Project Summary:
HIR Wellness Institute (HIRWI) is a survivor- and woman-led, trauma-informed, and culturally specific nonprofit dedicated to providing free mental health, advocacy, and wellness services to Indigenous and underserved survivors of violence. Grounded in years of direct service and authentic community engagement, HIRWI responds to what communities have clearly expressed: the urgent need for accessible, trusted, and culturally responsive mental health care that meets people where they are.
To close this critical service gap, HIRWI launched its Mobile Mental Health Clinics (MMHC) in 2017—an innovative, community-based model that brings therapy, victim advocacy, and somatic healing directly into neighborhoods and communities where mental health resources are scarce or nonexistent. By eliminating barriers such as transportation, stigma, and cost, MMHC ensures that care reaches those who have historically been excluded from traditional healthcare systems. As an internship placement site, with over 9 University partnerships, including Mount Mary University, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Carol College, deploys more than 40 Mobile Mental Health Clinics across Greater Milwaukee and throughout Wisconsin, serving over 6,000 community members through trauma-informed, culturally grounded care. In addition to direct services, the program serves as a vital training ground for the next generation of mental health professionals.
Each year, 15+ graduate and doctoral trainees participate in immersive, community-based learning—developing the cultural humility, clinical skill, and systems awareness necessary to serve diverse and underserved populations effectively. Therefore, the purpose of the project is to expand, evaluate, assess, and sustain the MMHC model to strengthen access to mental health care across Greater Milwaukee and to extend services into rural and Tribal communities statewide.