The focus of this work has been to uplift the voices, experiences, and expertise of residents, leaders, and stakeholders in Rock County, and to promote greater awareness and understanding of racial and ethnic disparities here, as well as the systemic and structural racism that is at the root of inequities. Our goal for this report is to lay the data groundwork for prompting community dialogue and inquiry. It is our hope that Rock County is able to utilize this report and the intended subsequent discussions to develop a sustained, community-wide effort to address the racial and ethnic disparities that we identified in our data, and that have been described by local communities of color for many years.
Mental Health: A Behavioral Health System that Better Supports Counties and Schools
Everyone in Wisconsin, regardless of what county they live in, deserves to live in a community that supports their health and wellness, including access to quality, affordable mental health and substance use disorder services. Governor Evers’ proposed budget expands access to behavioral health care, strengthens schools’ abilities to provide mental health supports to students, invests in peer support, and provides millions in funding to county behavioral health services.
