Fokus Family Services

Fokus Family Services

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Elzora Collins executive director Fokus Family Services

Feature:

A LIFE BEYOND ADDICTION HELPING YOU FIND Fokus F AM I L Y S E RV I C E S

Milwaukee LOCATION 2821 N. 4th Street Milwaukee, WI 53212 (414) 264-4217 CALL US

LONG-TERM RECOVERY STARTS HERE A diversified, multicultural agency providing a wide range of services including both traditional treatment services such as alcohol and other drug abuse (AODA) assessment, group counseling, anger management. Assists and supports clients in achieving and maintaining stable, healthy and productive lives, and helps families and children thrive and become self-sufficient citizens of this community.

Alcohol &Other Drug Abuse (AODA) • Day Treatment Mental Health Services • Outpatient • Outpatient Treatment

Fokus F AM I L Y S E RV I C E S

CONTACT INFO

Phone (414) 264-4217 Fax 414-264-4218 Mailing Address 2821 North 4th street Suite 139 Milwaukee, WI 53212

2821 N. 4th St. Milwaukee, WI 53212 414.264.4217 Fokus F AM I L Y S E RV I C E S

“At the bottom of every person's dependency, there is always pain, Discovering the pain and healing it is an essential step in ending dependency.” - Chris Prentiss, The Alcoholism and Addiction Cure

Fokus F AM I L Y S E RV I C E S

2821N. 4thSt. |Milwaukee,WI 53212 414.264.4217

”All of our providers

have a passion for what they do. It’s like a family here.” - Elzora Collins,

executive director, Fokus Family Services

“We try to provide whatever our clients need.” - Elzora Collins

Fokus F AM I L Y S E RV I C E S

THERE IS LIFE AFTER ADDICTION

(414) 264-4217 2821 North 4th street Suite 139 Milwaukee, WI 53212 Join the Family

Sean Wilson’s family had a dream for him, but it was a “dream deferred” he said, quoting the famous Langston Hughes poem. After being incarcerated for 17 years, Wilson recently was hired as ACLU of Wisconsin’s Smart Justice statewide organizer, an advocate for criminal justice reform. Wilson’s family predicted that he was going to do great things, and Wilson is finally on his way to fulfilling that prediction. “I’m proud that I’m able to make that promise, their vision, come to fruition,” he said. With his family’s faith in him at the forefront of his mind, Wilson, 35, said he worked hard to better himself while in prison. “Even while I was in prison, I was planning and preparing as if I was already out,” Wilson said.

As a self-proclaimed autodidact — a self-taught person, Wilson finished his high school education. While attending a Bible study class, he met his mentor and best friend, Rudy Bankston, who introduced him to a side of African-American history he was not taught in public school. In large part due to Bankston, Wilson said he read voraciously about black civil rights and power. Invigorated “You have to first come into the knowledge of yourself,” he said. “And when you come into the knowledge of yourself, you come into the knowledge of your responsibilities to your family, your community, your state, your country and your world as a whole.” Wilson also reflected on his childhood in 53206. He said he did not realize it at the time, but he experienced trauma while growing up and witnessing drug dealing, gun violence and prostitution.>>> by his studies, Wilson said he realized his calling as an activist.

Wilson said peer pressure played a large part in his decision-making when he was convicted of armed robbery at 17 years old. He had scholarships to go to college, but Wilson said he “squandered those opportunities.” “As a young person, you emulatewhat you see. You’re very impressionable,” Wilson said. “I’m glad that my poor decisions did not cause me the rest of my life.”

Now Wilson is using the rest of his life to make sure young men like him do not end up behind bars. “I use my story, in hopes that they will be able to pull from it and allow it to be a deterrent as opposed to them having that experience for themselves,” he said. Once Wilson was released in January 2017, he began volunteering with Urban Underground and Youth Justice Milwaukee to spread his message. Learning the power of mentorship from Bankston, Wilson said he wanted to continue the pattern of “paying it forward.” Bankston said Wilson has the unique ability to do so. “He’s relatable because he grew up in circumstances that a lot of people in the so-called hood are going through now,” Bankston said. “As painful as that was, he has that experience.” Jarrett English, ACLU of Wisconsin youth organizer, said that Wilson also has the unique experience and knowledge needed to create change in the criminal justice system. “The people closest to the issue are the best equipped to undo it. … that makes common sense,” English said.

Wilson said he hopes more institutions and companies can be as welcoming as the ACLU was for him. “If society looked at us not as felons, but as humans, and gave us a second chance, (this country) would be in a better condition,” he said. English said he admires Wilson because he did not let a system define him. Instead, Wilson stayed true to his family’s confidence in him and he now living their dream and his own. Wilson’s family continues to inspire him, though one person in particular drives him to be the person he is today, he said. His greatest supporter was his grandmother, but she passed away just two weeks before he came home. Wilson said he knows she would be proud. “I want to continue to make her smile,” he said.

“Even though he doesn’t have those degrees, he has that lived experience that is absolutely precious,” Bankston added. “He carries the experience of so many other brothers within him. He carries my story.” Wilson was selected for the position out of 84 other applicants. English said he was chosen because he has connections to the decarceration community and thoroughly knows the prison system. “Being able to meet people where they are while not seeming judgmental or condescending are very important characteristics in a good organizer, and I think Sean has all of that in spades,” English said. As an organizer for ACLU’s Smart Justice campaign, Wilson’s long-term goal is to reduce the prison population by 50 percent by ending crimeless revocations and expanding the Earned Release Program (ERP). Crimeless revocations re-incarcerate those on extended supervision, parole or probation for minor rule violations. ERP provides inmates with drug treatment and the possibility for early release. Wilson has been working with organizations such as Just Leadership and Youth Justice Milwaukee to create a coalition to address these issues. Wilson said his own encounters with wardens and prison guards motivate him to expose the system of mass incarceration that disadvantages black and brown people. He said he believes the criminal justice system should actually help those who go through it and prepare them to re-enter society.

Opioid crisis harms minorities more than whites, so why aren't they included in the conversation? Zach McAuliffe • 1:55 PM, Jul 1, 2018 • 2:12 PM, Jul 1, 2018

"The issue is that African •••••••••••••• Americans, who in some places are dying at rates exceeding any other racial group, are excluded from the conversation." ••••••••••••••

CINCINNATI -- If you pictured the face of the opioid crisis, you'd probably think of someone who's white and from the suburbs. But that preconception hides a fact many people have ignored: Addiction doesn't discriminate. And in some cases, opioids have harmed minorities at a higher rate than whites. Faith and community leaders gathered Saturday at New Prospect Baptist Church in Roselawn to shed more light on that disconnect -- and to talk about what can be done to fix it. "There is a growing number of overdoses and overdose deaths in the African-American community," said the Rev. Damon Lynch III. "We want to get ahead of this before it becomes a full-blown crisis." Officials say black communities are already in the midst of such a crisis. The U.S. surgeon general tweeted in February that African Americans aged 12 to 17 were more likely than their white peers to have used opioids. And a study from the Chicago Urban League found the African-American overdose death rate is higher than that of the general population in areas throughout the country. For example, in 2015, West Virginia had 36.2 opioid overdose deaths per 100,000 white people; the rate jumped to 55.5 opioid overdose deaths among black people. "The issue here is not that white people aren’t dying -- they are, and in record numbers," the report said. "The issue is that African Americans, who in some places are dying at rates exceeding any other racial group, are excluded from the conversation." African Americans are not the only minority group seemingly excluded from discussions about the opioid crisis: Native Americans also have been harmed. According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, opioid-related deaths increased by more than 200 percent among all American populations between 1999-2015. However, Native Americans saw an increase in opioid related deaths by more than 500 percent in the same period. "There's a misconception that [opioids] only impact one geographical area," said Tom Synan, the Newtown police chief and co-chair of the Hamilton County Heroin Coalition. "Addiction knows no boundaries and neither should we." Synan said punishment can't be the only solution to addiction; more treatment programs are needed, he said. Lynch echoed the call for treatment, but he also said there's not enough treatment available. Besides treatment, he said education is an important tool to help fight the crisis. "At some point, all of us will be touched by this," Lynch said. "It's better to be informed and empowered than be touched by it and not have any idea of what to do.

THE HARDEST HIT Opioid crisis harms minorities more than whites, so why aren’t they included in the conversation?

Officials say black communities are already in the midst of such a crisis.

CINCINNATI -- If you pictured the face of the opioid crisis, you’d probably think of someone who’s white and from the suburbs. But that preconception hides a fact many people have ignored: Addiction doesn’t discriminate. And in some cases, opioids have harmed minorities at a higher rate than whites. Faith and community leaders gathered Saturday at New Prospect Baptist Church in Roselawn to shed more light on that disconnect -- and to talk about what can be done to fix it. “There is a growing number of overdoses and overdose deaths in the African-American community,” said the Rev. Damon Lynch III. “We want to get ahead of this before it becomes a full-blown crisis.”

The U.S. surgeon general tweeted in February that African Americans aged 12 to 17 were more likely than their white peers to have used opioids. And a study from the Chicago Urban League found the African-American overdose death rate is higher than that of the general population in areas throughout the country. For example, in 2015, West Virginia had 36.2 opioid overdose deaths per 100,000 white people; the rate jumped to 55.5 opioid overdose deaths among black people. “The issue here is not that white people aren’t dying -- they are, and in record numbers,” the report said. “The issue is that African Americans, who in some places are dying at rates exceeding any other racial group, are excluded from the conversation.” African Americans are not the only minority group seemingly excluded from discussions about the opioid crisis: Native Americans also have been harmed. According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, opioid-related deaths increased by more than 200 percent among all American populations between 1999-2015. However, Native Americans saw an increase in opioid related deaths by more than 500 percent in the same period. “There’s a misconception that [opioids] only impact one geographical area,” said Tom Synan, the Newtown police chief and co-chair of the Hamilton County Heroin Coalition. “Addiction knows no boundaries and neither should we.” Synan said punishment can’t be the only solution to addiction; more treatment programs are needed, he said. Lynch echoed the call for treatment, but he also said there’s not enough treatment available. Besides treatment, he said education is an important tool to help fight the crisis. “At some point, all of us will be touched by this,” Lynch said. “It’s better to be informed and empowered than be touched by it and not have any idea of what to do.

We provide a compassionate approach to addiction and mental illness recovery. Our programs are designed to capitalize on your strengths and coach you through all stages of change. Fokus F AM I L Y S E RV I C E S

2821 N 4th St, Milwaukee, WI 53212

(414) 264-4217

THIS JUST IN PDMP Report Shows Continued Decline in Controlled Substances Dispensed

Madison, WI – The report released today by the Controlled Substances Board at the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS), shows in Quarter 2 (Q2) of 2018 there were 903,612 opioid prescriptions dispensed, a 29.7% decrease from Quarter 1 (Q1) of 2015 when 1,285,943 opioid prescriptions were dispensed. The report analyzes Wisconsin Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) data from Q2 of 2018 (April 1, 2018 – June 30, 2018) as part of the controlled substance dispensing trends. “Wisconsin is tackling the opioid epidemic head on, with prescribers and law enforcement working hand in hand to address the problem,” Governor Walker stated. “It is great to see the continued success of the Wisconsin PDMP program.”

In addition to the decrease in opioid prescriptions since Q1 2015, the report also highlights:

A 23% decrease in the total number of monitored prescriptions dispensed or 626,405 fewer prescriptions.

A 20.6% decrease in benzodiazepine prescriptions dispensed or 123,061 fewer prescriptions. In the past 12 months the report shows:

A 17% decrease in the total number of data-driven concerning patient history alerts generated.

A 32% decrease in doctor shopping alerts.

“The data clearly shows that the PDMP is working for patients and prescribers alike,” said Wisconsin DSPS Secretary Laura Gutiérrez. “We continue to travel across the state to hear from users on ways we can build on this success and make our PDMP a model for the nation.” The report also includes information on the number of requests for data made by health care professionals about their patients as well as the results of a recent user satisfaction survey administered by the DSPS. primarily been a tool to help healthcare professionals make more informed decisions about prescribing and dispensing controlled substance prescriptions to patients. It also discloses data as authorized by law to governmental and law enforcement agencies. It stores over 54 million prescription records submitted by over 2,000 pharmacies and dispensing practitioners, with an average of over 20,000 “Wisconsin is tackling the opioid epidemic head on...” The Wisconsin PDMP was deployed in June 2013 and is administered by DSPS. Since its inception, the PDMP has

queries performed each day between April 1 and June 30, 2018.

Milwaukee City-County TASK FORCE offers recommendations to address overdose EPIDEMIC POSTED 5:05 PM, APRIL 27, 2018, BY FOX6 NEWS, APRIL 27, 2018 MILWAUKEE — A preliminary report of the City-County Heroin, Opioid and Cocaine Task Force was released on Friday, April 27. it offers an initial set of policy recommendations to address the overdose epidemic in Milwaukee and Milwaukee County. The recommended focus areas included in the preliminary report include: Enhance and fund existing prevention programs to keep individu- als from developing substance use disorder. Reduce the number of opioid related deaths in Milwaukee County. Reduce the number of drug violation related arrests amongst youth. Ensure there is adequate access to timely, affordable, and quality services for those all people with substance use disorders. Develop programs in collaboration with the criminal justice system that treat addiction as a disease, while actively working to reduce the availability of illicit substances. Enhance collaboration between community-based initiatives and government agencies. Improve epidemiology and surveillance related to substance misuse. Support federal, state and local policies and legislation that reduc- es substance misuse and overdose with equitable, cost-effective and evidence-based approaches. Milwaukee Alderman Michael Murphy is the primary sponsor of the Common Council legislation creating the task force. He issued the following statement on the report:

“This report is a key launch point as we look for workable approaches to stem the deadly tide of overdoses and the terrible toll of addiction in our community. The problem of addiction is highly complicated and involves illness and an over-arching public health issue, and the recommendations of the task force are grounded in a public health approach.” - Michael Murphy, Milwaukee Alderman

“This report is a key launch point as we look for workable approaches to stem the deadly tide of overdoses and the terrible toll of addiction in our community. The problem of addiction is highly complicated and involves illness and an over-arching public health issue, and the recommendations of the task force are grounded in a public health approach.” Murphy also indicated multiple public listening sessions will be held across the community to gather input before a final plan is adopted by the task force. The task force is composed of experts from the Milwaukee Common Council, Health Department, Police Department, Fire Department, Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Intergovernmental Relations, the County Executive’s leadership team, healthcare or hospital systems, the Medical Society of Milwaukee County, medical professionals, community organizations and the general public.

Fokus F AM I L Y S E RV I C E S

GET HELP TODAY. YOUR NEW LIFE IS WAITING

CALL TODAY 414.264.4217 2821 N. 4th St. | Milwaukee, WI 53212

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