JT IRREGULARS

Disclaimer: this video discusses sensitive topics such as self-harm, identity-based discrimination and harassment and suicide.Tristan Lorenz, 14, attempted suicide three times between 5th and 6th grade. His mother Christine had been struggling to find resources for Tristan in their rural are…

RACINE — Racine County has secured $5 million in federal funding to support the construction of its new mental health facility.

The funding was included in a bipartisan federal government funding package advanced by U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Racine County applied for congressionally directed spending as part of the federal appropriations process.

In a news release, the county said the new mental health facility, currently under construction at 1720 Taylor Ave. in Racine, has utilized federal, state and local resources "to build critical infrastructure while maintaining Racine County's long-term fiscal responsibility."

Along with the newly awarded funds, the project uses prior investments from the American Rescue Plan Act, opioid settlement funds dedicated to addressing the opioid crisis, and county bonding.

While Racine County currently provides mental health and substance abuse services, a "critical gap" remains in residential treatment and crisis stabilization, with no residential substance use treatment programs within a 40-mile radius of Racine County, according to the release.

The county said the new facility will "directly address this gap by centralizing crisis stabilization, residential substance use treatment, mobile crisis response, and protective services under one roof."

Construction on the facility began in May 2025 and it is expected to open by the end of 2026.

Racine County Executive Ralph Malicki said in the release that this project "reflects how Racine County approaches major investments: with strong partnerships and respect for our residents and taxpayers."

"Through careful planning and strategically aligned resources, we're bringing significant outside investment to Racine County and delivering a facility that will serve our residents for decades to come," he said.

From: https://journaltimes.com/news/local/government-politics/article_f85f905c-889a-456e-8af7-88c31f11e1db.html#tracking-source=home-top-story