Here at Beacon Mental Health, we see and hear some memorable and often heartbreaking stories. Our Crisis Team often meets with someone in their worst hour and helps them develop hope to hang on and works with them to start treatment. Our School Services Team helps young people and families overcome all kinds of challenges, [...]
Our own Jennifer Wilson and Dawnne Dehne were recently invited to serve as Family Support Provider (FSP) representatives in creating a statewide curriculum for FSPs through the state credentialing board, in partnership with the Missouri Department of Mental Health. FSPs serve as peer specialists to the parents of children with mental health needs. They act [...]
On November 13th and 14th, 11 Beacon Mental Health employees and 33 coalition volunteers attended the 2023 Missouri Substance Use Prevention Conference in Columbia, MO. This two-day event was packed full of networking, education, peer sharing, and updates from the field. Attendees had the chance to attend seven of the 21 offered workshops, with Beacon [...]
Last week, we presented Sgt. James (Jim) Morgan of Smithville Police Department with our Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Officer of the Year award! Jim has been trained as a CIT officer and, in recent years, has become the CIT coordinator at Smithville PD. Jim always makes himself available to the Community Behavioral Health Liaison team [...]
Get to know Jennifer Watts, LCSW, our Clinical Therapy Manager. How long have you worked at Beacon Mental Health? I started as an intern in the Day Program almost 29 years ago. I worked for Beacon for almost six years before leaving. Five years ago, I returned to Beacon as I felt a need to [...]
Derek Kautio is the President-Elect of the Beacon Mental Health Foundation, and has served on the Board for 3 years. He has been a helpful supporter of the annual Tee Off fundraiser, and has earned the respect of everybody on the board with his quiet, thoughtful approach to his volunteer work. “I’m fortunate that my [...]
Among all the other things clamoring for our attention in 2023, ranging from Travis & Taylor to the painful news from the Middle East and Ukraine, one report came out that I don’t think got the attention it deserved. Our Surgeon General issued an advisory called “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation,” and it is [...]
From the pre-party held on the brand new pickleball courts at T-Shotz, where guests were buzzing with excitement in anticipation of our new brand reveal, to the many swings, bids, and laughs throughout the evening, we are excited to share that the fourth annual Tee Off Fore Tri-County fundraising event was yet another success! Thanks [...]
What are you doing on Tuesday, November 28? That day is GivingTuesday—a global day of giving where people all over the world come together to support their favorite nonprofits. Our goal is to raise $10,000 for our Holiday Fund-A-Need, but we’ll only reach that goal through the kindness and generosity of people like you. Will [...]
Our very own Sierra Thomas, Community Prevention Specialist, was recently featured on the Prevention Perk podcast to share her unique path to prevention and why she is so passionate about the work she does at Beacon Mental Health. Prevention Perk is hosted by Steve Miller with the Mid-America Prevention Technology Transfer Center (Mid-America PTTC), an [...]
