New Wauwatosa social worker will work with police, fire, health departments

The city of Wauwatosa is creating a new social worker position, which will be attached between Wauwatosa’s health, fire and police departments. The new social worker’s role will focus on providing residents with resources to help address mental health and substance abuse struggles.

“Problems arising from mental health struggles or substance use disorders call for trained medical professionals and social workers who can help identify long-term strategies rather than arrest or incarceration,” said Wauwatosa Police Chief James MacGillis. Discussions about how to restructure approaches to housing, mental health, and substance abuse have been going on in communities around the country over the last year. In August, the Wauwatosa Common Council passed an ordinance increasing penalties against people asking for money along the roadside. As part of the enforcement actions, Wauwatosa officers also handed out referral sheets with information on nearby shelters for those who were without housing.

A press release by the city explains that the new social worker will not necessarily deploy next to a police officer or paramedic on scene. The new social worker will connect residents to resources such as social service providers, and conduct follow-ups with cases and clients. Wauwatosa Health Officer Laura Stephens praised the creation of the new position.

“Addressing mental health substance use issues in our community requires collaboration between emergency services and public health,” said Stephens. “These problems are often complex and necessitate comprehensive services from multiple departments. It is our hope that this position will strengthen the response between public health and emergency services to improve health outcomes for individuals living in Wauwatosa. Mental health concerns have been exacerbated by the pandemic, and it is imperative we improve our services to meet the needs of our community.”