Wisconsin Health News

A $2 million federal grant will help support the state’s behavioral health response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Health Services said Wednesday. 

DHS is partnering with seven counties identified as having the greatest need for behavioral health services relative to the COVID-19 pandemic. The counties are:

• Brown County - $140,930
• Dane County - $292,498
• Kenosha County - $270,000
• Milwaukee County - $320,000
• Racine County - $122,512
• Rock County - $212,702
• Waukesha County - $168,833

They’ll use it to develop programs to help those facing the greatest challenges during the pandemic. That could include addressing barriers to care, expanding services for those experiencing or at risk of homelessness and enhancing supports for foster care families.

Other efforts include providing telehealth, substance-free housing, safe spaces for residential use treatment and peer specialists.

Mental Health America of Wisconsin is getting $48,016 to provide treatment services to healthcare workers through telehealth. And Behavioral Consulting Services is getting $58,203 to provide treatment and recovery support to staff at long-term care facilities. 

The remainder of the money is going to data collection and monitoring of the outcomes and efficacy of the projects. Grant funding is available through August 2021.