Wellpoint Care Network expands services, impact through two new awards totaling $2 million

As part of our continued efforts to amplify the reach and impact of our vision that all children and families thrive, Wellpoint Care has secured two major new awards this fall that will enable us to expand our service provisions to address the needs of Milwaukee County citizens and grow our community impact. 

Supervised Independent Living Program

This week, we began our $1 million contract with the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, Division of Milwaukee Child Protective Services to provide Supervised Independent Living services to youth in Milwaukee County.

The program helps youth, ages 17-21, transition from out-of-home care to independent living by providing housing placement in close proximity to public transportation, individualized case management and intensive education focused on gaining life skills and securing resources needed to maintain housing through adulthood.

With the addition of this program, Wellpoint will be delivering the full continuum of services to Milwaukee County’s children and youth in out-of-home care. Operations began November 1, and plans are to serve approximately 25 youth in the program’s first year.

Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic

In October, we were awarded a federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic grant, funded at the level of $1 million per year (renewable for up to 4 years). This funding will enable Wellpoint to serve over 700 individuals, significantly expanding coordinated behavioral health services to residents of Milwaukee County. 

Titled “Healing Connections,” this planning grant will enable us to establish infrastructure and the operational and clinical capacity to offer a cohesive screening, treatment and care coordination experience for children, adolescents and adults with mental health and substance use disorder needs.

​​​​​​​The project aims to improve health outcomes for adolescents and adults in Milwaukee County through the following main goals:

• Support recovery from co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders by providing access to high-quality services effective with consumers experiencing health disparities.
• Enhance screening and intervention services to decrease levels of suicide in adolescents and adults in the community.
• Develop care coordination services for consumers to assure safe, appropriate and effective care and transitions.

Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics provide comprehensive, coordinated behavioral health services to anyone who needs them, regardless of ability to pay, place of residence or age. Services include 24/7 crisis services, peer support and family counseling, outpatient mental health and substance use care, psychiatric rehabilitation and community-based mental health care for veterans.