.g. glass cleaner, all purpose cleaner, dusting spray)
Laundry supplies (e.g. detergent, bleach, dryer sheets)
Linens (e.g. bed sheets, dish towels, bath towels)
Hygiene items (e.g. women's and men's deodorant, toothpaste, sanitary napkins, tampons, etc.)

For more information or to schedule a tour, call Kristina Finnel at (414) 276-3119 or (414) 276-3122.