Milkweed Connections

10/29/2025

Congratulations to Rachel Hayden for graduating from Wisconsin’s Emerging Leaders program! For her capstone project, she worked with another peer specialist to create the Friends of Friends program.
The idea behind the program is simple - humans need connection but do not always have all the natural supports they need. What if friends of our friends can help build our networks and lead to personal and community resilience?
To learn more, visit their website: https://www.wearefriendsoffriends.net/ or visit the Kaleidoscope Center on the first Thursday of each month at 6pm.

10/09/2025

Our friends at WIMA have a new Mobile Outreach Peer Support (MOPS) program for adults in Dunn County. Their trained peer supporters—people with lived experience—meet folks where they are to offer connection, harm-reduction supplies and education, peer support, resource navigation, and links to community services. To learn more, see the attached flyer, or call 715-619-8628 to see if you are eligible for this free, confidential support program.

08/28/2025

Because we travel for our jobs, we don't see each other often. To help build more team connections, Milkweed members held several social events this summer. Pictured here from left are Zachary, Daniel, Leah, and Terra at a disc golf get-together.

07/23/2025

Welcome Sam, our newest team member! He provides Peer Support and mentoring to people aged 14+. Sam is a musician, avid science fiction reader, and coffee drinker.
To learn more about Sam, visit: https://www.milkweedconnections.com/sam-weaver

06/26/2025

Thank you to Ben and Jen's Recreational Rentals for partnering with Milkweed to help more of our participants enjoy the great outdoors this summer!
Check them out here: https://www.facebook.com/p/Ben-and-Jens-Recreational-Rentals-100057305565384/

We currently rent kayaks for trips on the lower Chippewa River running from the Porterville landing on the southwest side of Eau Claire to Durand. We can accommodate up to a group of 12. We have 8 single and 2 tandem kayaks.

06/24/2025

Milkweed team members Byron and Rachel presented about the benefits of Dungeons & Dragons at a training event last week. They gave a brief talk and then ran some games so participants could get a feel for how the game works. Both are pictured here running their respective groups.

06/04/2025

Last week, Milkweed's Kate Laird led a dialogue about peer support, the needs of individuals with psychosis, and more as part of a training for the Dunn County Behavioral Health Unit. The aim of the training was to reduce stigma and promote wellness in the community. Attendees wore green to show support for Mental Health Awareness Month.

photo credit: Dunn County Staff

05/20/2025

Congratulations to Hope Remus, Marie Reynolds, and Dan Strehlau, Milkweed’s newest Certified Parent Peer Specialists (CPPS). These three providers are long-time Milkweed team members who have worked extensively with parents and families and now add a CPPS credential to expand their offerings in this area.

Milkweed now has five people certified as CPPS with a sixth currently in training!

To learn more about Dan, Hope, and Marie, visit https://www.milkweedconnections.com/psp-providers

04/15/2025

We're looking for new members! Deadline to apply is April 25. Check us out at the link below.

03/18/2025

Milkweed's Dan Strehlau has been invited to join the statewide Certified Parent Peer Support (CPPS) project team. This team will be focused on taking the CPPS pilot program to a comprehensive statewide program. They will review and finalize key components for CPPS in Wisconsin.
Congratulations to Dan!

02/26/2025

Milkweed's Shelley DeSmith has served on the statewide Certified Peer Specialist Advisory Committee (CPSAC) for a year and a half. This committee exists to advise the Wisconsin Department of Health Services in its support and oversight of Certified Peer Specialists and Certified Parent Peer Specialists.

Shelley joins other peer specialists from around the state, as well as state and agency representatives, on the CPSAC. Thanks to Shelley for doing this important work!

01/23/2025

Congratulations to Rachel, who has been selected to participate in Wisconsin's Emerging Leaders Program in 2025. The program aims to increase representation in community leadership and to help provide much-needed community-based services to people who currently lack them. Over the course of 8 months, each participant attends training, works with a mentor, and develops and completes a project that will address health needs in their underserved communities.

To learn more about Rachel and the services she provides, visit: https://www.milkweedconnections.com/rachel-h