Jon Lica was recently hired as Journey's new Director of Fund Development and Donor Relations. With several years of experience in fundraising and a background in the behavioral health field in the Madison area, he understands the many challenges communities face regarding mental health.  

Jon was drawn to this role at Journey because of his passion for helping children and families and is excited to support our mission. Click here to discover more about Jon and his dedication to supporting others with their mental health. 

If you have any questions about Journey or want to share your personal story and connection with mental health, please contact Jon. He looks forward to growing in community with you. 

Journey's School-Based Services (SBS) has had a busy fall season, marked by significant program advancements. They have launched their second year providing Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) in collaboration with the Metro Jail & Huber (Metro J & H) program. This initiative supports high school students residing at the Public Safety and City County Buildings. Metro J & H collaborates closely with students, their families, and their originating schools to create personalized graduation plans, ensuring that each student has a pathway to their future, whether in the workforce or through secondary education. 

In addition to these efforts, SBS staff have been developing an innovative pilot project called STRONG, which stands for Supporting Transition Resilience of Newcomer Groups. This initiative will be rolled out to six Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) schools and addresses the pressing need for mental health programming for immigrant families. They were designed in response to feedback from educators. STRONG aims to enhance the resilience of newcomer youth entering their new community. The curriculum was co-developed by experts in trauma, education, mental health, and issues pertinent to newcomers.

The pilot will consist of ten group sessions alongside one individual session, focusing specifically on helping students develop coping and problem-solving skills. It highlights the strengths of newcomer youth, emphasizing their cultural identity and creating an inclusive space for all. Training for school staff on this curriculum took place in July, with the pilot set to begin in January 2025. 

Moreover, in partnership with Orion Family Services, SBS staff have trained approximately 20 BIPOC mental health clinicians and MMSD school staff members in the Healing Ethnic And Racial Trauma (HEART) curriculum. HEART groups are for BIPOC students experiencing elevated levels of traumatic stress, depression, and racial trauma exposure, offering an uplifting, supportive, and liberating environment. 

Lastly, Journey's SBS staff completed their 2024-25 Resilient Response to the Effects of Stress and Trauma (REST) training for school staff. Over the fall, they provided approximately 140 school staff and community clinicians with 42 hours of training. We thank our community and school partners for their collaboration in this essential and urgent work! 

We are excited to announce several updates at Journey Mental Health Center. Upon entering 49 Kessel Ct., you will notice our newly renovated spaces, complete with fresh art and updated paint colors. We aim to ensure that the services we provide are delivered in a welcoming and inviting environment.

Additionally, we have created and are expanding our staff directory on our website. This will allow visitors to browse staff bios and find the ideal fit for their needs.

Our website also features provider referral forms for many of our programs.

Whether you are seeking mental health support or substance use treatment, our dedicated team is here to assist you on your journey toward recovery. We currently have openings, so please reach out if you or someone you know could benefit from our services. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit our website at www.journeymhc.org.

Dane County NAMIWalks

The annual NAMIWalks event in Dane County occurred on Saturday, October 5. Team Journey exceeded its fundraising goal of $1,000 by raising an impressive $2,371! Click here to view video footage of the event from WMTV.

Mary-Jo Olsen, the Director of Community Services, served as the captain of Team Journey. She reported the weather was beautiful, making it a perfect day for a walk. Additionally, she noted that the NAMIWalks event was “a great community-building experience, with staff members, students, and Board members all representing Journey.”

Drewfest 2024

Journey is incredibly grateful and honored to partner once again with Drewfest this year. Drewfest is an annual event focused on raising awareness and reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness. In addition, the event raises funds for local organizations that support individuals dealing with mental health and substance use disorders. This year, the event successfully raised $46,500!

Improving Workplace Climate & Culture to Prevent Burnout

Presenter: Will Hutter, PsyD, LMFT
Date: Friday, December 6, 2024
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Venue:  Via Zoom
2.0 CE Hours (NBCC/ACEP Approved #6760)
Cost: $50
Registration: Click HERE to register!

Addressing The Role of Substance Use with Suicidal Ideation

‍Date: Friday, January 10, 2025
Time:  9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Presenter: Will Hutter, PsyD, LMFT
Venue:  Zoom
2.0 CE Hours (NBCC/ACEP Approved #6760)
Cost: $50
Registration: Click HERE to register!

Best Practices in Suicide Risk Assessment

Date: Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Time: 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Presenter: Sarah Henrickson, MSSW, LCSW
Venue: Zoom
4.0 CE Hours (NBCC/ACEP Approved #6760)
Cost: $80
Registration: Click HERE to register!