Ozarks Area Crisis Intervention Team

09/04/2026

🚨 First responders: your reason is reason enough.

📅 September 8 is !

Behind the badge, uniform, or radio is a person who experiences stress, loss, trauma, and difficult days, too. You don’t have to wait until you’re in crisis to reach out for support.

This year’s theme, "988 Reasons: Your reason is reason enough,” is a reminder that whatever you’re carrying—big or small—you deserve support.

📞 Call or text 988 to connect with the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline.

Taking care of yourself isn’t a weakness. It’s part of being ready to take care of others.

Learn more and get involved: samhsa.gov/988Day

09/04/2026

🚨 Recovery happens together.

For first responders, connection matters. The calls you answer, the things you witness, and the weight you carry can be difficult to talk about—but you don’t have to carry it alone.

Meaningful human connection can build resilience, restore hope, and support long-term recovery. A check-in. A conversation. A reminder that someone has your back.

👊 Every connection can make a difference.

09/02/2026

If you're age 60 or older, you may qualify for assistance that supports your health, independence, and financial well-being. Assistance may cover medical, home, or home repair costs. Call 417 447-0554 to schedule an appointment.

09/02/2026

Check out our recent article, "Preparing Emergency Medical Services for Prehospital Buprenorphine: Examining a Train-the-Trainer Approach to Strengthening the Overdose Chain of Survival," about our statewide pilot supporting 6 Missouri EMS agencies to implement prehospital buprenorphine in the field.

Prehospital buprenorphine gives paramedics a new option to ease withdrawal symptoms and initiate treatment following an opioid overdose for eligible patients.

Yet agencies can face both administrative and attitudinal challenges implementing new practices. This study evaluated our structured six-month training strategy, framed within an "Overdose Chain of Survival," to prepare agencies to launch this new protocol.

Findings:
- All agencies reported readiness to implement following training and felt the approach increased confidence and clarified workflows
- Co-development of clear induction protocols, community paramedicine integration, prior agency overdose response training, and state support were key facilitators
- Remaining barriers included stigma toward people who use drugs, staff resistance and burnout, and inconsistent linkage to care and long-term treatment availability

Read more here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acepjo.2026.100452

Authors: Maria E. Paschke, Saad T. Siddiqui, Joshua Wilson, Gerard Carroll, Melissa Kroll, Bradley Ray & Rachel P. Winograd

09/01/2026

🚨Recovery is possible—and our first responder community has a powerful role to play in supporting hope, healing, and wellness. 💚

📅 Saturday, September 19 | 10 AM–1 PM
📍 Sanctuary of Hope, 1790 Bee Creek Road in Branson

Bring your family, friends, and fellow first responders for a FREE community-wide celebration of National Recovery Month!

Enjoy:
🍔 Free food
❤️ Health screenings
🤝 Community resources
🎉 Family-friendly activities
…and so much more!

🆕 NEW THIS YEAR: FREE QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) training from 11 AM–12 PM.

As first responders, we know that recognizing when someone is struggling and knowing how to respond can make all the difference. QPR teaches practical skills to recognize warning signs, start a conversation, and connect someone to help. 💚

Whether you're a first responder, a family member, a friend, or someone on your own recovery journey, you are welcome here.

Come connect, learn, celebrate recovery, and remind our community that . ❤️

👉 Help us spread the word—share this post with your department, coworkers, family, and friends!

09/01/2026

🚨 First responders are there for everyone—but who’s checking in on them?

Behind the uniform, the badge, the gear, and the calls for help is a person who may be carrying more than anyone realizes.

You may not always know what a fellow first responder is experiencing. A simple “How are you really doing?”, a listening ear, or sharing a resource at the right moment can make a life-changing difference.

👊 Look out for your crew. Check in. Listen. Connect.

Because ***dePrevention starts with connection—and no one should have to carry the weight alone.





***dePreventionMonth





#988

08/27/2026

I know many of you have heard the news about MO State Trooper Colten Henderson from Hollister and his family getting into a bad traffic wreck this past weekend. Tragically his wife passed away, and he is gravely injured while their two children sustained minor injuries as well.
💛
In our planning for the State Of The Ozarks Fest on Sept 12th, Josh Heston and I, and the festival team have decided unanimously to shift gears on the stage sponsorships at the festival and direct all proceeds - post artist payment - to the Henderson family.
I’ve personally increased my sponsorship contribution to help cover artist pay so that all remaining profits can go directly towards supporting this local family in their time of need.
💛
I’ve been reaching out to local businesses to partner with additional sponsorships, so let me know if y’all would like to contribute to this very worthy cause, or if you know another business owner who is looking for sponsorship opportunities. 💛🤗

Direct point of contact is included in the image below, and I look forward to seeing y’all at the festival on Sept 12th!

I will be playing 2-3 pm on the Mid Street Stage, and we will have an incredible lineup all throughout the day on multiple stages!
💛

08/24/2026

08/24/2026

There are only 11 seats left for this course! Early bird pricing ends on August 31st.