Connections for Mental Wellness

Connections for Mental Wellness modeled its work after the Northeast Wisconsin Mental Health Connection in the Fox Valley and the Mental Health Connection in Tarrant County, Texas. Each of these coalitions takes a holistic approach to addressing mental health, focusing their efforts on systems and culture change in the community. Using the core values of innovation, collaboration, compassion, inclusion, and equity, Connections for Mental Wellness envisions a community that values and embraces the need for mentally healthy children, adults, and families. In doing so, they began to address mental health as a public health issue from the outset, not solely a healthcare issue.

Originally, the coalition operated with direction from a Steering Committee and five core workgroups, which eventually coalesced under three umbrella groups: Community Education, Trainee Opportunities, and School-Based Mental Health. These workgroups incorporate a wide range of stakeholder organizations, including representation from local government, public health agencies, community advocates, public schools, faith-based, and philanthropic organizations to fulfill their mission of transforming community mental health through collaboration, education, and enhanced systems of care. The coalition also operates under a collective impact framework that allows all stakeholders to share results, communicate openly, support aligned efforts, and increase available resources to help address community needs.