Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers announced today it will collaborate with the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division to open a new clinic in Badger Mutual Insurance’s headquarters building on Milwaukee’s south side, as the insurance provider prepares to move downtown.
The Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network has committed $3.7 million for the planned clinic at 1635 W. National Ave. It will offer community-based behavioral health and substance abuse services, with a focus on prevention, early intervention and same-day access in an area of the city that lacks access to those services, Sixteenth Street said in an announcement.
“We are so grateful for the Froedtert & MCW health network’s support and dedication to all factors that impact health,” Dr. Julie Schuller, president and chief executive officer of Sixteenth Street. “Because gaps in care for behavioral health and substance use issues continue to persist, people in need too often end up in emergency rooms or don’t get any help at all.”
“Through this clinic, we want to reduce barriers to care by reaching people early and often in their own neighborhood and wrap them into our network of existing services for a true patient-centered experience,” she added. “I am also thrilled to partner with BHD and work together to bring an enhanced set of services to the community.”
Sixteenth Street will own the 32,000 square-foot building and BHD will rent approximately 5,000 square-foot of space.
Badger Mutual Insurance currently has its corporate headquarters at the 72-year-old building but plans to move its approximately 90 employees to The 42 in the city’s downtown Brewery District next summer.
The clinic is expected to open in late 2020.
“The community and our building are very important to everyone at Badger Mutual. We are very proud and pleased that it will be used by such a great local partner like Sixteenth Street,” said Kathy Bubeck, vice president of claims at Badger Mutual. “Knowing it will serve a bigger purpose of bringing much needed services to our growing south side community is all you can ask for.”
Sixteenth Street and BHD services will be co-located on the same floor of the clinic.
Sixteenth Street expects to serve an estimated 800 people in the clinic’s first year. BHD will provide on-site same-day walk-in services and mobile services, serving an estimated 1,250 individuals in the first year.
“Located in one of the four Milwaukee County zip codes with the highest number of individuals in need of behavioral health services and a significant number of Spanish-speaking residents, Sixteenth Street is well positioned to help provide culturally relevant behavioral health services that best meet the community’s needs,” said Michael Lappen, administrator of the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division.“Our partnership with Sixteenth Street is a critical part of Milwaukee County’s efforts to increase early intervention services and create a racially equitable system of care that is accessible to all of our communities.”
Sixteenth Street also recently announced plans to open a new primary care clinic at 1135 S. Cesar E. Chavez Drive with a $6 million commitment from Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin.
“Behavioral health and substance use are consistently named by our community as significant health needs in Milwaukee and beyond,” said Cathy Jacobson, president and chief executive officer of Froedtert Health. “In conjunction with our previously announced partnership with Sixteenth Street to increase community-based access to primary care, this additional investment will enhance access to behavioral health services within the heart of Milwaukee. Partnering with Sixteenth Street and BHD will enable us to achieve a sustained impact addressing behavioral health needs that will truly make a difference in the health of our community.”
