Conversations to Creating a Healthy Community

Episode 5 – Part 1: Community-Based Access to Behavioral Health Care

Host: Shakita LaGrant-McClain Guests: Ken Ginlack, CEO of Serenity Inns and Milwaukee County Mental Health Board Member; Jennifer Wittwer, Director of Community Access to Recovery Services (CARS); Brian McBride, Director of Wraparound Milwaukee-Children’s Community Mental Health Services DHHS Executive Director Shakita LaGrant-McClain is joined by Ken Ginlack of Serenity Inns, Jennifer Wittwer of Community Access to Recovery Services (CARS), and Brian McBride of Wraparound Milwaukee for a conversation about how behavioral health services for children and adultsare evolving across Milwaukee County. Together, they discuss the redesign of the behavioral healthcare system from institutional to community-based care and how new access points, partnerships, and prevention efforts are making it easier for residents to get the mental health and substance use disorder support they need.

Episode 5 - Part 2: Community-Based Access to Behavioral Health Care

Host: Shakita LaGrant-McClain Guests: Ken Ginlack, CEO of Serenity Inns and Milwaukee County Mental Health Board Member; Jennifer Wittwer, Director of Community Access to Recovery Services (CARS); Brian McBride, Director of Wraparound Milwaukee-Children’s Community Mental Health Services DHHS Executive Director Shakita LaGrant-McClain is joined by Ken Ginlack of Serenity Inns, Jennifer Wittwer of Community Access to Recovery Services (CARS), and Brian McBride of Wraparound Milwaukee for a conversation about how behavioral health services for children and adultsare evolving across Milwaukee County. Together, they discuss the redesign of the behavioral healthcare system from institutional to community-based care and how new access points, partnerships, and prevention efforts are making it easier for residents to get the mental health and substance use disorder support they need.

Episode 4: Strengthening Community Safety Through Violence Intervention

Host: Shakita LaGrant-McClain Guests: David Muhammad, DHHS Deputy Director; Reggie Moore, Medical College of Wisconsin Director of Community Safety Policy and Engagement DHHS Executive Director Shakita LaGrant-McClain is joined by Reggie Moore of the Medical College of Wisconsin and DHHS Deputy Director David Muhammad for a conversation about Milwaukee County’s collaborative approach to community violence intervention. Together, they discuss how public health strategies, credible messengers, and evidence-based programs are working to prevent violence and support healing. From hospital-based intervention to community-led mentoring, this episode highlights how partnership and prevention can help build safer, healthier communities.

Episode 3: Honoring the Legacy of Marcia P. Coggs in Milwaukee County

Host: Shakita LaGrant-McClain Guests: Priscilla Coggs-Jones, Milwaukee County Board Supervisor; Elizabeth Coggs, Former Milwaukee County Board Supervisor and Wisconsin State Representative DHHS Executive Director Shakita LaGrant-McClain is joined by Milwaukee County Board Supervisor Priscilla Coggs-Jones and Elizabeth Coggs for a conversation about the legacy of their mother and grandmother, trailblazing public servant Marcia P. Coggs, and her lasting impact on human services in Milwaukee County. Together, they reflect on her groundbreaking career, the family tradition of public service she helped inspire, and how the Marcia P. Coggs Health and Human Services Center carries her mission forward today. From the “No Wrong Door” approach to improving access to services, this episode highlights how Coggs’ legacy and the new facility it inspired continue to contribute to healthier communities in Milwaukee.

Episode 2: Expanding Access to Affordable Housing in Milwaukee County

Host: Shakita LaGrant-McClain Guests: David Crowley, Milwaukee County Executive; Jim Mathy, Housing Services Administrator DHHS Executive Director Shakita LaGrant-McClain is joined by Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and Housing Services Administrator Jim Mathy for a conversation about housing, homelessness, and the role affordable housing plays in community health. Together, they discuss Milwaukee County’s Housing First approach, efforts to expand affordable housing across the county, and the importance of meeting people where they are with supportive services. From housing navigators to new developments for families and individuals, this episode highlights how stable housing creates a foundation for healthier communities.