We all need a little recognition.
It’s time to meet our We Heart You Community Award of Excellence winners.
This annual award is given to a person or an organization that fits into the following:
Dedicates time, commitment, and support to community initiatives that increase access to substance and mental health-related resources.
Identifies gaps, assesses services, and creates, supports, and/or assists with programs that create a way for all community members to seek help equally.
Demonstrates a strong ability to create meaningful relationships that advance the work of our local substance use or mental health services.
Contributes experience, data, and meaningful input to help save lives.
Goes above and beyond to use their position, organization, or relationships to accomplish exceptional work.
2024 Award.
The 2024 award winners include Winnebago County Public Health and the Winnebago County Medical Examiner's Office.
Winnebago County Public Health is a deserving recipient of the We Heart You Community Award of Excellence for their unwavering dedication and impactful contributions to advancing substance use and mental health resources in the community. In addition to their leadership in implementing the OFR recommendation to distribute free Narcan to community members, the department has played a pivotal role in securing grants and funding to sustain critical initiatives such as the Overdose Fatality Review (OFR), the Solutions Peer Response Team, the Fox Cities Victim Crisis Response Team, as well as many other OFR and community efforts. The department consistently demonstrates an exceptional ability to foster meaningful partnerships that drive progress in local substance use and mental health services. Their leadership of the Recommendations & Monitoring Team and the Overdose Spike Alert Team further highlights their proactive and life-saving approach to addressing community needs. "The department's staff supports this important work and helps other organizations prevent future overdoses collaboratively. Winnebago County Public Health has exemplified innovation and compassion in their mission to create healthier, safer communities, which the other OFR partners have recognized. It is because of the support of this department and its staff that OFR has sustained over the last 6.5 years in our important work.
The Winnebago County Medical Examiner's Office is a deserving recipient of the We Heart You Community Award of Excellence for their outstanding dedication to saving lives, even when so often they stand as the last stop in someone's addiction journey. In addition to their vital role in providing review cases, the Medical Examiner's Office staff participate in every review, offering valuable insights on family support and guiding interventions to prevent future tragedies. They exemplify leadership by identifying service gaps for those who have died, offering supportive services for living family and friends, and partnering with others to find preventive and intervention resources to support people struggling with substance use disorder. They have been instrumental in the Overdose Spike Alert System, issuing timely prevention and intervention messaging and bringing the Victim Crisis Response Team to the Oshkosh area. Their innovative efforts to develop pilot interventions in response to fatal overdoses highlight their proactive approach to addressing this crisis. Above all, the Medical Examiner's Office staff relentlessly advocates for families, ensuring they receive the support needed to prevent future overdoses, underscoring their commitment to community well-being. They are a pillar of compassion in our fight against substance use and mental health challenges.
2023 Award.
The 2023 award winners include Megan Edwards and Trevor Fenrich from Solutions Recovery, Inc.
Megan Edwards helped create the Solutions Peer Response Team (SPRT) that was launched in September of 2022. The SPRT is a peer-driven program made up of staff who all have lived experience and are trained recovery coaches. They are available 24/7 to respond to any substance use related need in our community at no cost. The goals of the PRT program are to work with people who are experiencing crisis, vulnerability, and desperation to mitigate overdose risk, support in navigating resources, link individuals to proper care and treatment, and rapidly respond to substance use crises in real time. The success of the program can be found in their 2023 annual report.
Trevor Fenrich was the co-visionary, and lead technician behind the We Heart You App that was launched in 2023. Aiming to connect people with substance use resources in Winnebago, Calumet, and Outagamie County, Trevor created a mobile app that meets people where they’re at, connecting them to help, and the ability to chat with people who have lived experience whenever they need someone. Trevor has been the servant leader in transforming Solutions Recovery into the thriving organization and community change agent that it is today. He has represented Solutions Recovery in much of the OFR committee work, helping offer perspective, subject matter expertise, leadership, and actually doing the work.
2022 Award.
Tim Styka is the retired Chief of Police for the city of Menasha. He has been a part of the police department for over 20 years and loves serving his community. Tim has been with the Winnebago County OFR Team since 2019, working to address the root causes of overdose deaths and making our community a safer place to live, work, and be. Timis a leader in this work. He works with the Menasha Community Addiction Assistance Program (MCAAP) to improve access to treatment and recovery services. He is involved in Winnebago County's Overdose Spike Alert Pilot initiative, which tracks nonfatal overdoses and identifies potential intervention and prevention points. He helped institute and find funding for the Solutions Peer Response Team, creating a way for people with lived experience to connect with those struggling with substance use disorder to help prevent overdoses and connect people to resources. Tim is also a member of the OFR Steering Team and was a speaker at the first We Heart You: Recovery in Our Community event, where he talked about the success of peer recovery teams.
"Chief Styka has created momentum in the community that continues beyond the implementation of his work," said University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Acting Chief of Police and OFR Team Member Chris Tarmann. "His leadership, innovation, and commitment to saving lives is shaping a path forward for other law enforcement leaders. Chief Styka has gone above and beyond in working with the community to build relationships, identify gaps, and contribute meaningful input and action to save lives." Skolaski said. Tim has always understood that second chances are needed and be the first to give them. We are thankful for Tim's dedication and willingness to give back to our community.