WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) — The Winnebago County Overdose Fatality Review (OFR) Team presented its first ever We Heart You Celebration of Excellence Award on Monday to Chief Tim Styka from the Menasha Police Department. The award will now be presented annually.
The award was given to Styka in recognition of his work towards preventing overdose deaths through fostering relationships, community programs, and resources. Overdose Fatality Review Facilitator, Jennifer Skolaski, says Styka goes above and beyond and is an amazing leader in the Overdose Fatality Review team.
“He started the Menasha Community Addiction Assistance program; connecting law enforcement with peer support specialists in the community to connect people to recovery services.” said Skolaski.
Styka is also involved in the 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.
The We Heart You Celebration of Excellence Award is given to a person or organization that serves the residents of Winnebago County and fits the following descriptions:
- 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 community members to seek help.
- 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.
Chief Styka has been with the Winnebago County OFR Team since 2019.
To learn more about the Winnebago County OFR Team, visit winnebagopublichealth.org.
