During our Staff / Board retreat, the ACT Missouri Mission and Vision statements were reviewed and updated.  ACT Missouri's new vision is: "Healthy individuals, Healthy Communities, Healthy Missouri."  To create this vision, our improved mission statement is now: "To serve as the statewide prevention catalyst, empowering individuals and fostering partnerships to promote safe, healthy and drug free communities."

ACT Missouri has increased staff to include the new position of Public Information Officer.  We have hired Mallory McGowin for this job.   Another new member of our team includes Anna Grayson, Center for Substance Abuse (CSAP) Intern.  Anna is working with ACT Missouri to assist with statewide prevention and recovery efforts.  Alicia Ozenberger is now filling the newly-developed position of Deputy Director of ACT Missouri.  Alicia is tasked with supervising the Missouri Youth / Adult Alliance (MYAA) Project Director, reviewing and approving technical assistance and regional development funds requests, maintaining the resource and training library, and program and contract compliance.

Karen Farris has been hired to lead the MYAA Coalition and work primarily on ACT Missouri's underage drinking efforts.  Angela Bonine is the new MYAA and Missouri Recovery Network (MRN) project assistant.  She will be assisting both the MYAA and MRN Project Directors in meeting Missouri's underage drinking prevention and recovery advocacy strategies and projects.

You can find out more about Mallory, Anna, Karen and Angela by following the link at the end of this article.

With our new influx of talent and skills, ACT Missouri is looking forward to a busy and full summer of prevention and training activities:

·      June 12: Statewide Prescription Take Back Day, the first coordinated event that includes 11 coalitions in 19 communities

·      June 15-17: ACT Missouri is sponsoring a three-day Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist Training (SAPST) Training of Trainers (TOT) workshop

·      June 21-25: ACT Missouri is collaborating with Family Counseling Center, Inc. Prevention Resource Center to host the 40 hour SAPST workshop.  Register for this workshop by contacting Family Counseling Center, Inc. Prevention Resource Center, or ACT  Missouri

·      July 15: Deadline to turn in "Call for Presentations" applications for the 2010 Missouri Substance Abuse Prevention Network Prevention Conference.  The conference is scheduled for December 8-10, 2010 in Lake Ozark, MO

·      July or August: ACT Missouri is collaborating with the University of Missouri Partners in Prevention program to sponsor the Alliance for Justice's advocacy training.  Be on the lookout for more information regarding this training as it becomes available.

Please keep in mind that ACT Missouri is here to provide the state with substance abuse prevention, education, training, and recovery resources.  Any training or technical assistance needed is only a phone call away. 

Have a safe and happy summer!