May 20, 2010

 

Mental Health Action Team

 

Meeting Minutes

 

Time of Meeting: 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

 

Location of Meeting: Center for Urban Population Health

 

Present:  Gabriela Diéguez, SSCHC;  Leslie Davis, Aurora Walker’s Point Community Clinic;  Abraham Calleros, UMOS;  Trishla Shah, Disability Rights WI;  Melissa Waldo, SSCHC;  Luke Waldo, Sojourner Family Peace Center; Katherine Valentyn, Council for the Spanish Speaking; Sylvia Cortez, Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division; Ursula Flores, Crisis Resource Center.

 

Approval of minutes

Minutes from our April meeting were approved with one correction.

 

Announcements

• UWM/SSCHC “Latinos with Depression” project update postponed until next meeting in June.
• Thank you to all who attended the MLHC forum on 5-13-10.
•  “Race, Culture, and Ethnicity in Mental Health” Summit 2010—Planning Committee meetings—think of Latino mental health consumers who we can invite to be on that committee.  Abraham is on the planning committee, so he reported that the next meeting is 5-25-10.  Also, the date is set for the Summit: September 21, 2010.
• Membership forms—new members, you can fill one out.
• Resource cards—Katherine handed out the resource cards that remained to those in attendance.

 

Follow-up from meeting with Milwaukee County Behavioral Health

• Leslie contacted Amy Lorenz from BHD to set up the trainings on cultural sensitivity with the inpatient and Crisis Mobile Team.  They have dates set for June/July.
• We still have questions about Alien Emergency Medicaid and other billing issues.
• Sylvia reported that fiscal at BHD says AEM does not apply to Milwaukee County because they are not a medical ER—there is a restriction for mental health hospitals.
• However, from the meeting we had with John Chianelli, he seemed to think there was a way that it could apply.
• Melissa will draft an e-mail/letter to send to Desirine, Patient Rights Specialist at BHD, who has been designated as the person we communicate with when we have questions.
• Sylvia will send to Melissa Desirine’s e-mail address and provide feedback about the letter.
• All members will respond to Melissa’s e-mail regarding the letter.
• Discussion continued around emergency detentions—what happens during this process.

 

WarmLine

• Leslie reported that she has spoken with Lyn Malofsky regarding creating a WarmLine in Spanish.
• They discussed a training in the fall Sept/Oct for people who want to staff the WarmLine.
• The training would have simultaneous translation or a separate training all in Spanish if that is the need.
• Location/Space: Leslie has a feeling that Spanish-speakers may not want to drive out to BHD to staff the line.  So they have discussed the possibility of people staying on the south side, at a clinic perhaps.
• Another option would be for clients to call a 1-800 number, leave a message, and get a call back.  WarmLine staff would have flexibility to be in their home, etc.
• Another idea that has been tossed around is that Leslie has given the Locatel number in Mexico to her clients.  An arrangement could be made with them, so that Spanish-speakers don’t have to buy a phone card to make the call.
• Abraham brought up the idea of using the Internet.  He said UMOS has a room with computers.  There is a program called something like “Magic Jack” to make phone calls for free.
• Peer Support Specialists get a stipend for staffing the WarmLine.  This is also possible for the Spanish-speakers.  Lyn may have ways to help find money.
• Leslie and Ursula will meet and draw up a proposal for Lyn and possibly meet with Lyn before our next meeting on June 17.

 

Action Items

• Melissa to draft e-mail/letter.
• Sylvia to send to Melissa Desirine’s e-mail address.
• All members to respond to Melissa’s draft e-mail/letter.
• Leslie and Ursula will meet and draw up a proposal for Lyn and meet with Lyn before our next meeting on June 17.

 

Next Meeting

Thursday, June 17, 9:00-10:30 a.m., at the Center for Urban Population Health.

 

Minutes submitted by Katherine Valentyn.

 

 

The mission of the Milwaukee Latino Health Coalition is to increase the health and well being of Latino communities by organizing power for social change.