YWCA Madison and Journey Mental Health Center Partner to Bring On-Site Mental Health Services

The collaboration aims to reduce barriers and expand access to mental health support for women and families living at the YWCA Madison Downtown Residence.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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YWCA Madison, a non-profit organization focused on eliminating racism and empowering women, has formed a partnership with Journey Mental Health Center, a leading behavioral health provider in Dane County, to bring voluntary, no-to-low-cost outpatient mental health services directly to residents of the YWCA Madison Downtown Residence. The collaboration reflects a shared understanding that healing and housing stability are deeply interconnected and must be supported together.

Why it matters

This partnership represents a meaningful step forward in addressing the complex mental health needs of vulnerable populations, especially women and families facing housing insecurity. By reducing barriers to access, transportation, and timely support, the on-site services aim to strengthen coordination of care and create more consistent experiences for individuals seeking mental health assistance.

The details

Journey Mental Health Center launched the on-site mental health services on November 1, 2025, with clinicians providing trauma-informed care through twice-weekly satellite clinic appointments at the YWCA Madison Downtown Residence. The collaboration is designed to reduce service gaps, increase referrals, and create more consistent experiences for individuals seeking mental health support.

  • The partnership between YWCA Madison and Journey Mental Health Center was announced on February 6, 2026.
  • Journey Mental Health Center began providing on-site mental health services at the YWCA Madison Downtown Residence on November 1, 2025.

The players

YWCA Madison

A non-profit organization on a mission to eliminate racism and empower women, promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

Journey Mental Health Center

A nonprofit behavioral health organization founded in 1948, serving Dane County and reaching more than 50,000 people annually through comprehensive mental health and substance use services.

Tyson Rittenmeyer

The director of clinic-based services at Journey Mental Health Center.

Kadiata Coulibaly Sidime

A mental health therapist at Journey Mental Health Center.

Gery Paredes Vasquez

The CEO of YWCA Madison.

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What they’re saying

“In meeting with some of the YWCA Madison residents and staff, it was abundantly clear that the residents were supporting each other as well as they could as friends and neighbors, but there is a deeper need for therapeutic work to be made more readily available.”

— Tyson Rittenmeyer, Director of Clinic-Based Services, Journey Mental Health Center (Press Release)

“I hope this partnership will strengthen coordination of care and expand access to a client-centered support. By working together, we can reduce service gaps, increase referrals, and create more consistent experiences for individuals seeking mental health services.”

— Kadiata Coulibaly Sidime, Mental Health Therapist, Journey Mental Health Center (Press Release)

“This partnership is a powerful example of what happens when organizations come together with shared values and intentional collaboration. We are building an ecosystem rooted in humanity, mutuality, and collective care. Healing does not happen in isolation, and sustainable outcomes require systems that work together.”

— Gery Paredes Vasquez, CEO, YWCA Madison (Press Release)

What’s next

The partnership between YWCA Madison and Journey Mental Health Center is expected to continue, with the on-site mental health services at the YWCA Madison Downtown Residence remaining available to residents on an ongoing basis.

The takeaway

This collaboration between YWCA Madison and Journey Mental Health Center demonstrates the power of community-driven partnerships to address the complex and interconnected challenges of mental health and housing instability. By bringing accessible, trauma-informed care directly to those in need, the organizations are working to create a more holistic and supportive ecosystem for vulnerable women and families.