Milwaukee – Driven by a shared commitment to increase access to behavioral healthcare for people who are most vulnerable, Outreach Community Health Centers (OCHC) and the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division (BHD) are expanding behavioral healthcare services on Milwaukee’s North and East Side. These collaborative efforts will provide immediate access to behavioral healthcare, primary healthcare and other programs, including on-site pharmacy and dental care, peer support services and referral to appropriate outpatient clinics and other community programs. “Through this agreement, we can offer much-needed coordinated behavioral healthcare service to our clients and to the communities we serve. We know behavioral health needs can be present with other health issues,” said Connie Palmer, President and CEO for Outreach Community Health Centers. Members of the BHD team will be present at Access Clinic East, located within Outreach Community Health Centers’ clinic. This partnership plays a key role in the County’s larger redesign, focusing on expanded and enhanced access to community-based services. “For years, the Department of Health and Human Services and Behavioral Health Division have been committed to redesigning our mental health delivery system by investing in community-based resources that are more accessible to those in need,” said David Muhammad, Deputy Director, Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services. “Opening Access Clinic East is another significant step toward increasing access to high quality prevention and early intervention services in partnership with |
our trusted community partners, and it supports our strategic goals of advancing racial equity and improving health outcomes for all Milwaukee County residents.” The new clinic will allow BHD’s team to quickly connect people with the culturally competent care they need within their own community. Services include psychiatric assessment, medication evaluation, peer support services, counseling and/or referrals to appropriate outpatient clinics, and access to additional community programs. |
“Access Clinic East creates a mutually beneficial partnership that allows our team to quickly connect people with the care they need, right in their own community,” said Ken Ginlack, BHD Director of Outpatient Treatment Programs. “Like our other Access Clinic locations, we will provide a range of non- emergency services and ensure Milwaukee County residents are receiving the care they deserve. At a time when behavioral health and substance use resources have never been more dire, we’re excited to be partnering with Outreach to open a clinic that serves residents on the north and east side of Milwaukee.” The program was launched at Outreach Community Health Centers at 210 West Capitol Drive earlier this month. The behavioral health clinic is located on the second floor and open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with walk-in hours from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For more information and to learn more, please visit ochc-milw.org or register to join Outreach’s Virtual |
Open House. Details are below: Virtual Open House April 28, 2021 About Outreach Community Health Centers ### |
Outreach Community Health Centers www.ochc-milw.org provides high-quality primary, family and behavioral health services to people throughout the Greater Milwaukee area, while maintaining our founding mission to serve the homeless, people experiencing extreme poverty, and the uninsured. Over the last 38 years, our programs have grown to provide a strong continuum of care and services, which respond to the whole life needs of our clients and patients, and deliver those services at four locations in Milwaukee.
Outreach Community Health Centers is fortunate to provide behavioral treatment in an outpatient setting as well as comprehensive clinical case management to support the whole person. Our staff works as a team to provide culturally sensitive and person-centered care and includes psychiatrists, psychologists, nurse practitioners and psychotherapists.
Prior to the pandemic, the Behavioral Health Clinic added increased psychiatry services, which uniquely prepared us to serve patients during this difficult time. Because of these added services, quick access to psychiatric care is now available for those in need. Behavioral health services include: youth, family, individual and group therapy, substance use, intensive outpatient program, psychiatric evaluation and medication management.
About the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division
The Behavioral Health Division (BHD) provides care and treatment to adults, children, and adolescents with mental illness, substance use disorders, and intellectual disabilities through both County-operated programs and contracts with community agencies. Services include intensive short-term treatment through our crisis services and inpatient services, as well as a full array of supportive community services for persons with serious mental illness and substance use disorders.
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BHD’s Access Clinic East serves both insured and uninsured Milwaukee County residents. No patients will be denied services due to inability to pay. Those with insurance should consult their insurance provider and/or primary care physician, however BHD provides bridge services to Milwaukee County residents until they are able to get an appointment with their long-term provider. The clinic will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. New patients should arrive by 2 p.m. and will be seen in the order of their arrival. Learn more at https://county.milwaukee.gov/EN/DHHS/BHD.
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