Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez paid a visit to Manitowoc to learn about how drug recovery and mental health are impacting the city.
Rodriguez was given a tour of the Lighthouse Recovery Community Center on N. 8th Street, which provides a space for those dealing with drug and mental health issues a place to stay while they are trying to get back on their feet while also getting help if needed.
After the tour, Christma Rusch with Lighthouse says there has been a lot of success for people who need help, compared to other areas where it can take some time to get it.
The organization is launching a recovery resource network, a public health initiative to address trauma that can happen in certain situations.
This network would allow other organizations to provide help if someone at Lighthouse needs more help than they can provide.
“The more that we can develop a network, the more that understand and where are the resources and how we can work together the less people are going to fall through the cracks no matter what they are recovering from,” she explained. “So, we want to educate all those agencies that are providing resources.”
The network would help those who are providing help to those in need.
Rodriguez says it was great to learn that getting services in Manitowoc has been so successful.
She told Seehafer News, “That’s just really exciting for me as I’m looking at a healthcare workforce/taskforce and how we can better provide services all across the state where people live.”
Gov. Tony Evers signed an executive order last week to officially create the task force and naming Rodriguez as its chair.
She also highlighted that Lighthouse has done a great job figuring out some issues other communities are dealing with like a shortage of providers and not enough beds.
