Conversations to Creating a Healthy Community

Episode 7: Connecting Individuals and Children and Families to Disabilities Services

Host: Shakita LaGrant-McClain Guests: Desilynn Smith, Executive Director of Uniting Garden Homes, Inc. and Chair of DHHS Combined Community Services Board; Toto Chanthavixay, Director of DHHS Children’s Disabilities Programs DHHS Executive Director Shakita LaGrant-McClain is joined by Desilynn Smith of Uniting Garden Homes and Toto Chanthavixay of Milwaukee County DHHS Children’s Disabilities Programs for a conversation about how grassroots connection and communitywide collaboration is strengthening disabilities services across Milwaukee County. The conversation explores how partnerships, lived experience, and system-wide coordination are helping connect individuals, children, youth, and families to the resources they need.

Episode 6: Becoming an Age-Friendly Community

Host: Shakita LaGrant-McClain Guests: Denise Callaway, Host of “Connect MKE” on MY24/CW18 and Chair of the Commission on Aging; Emily Peterson, DHHS Aging Services Project Manager and Policy Advocate DHHS Executive Director Shakita LaGrant-McClain is joined by Denise Callaway of the Commission on Aging and Emily Peterson of Milwaukee County Aging Services for a conversation about programs and partnerships supporting older adults across Milwaukee County. They discuss how services like the Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC), senior dining programs, and housing initiatives are helping residents stay healthy, connected, and independent.

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.