New mental health drop-in center opens in Menomonie

A new drop-in center offering mental health support for adults has opened in Menomonie. Managed by the Wisconsin Milkweed Alliance, the Kaleidoscope Center received a $30,000 peer recovery center grant last year from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS).

“We’re pleased to partner with Wisconsin Milkweed Alliance to add another location to Wisconsin’s network of state-funded mental health drop-in centers,” said Karen Timberlake, DHS secretary designee. “We know that for many, the peer-to-peer connection offered at places like Kaleidoscope Center is the key for healing and wellness.” The center is located on the lower level of the Menomonie Center Hall, at no cost for visits.

Peer support centers like the Kaleidoscope Center specialize in people who feel isolated within their communities. The centers offer judgment-free environments which can help foster skill-building, emotional health is supported, and allow people to socialize with others. The Kaleidoscope Center is one of Wisconsin’s eight state-funded mental health peer recovery centers, according to a DHS press release. The other centers are located in Madison, Adams, Green Bay, La Crosse, West Bend, Milwaukee and Eau Claire.

Last year, the peer recovery center network expanded to include those struggling with Substance Use Disorder with  locations  in La Crosse, Manitowoc and Wautoma. Over the last year, Wisconsin also added two state-funded peer-run respites,  bringing the number of those facilities to six.

Unlike peer recovery centers, peer-run respites are not drop-in centers. Rather, people call ahead to arrange a stay of up to a week. The state is also working to make available a peer support phone system called the warmline. This will be available to all Wisconsin residents, and offer services to people who need someone to talk to before a struggle becomes a mental health emergency. Those developments were made possible through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), according to DHS.