Proposal Would Create Oversight Board For Milwaukee Mental Health Care System

A new bill takes on what sponsors say are 30 years of problems in Milwaukee County’s mental health care system.

Gov. Scott Walker was one of several county executives who have been in charge during a string of problems with the Milwaukee mental health care system. Over the last decade, the state has cited the county nearly 200 times for violations of patient safety at the local Mental Health Complex.

State Rep. Joe Sanfelippo, R-West Allis, said problems have been going on for 30 years. He said the best fix is to create an oversight board of mental health professionals.

“After 30 years of seeing reports and not having any actions, it’s time to move forward,” said Sanfelippo.

Sanfelippo’s bill, co-sponsored by Sen. Leah Vukmir, R-Wauwatosa, would let the governor appoint five of the 11 voting members of the board. Current County Executive Chris Abele and the Milwaukee County Board would each choose three members.

Joe Sanfelippo argued the administrators in charge of the mental health system are already professionals.

“What kind of people are running it right now that Chris Abele had appointed – that Scott Walker had appointed?” said Mayo. “Those people did not have the mental health background to run the institution?”

Mayo said the county board has never been in charge of day-to-day operations of the mental health complex, but he says when citizens have concerns about the site they can complain to county supervisors. He said he’s not sure how a new oversight board would handle citizen complaints.