Meeting behavioral health needs on the south side of town means being where the need is and, most importantly, providing bilingual services.
This is one of the grounds for Behavioral Health Services Community Health Centers on Sixteenth Street at 1635 W. National Ave. It has been there for about two years.
The clinic offers a wide range of services, from individual, couples and family therapy to psychological evaluation.
“We want to make an impact right where people live,” said Dr. Maria Elena Perez, vice president of behavioral health at 16th Street.
access point
The clinic on National Avenue is one of four locations on Sixteenth Street in Milwaukee. Another in Waukesha. The centers are now also located in 10 schools, where they are better able to meet the needs of minors.
“Being an access point on the south side of Milwaukee has really enabled Sixteenth Street to respond more quickly to patients in need,” said Perez. “And that’s very helpful to our minority communities, because a large percentage of those families in this zip code are minorities.”
To increase access to underserved communities, Sixteenth Street partners with the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Department, or BHD.
“The clinics, like Sixteenth Street, are in locations that are not only comfortable, but culturally sensitive,” said Dr. Ken Cole, director of outpatient treatment for Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Services.
Help in times of crisis
The Sixteenth Street’s National Avenue location is one of three BHD locations where crisis-oriented services are provided by Milwaukee County.
Cole explained that these services are designed for underinsured or uninsured people who are experiencing mental health crises and who may be waiting for providers for up to several months.
“We are fortunate to be placed with reputable and trusted organizations such as Sixteenth Street on the South Side and Outreach Community Health Centers Outlinient Clinic on the North Side,” Cole said.
When creating the National Avenue Clinic, Sixteenth Street saw special needs.
“We see that there are problems with access,” Perez said. “There are barriers with transportation, language barriers, people who lack financial resources and childcare needs.”
Break through barriers
16th Street tried to relieve some of that pressure. Due to the need in the community, 70% of Perez’s team is bilingual.
In addition, the clinic has seen an increased need to treat anxiety and depression among adolescents.
Much of this shift is due to the pandemic, Perez said, as young people were out of touch “with their peers when their social development would be critical during that age stage.”
To help, the Sixteenth Street Behavioral Health Unit recently started the Self-Exploration of Self-Esteem, or SEEDS, a treatment group for at-risk teenage girls in the community.
The clinic also has the distinction of being one of the first in Milwaukee to offer the COVID-19 vaccine early.
“The vaccine has changed the rules of the game,” Perez said, in terms of getting people back to seek help.
“People wanted to go back to seeing providers and therapists again.”
for more information
To schedule an appointment at the National Avenue location at Sixteenth Street, you can call 414-672-1353.
You can also walk from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, although this won’t guarantee that you’ll be seen right away. Nobody, however, is turned away. Needs will be assessed by a professional member of the clinic.
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