Mental Health Improvement Fund

As a country, we’ve made progress in including mental health as a covered service within insurance. But not everyone can afford insurance, and so mental health services remain out of reach for many.  

Having someone to talk to and have them there to help in a person’s growth is essential for not only the individual’s health, but for the community as well. Gabriela Diéguez, a clinical social worker at Sixteenth Street Community Health Center, has noticed that the interest in counseling services have grown, particularly from men, within the past five years.  

Sixteenth Street Community Health Center is one of United Way’s agency program partners and aligns with the Milwaukee Health Care Partnership. The Milwaukee Health Care Partnership, comprised of four health system members (Ascension Wisconsin, Aurora Health Care, Children’s Wisconsin, and Froedtert ThedaCare Health Inc.), has partnered with United Way since 2012 to improve healthcare coverage and access for low-income residents in Milwaukee County. Listening to the community’s input, it became evident that mental health and mental healthcare access is one of the community health areas that weighs most heavily in our area. In response, Milwaukee Health Care Partnership members and United Way have narrowed our health focus to the new Mental Health Improvement Fund. The fund is designed for all age groups in multiple settings with the goal of increasing access to mental health care, improving mental health outcomes, and promoting health equity. 

“In my work as a counselor at Sixteenth Street Clinic, I see a lot of hope,” Gabriela said. “I get to be a witness. I think [clients] would say that the clinic has been very important in providing the support that they needed for their general health and their mental health.” 

Watch a video of this story on YouTube.

Together, we can ensure that everyone has access to the high-quality representative care that they need and deserve. Giving to the Mental Health Improvement Fund comes with a 6:1 match, up to $2 million from the four health systems in the Milwaukee area. 

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