SAFE Newsletter: August 2020
Welcome to our local prevention newsletter! Here you will find information related to substance use prevention and mental health in our region. Please share with all who may be interested in this information! If you would like to join us for the next SAFE meeting on Thursday, September 3rd from 11:30-1:00 (via Zoom),
contact Julia Mees, Program Director, at safedfc@gmail.com.
What is SAFE?
SAFE stands for Substance-Abuse Free Environments
We are a community coalition made up of people who live in or work in Excelsior Springs, MO. Our primary goal is to prevent youth substance use. We do this through education, advocacy, prevention messaging
campaigns, and environmental change.

Our Mission is: Through community involvement, leadership, and the sharing of resources, Excelsior Springs SAFE works to reduce underage drinking,
nicotine and other drug use, violence and other negative behaviors
and improve the lives of all Excelsior Springs citizens.
CommCare Hope Kits--
Can you Help?
Commcare is the agency that runs the EPICC program for treatment of opioid use disorder in our region (including right here at ES Hospital). They are doing a donation drive for Hope Sacks for clients. Hope Sacks are small kits that include personal care items, information about harm-reduction strategies, and referrals to treatment agencies. SAFE is going to be collecting items for the HOPE Sacks from now through September 30th. Please drop items off at Good Samaritan Center and label them "For SAFE--Hope Sacks". Thank you for any help you can give!

Items needed:
Toothbrushes
Trial-sized Toothpaste
Bar Soap
Trial-sized Shampoo
Feminine Hygiene Products
Shaving Kits
Small combs and Brushes
Lip Balm
New Socks and Underwear
Drawstring Bags
Sunscreen
Bandaids
Batteries (AA/AAA)
Protein Snacks (Mixed nuts, etc)
Tri-County Zoom Conversation
How can we support our youth during these trying times? Tri-County Mental Health Services and Signature Psychiatric Hospital are offering a free online event at 6 pm on September 3rd to help! The event is titled Protect and Prepare: Community Trauma and Resilience for Kids and Teens in Pandemic Times. Expert panelists who specialize in trauma, healthy child development, infant mental health and adolescent mental health will answer your questions about how to support our children during the pandemic.
State Prevention Conference
Many SAFE members have traveled to the State Prevention Conference in past years. This is always a great conference filled with a variety of prevention-related information and networking with other coalitions around the state. This year, it will be held virtually November 16-17th. Please plan to attend if you are able, as this year it's more convenient than ever!
Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid trainings are now being held virtually! Consider taking the Youth Mental Health First Aid class so that we have many people trained in Excelsior. This is a great class that arms you with knowledge and skills to help in a crisis, until additional help arrives (think regular first aid training, but for mental health). This is a very difficult time for mental health. If you have the time for this class, I think you'll find it worthwhile!
Pandemic-Related Mental Health Help
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Mental Health was awarded a Crisis Counseling Program (CCP) grant by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The Show Me Hope CCP funding will provide behavioral health services to Missourians who are emotionally troubled by the pandemic. Tri-County Mental Health Services will be delivering stress management resources and resource referrals to citizens feeling the stress and emotional strain caused by COVID-19. The Show Me Hope team will assist Missourians in building hope and resiliency for the future.
Missouri Behavioral
Health Conference
This will be a hybrid conference Sept. 10th-11th with an in-person option at the Westin Crown Center and live streaming for those who are unable to travel due to COVID-19. Register Here!
Trauma-informed Training Opportunity
KC Northland Strong is a new collaborative working to build a trauma-informed and resilient Northland. SAFE and Tri-County are a part of this larger coalition. KC Northland Strong recognizes the stress and trauma caused by COVID-19. In response, they are providing this FREE, 1-hour training via Zoom to organizations, businesses, and companies in Clay, Platte and Ray Counties. The training will identify the trauma we are all experiencing and our responses, but more importantly, will guide attendees in developing self-care skills and building pillars of resilience. Set up a free training!
The Roots of Resilience
Action Guide is Here!
Many in our community have seen the Resilience Film and wanted a "next step" for spreading education about the impact of ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and ways to build resilience in youth. That next step is here! The Roots of Resilience Action Guide is a resource developed by SAFE and other regional coalitions. The guide helps small groups to develop action steps to build resilience in young people. If you would like to start this process, go here to order free Action Guides or to download a guide now.
Suicide Prevention Conference
The Missouri Suicide Prevention Conference is going virtual! There will be one webinar every other Thursday starting August 6th through October 29th. The virtual conference is free unless you would like continuing education. If so, the cost is $20 per person. Questions can be directed to events@mocoalition.org.

Suicide Prevention Resources
This is a challenging time for mental health. Please spread the word about Encourage Hope and Help, a suicide prevention resource through Tri-County. Familiarize yourself with the website, which has a multitude of resources. All of our organizations working together can help promote mental health and prevent suicide.
Virtual Screenings of Resilience
SAFE now has the capacity to do virtual screenings of the Resilience film. If you are interested in bringing this film to your organization, please let us know! One of SAFE's goals is to educate about the impact of trauma on health and substance use, and Resilience is a good starting point for this conversation.