News from Sandra Pasch for Assembly, 6/23

Hello Friends,

I hope you all have fared well so far through June, the wettest month on record. This week's issue of the Wisconsin legislature's newsletter has information on flood assistance for those in need - check it out at http://www.legis.state.wi.us/spotlight/index.htm. While this is an exceptional year for flooding, annual flooding of backyards and basements is an ongoing issue for residents in our area. It's a difficult problem, but one I will work on if elected to the 22nd Assembly.

Believe it or not, all the rain hasn't slowed my campaign. I am out meeting voters nearly every day, and have visited over 1,000 homes since my injury! That makes about 3,000 homes total, representing close to 4,000 voters. Of course I couldn't do it without the help of an energetic group of volunteers, so a big thanks to all of them.

A big thanks, too, to Margaret Wrenn Hickey and Bob Wrenn for hosting a wonderful fundraiser at their home on June 10, and to Patti Keating Kahn for hosting a very successful Women's Choice event on June 17. There are many more events coming up, and I would love it if you could attend. Please check the event listing below to see if you can make any of them.

One of the keys to winning the 22nd assembly race will be grassroots support from people like you. Can you help by telling a few people in the district that you are supporting me, and why? Please pass this newsletter along to a few people as well. With your help, I will win this seat and get to work in Madison on the things we care about!

Thanks much, and stay dry.

Sandy Pasch
22nd Assembly 2008
Crisis Intervention in Milwaukee County

Many of you have inquired about my work in mental health for Milwaukee County, so I'd like to provide you with some insights into that. p/>

You've seen in my campaign literature and website that I am the coordinator of the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program in Milwaukee County and the founder of the Crisis Intervention Partner (CIP) program.

CIT is a program that prepares law enforcement officers to be effective responders to people having a mental health crisis. In Wisconsin, only law enforcement officers - police and sheriff's deputies - can detain an individual for a mental health emergency. Psychiatrists and other mental health experts do not have this authority. However, the amount of training that police receive in mental health issues is quite limited, and officers may respond to the person in crisis the same way they respond to a criminal. The results can be injurious to the officer or the individual in crisis, and may result in incarceration, not hospitalization.

These outcomes are not effective and not inexpensive. Indeed, the cost of caring for people with mental illnesses in jails is very high. As a society, we can do better than incarcerate people because of their illness.

The CIT program brings together community experts who volunteer their time to train officers. A partnership is created among the groups of mental health providers and CIT officers, and alternatives to prison and emergency rooms are presented. The CIP program, based on the same model of volunteer presenters, helps hospital personnel, youth workers, and others better recognize and understand mental illness. It also supports effective involvement of law enforcement, rather than over-involvement. We need police on the streets, not sitting unnecessarily in emergency rooms.

This program demonstrates that different groups CAN work together for a common goal. It demonstrates that effective programs do NOT need to be costly. And it demonstrates that I have the skill and experience to bring people together to solve problems.

On June 30, the third Milwaukee Mental Health Summit will be held at Marquette University. I will be part of the discussion that day, as we address "Mapping a New Road to Recovery: Addressing Mental Illness in the Criminal Justice System." More information can be found at www.milwaukeemhtf.org.

4th of July Plans

Sandy will be participating in two area 4th of July celebrations - be sure to look for her!

Fox Point 4th of July Parade - begins at 9:00 in front of the new police station, followed with ice cream and activities at Longacre Pavilion.

Shorewood 4th of July Parade - begins at 3:30pm at the corner of Oakland and Lake Bluff and ends at River Park.

Come out and meet Sandy at an upcoming event!

Fundraising Event at Lauren Baker's and John Drew's home on Sunday, July 13 from 4:00 - 6:00 pm

Meet & Greet at Elaine Myers' home on Thursday, July 17, 9:30 - 11:00 am

Meet & Greet at Christie Krugler's home on Tuesday, July 22, 7:00 - 8:00 pm

Meet & Greet at Barbara Diamond's home on Thursday, July 31, from 7:30 - 9:00 pm

Please contact Rhonda Oberland at rhonda [at] sandypasch [dot] com if you have questions about these events.

Visit sandrapasch.com for the latest on event dates, times, and locations. We look forward to seeing you!