Assembly Approves Bill Overhauling Milwaukee County Mental Health System

The state Assembly has sent a bill to Gov. Scott Walker that would overhaul Milwaukee County’s mental health system.

The biggest change the bill makes is to take authority that now rests with elected officials, the Milwaukee County Board, and gives it to an appointed board of medical professionals.

Kit Kerschensteiner is an attorney with Disability Rights Wisconsin, the organization has long been pushing for mental health changes in Milwaukee – both at the treatment facility and in the community. “We’re reserving our right to say what the result is actually going to look like when it plays out,” said Kerschensteiner. “We are really looking at this hopefully, that there will be a sea change that’s needed.”

Milwaukee newspaper accounts documented abuse and neglect at the county Mental Health Complex. Previous government reports also pointed out such problems. Kerschensteiner said the new requirement for a legislative audit is likely to improve conditions.

“There’s probably four feet of reports that talk about change but they’re passive,” said Kerschensteiner. “We need to be active.”

Rep. Fred Kessler, D-Milwaukee, was the lone vote against the bill.

“If you believe in democracy, if you believe in local government, I can’t understand how someone could vote for something like this,” said Kessler.

Loss of control over spending and policy were also concerns of Supervisor Peggy Romo West. Nevertheless, she supports oversight by medical professionals.

“I’m not an expert,” said Romo West. “I don’t think there’s anybody on the board that would claim to be an expert in mental health, and so that expertise is something we’ve always been very open to.”

Romo West is chair of the county’s Health and Human Needs Committee.