NAMI Wisconsin

Congratulations to our award recipients at the 2026 CIT Symposium! We are proud to recognize outstanding individuals who exemplify dedication, leadership, and commitment to improving crisis response across Wisconsin:

🏆 Officer of the Year: Officer Joshua Peterson, City of Neenah Police Department
🏆 CIT Trailblazer: Deputy Nicholas Spanzke, Marquette County Sheriff's Department
🏆 CIT Legacy of Service: Mary Madden, NAMI Southeast Wisconsin
🏆 Co-Responder of the Year: Chuck Kerstell, North Central Health Care

Thank you for your service, partnership, and unwavering commitment to supporting individuals in crisis. Your work makes a lasting impact in communities across our state. 💙

Are you living with a mental health condition and looking to connect with others who get it? Join our virtual Peer Support Group, created by and for people living with mental illness in Wisconsin. It’s a safe, welcoming space to share, listen, and find support.

🔗 Register or learn more at namiwisconsin.org/being-together

We're proud to announce that the Wisconsin Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Program, overseen by NAMI Wisconsin, has earned Platinum Level State Certification from CIT International! 🏆

As the highest level of certification available, platinum certification recognizes programs that have fully incorporated CIT best practices and are recognized as leaders in improving community responses to behavioral health crises.

Thank you to everyone who has played a role in this achievement, including our interdisciplinary WI CIT Advisory Committee, and Wisconsin CIT & CIP Coordinating teams, reflecting the dedication of Wisconsin's law enforcement, behavioral health professionals, advocates, and community partners working together to build a stronger crisis response system.

Yesterday was the final day of the CIT Symposium, where co-responder teams from across Wisconsin came together to connect, learn, and strengthen crisis response in their communities.

From behavioral threat assessment and school-based interventions to information sharing, elder services, and preventing burnout, the 2026 Co-Responder Summit provided an opportunity to exchange ideas, build relationships, and explore innovative approaches to supporting people experiencing mental health crises.

125 law enforcement officers, mental health professionals, advocates, and community partners from across Wisconsin came together yesterday for the CIT Summit to learn, connect, and strengthen crisis response efforts in their communities.

Attendees heard an incredible presentation from Dr. John Battaglia on anosognosia and its impact on serious mental illness, participated in breakout sessions covering topics such as high utilizers of 911, working with non-English-speaking communities, hoarding, and understanding Chapter 51 vs. Chapter 55, and spent time networking with CIT partners from across the state.

Thank you to everyone who attended, presented, and shared their expertise. Together, we're building stronger partnerships and advancing compassionate, effective responses to mental health crises throughout Wisconsin.

Yesterday marked the first day of the 2026 CIT Symposium! We kicked off the event with a continuing education course for CIT Officers, featuring live actor simulations to strengthen de-escalation skills in realistic scenarios.

We also hosted our annual CIT Coordinator Meeting, where CIT coordinators from across the state gathered to share updates, exchange ideas, and build valuable connections through networking and collaboration.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for an impactful first day. We're looking forward to another day of learning, partnership, and advancing the CIT mission together!

La Línea de Ayuda de NAMI ofrece información y recursos gratuitos y confidenciales en español.

Estamos aquí para ayudarte, si tú o un ser querido necesita un guía para la salud mental.
https://www.nami.org/nami-helpline/linea-de-ayuda-de-nami/

Si tienes preguntas sobre la salud mental, llama al 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) y oprime “2” para hablar con un especialista de la Línea de Ayuda de NAMI.

¿Estás en crisis?
Envía un mensaje de texto, llama o chatea con el 988 para hablar con la Línea de ayuda en caso de crisis y suicidio.

NAMI support groups save lives 🫶

We are incredibly honored to share that NAMI Wisconsin has received the Outstanding NAMI State Organization Award from NAMI at NAMICon 2026! 💚

This national award recognizes outstanding leadership, service, and impact in advancing NAMI's mission and strengthening its community.

This honor belongs to every person who makes our work possible: our dedicated staff, volunteers, affiliate leaders, presenters, trainers, partners, donors, and the countless individuals and families who trust us to walk alongside them on their mental health journey.

Thank you for being part of this mission. Together, we are truly making a difference. 💚

Thank you to Andrea Mora and the team at Renaissance Learning for organizing the 3rd Annual Stepping Up for Mental Health Walk benefiting NAMI Wisconsin! 💚

Every step taken helped raise awareness, fight stigma, and support mental health advocacy in our communities. We are so grateful to Renaissance Learning’s Alliance for Mental Wellness ERG and everyone who participated, donated, and showed up in support of mental wellness. We appreciate your partnership and can’t wait to see everyone again next May! 👟