2012–present · Connect · Curate · Catalyze · Health
MIRACLE Mental Health Network
The Situation
Mental illness carried deep stigma in Black churches and communities. The congregations people trusted most had no working relationship with the clinicians and county systems meant to serve them.
What It Produced
People: More than 15 documented trainings, including NAMI ASK, QPR suicide prevention, Family-to-Family, crisis intervention for police, and compassion resilience. Three members, Walter Lanier among them, served on the Milwaukee County Mental Health Board. Partners: More than 35 congregations, clinical organizations, and public agencies, including NAMI Greater Milwaukee, Mental Health America of Wisconsin, Rogers Behavioral Health, the Medical College of Wisconsin, Advocate Aurora, and Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Services. Projects: Six productions of Pieces: In My Own Voice; the Black Men Don't Jump series on men's mental health; family support groups; and a 2017 Mental Health Awareness Day at MATC that drew about 500 people. Policies: As state lawmakers created the Milwaukee County Mental Health Board in 2014, MIRACLE advocated for integrity in how it was built. Walter Lanier later served on it. Procedures: In 2022, 25–30 members reviewed Milwaukee's new Mental Health Emergency Center; more than ten toured it, and the network sent leadership 13 design, safety, and confidentiality concerns. After meetings with MIRACLE, the Center reported changes in February 2023: entrance gate removed, art installed, one-at-a-time voluntary intake, family seating, a window added to the adolescent unit door, and a community advisory council formed. Publishing: Mayo Clinic Press author; “The MIRACLE Journey” curriculum. Resources: A BLESS grant (2019) and partner on a $270,000 SAMHSA grant with MATC (2019).
What GLUE Did
On December 30, 2011, three months into his pastorate, Walter Lanier issued a memo launching a mental wellness ministry. It first met on February 18, 2012, in the basement of Progressive Baptist Church. Built on four pillars (caring in the local church, sharing with other churches, collaborating with other organizations, and advocating), it took the name MIRACLE in 2013 and incorporated in 2017. For more than a decade it met monthly, bringing faith leaders, clinicians, county officials, and people with lived experience to one table.
The Evidence
Mayo Clinic Press author profile · 2015 milestone timeline · September 2022 letter and February 2023 outcomes report · MATC News, October 2017 · coverage in Milwaukee NNS, Rogers Behavioral Health, WUWM, and Milwaukee Magazine.
The Lesson