First Call

As we honor our brave current and former military personnel on November 11, we would be remiss if we did not say "thank you" to our First Call veterans - Keith Faison, Brit Buell, and Rita Mwangong, as well as our partners, the Veterans Community Project and The Battle Within. Thank you all for your service.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS! First Call's first ever live virtual Annual Community Gratitude Luncheon will take place on Facebook Live on March 23, 2021! This luncheon celebrates those who work tirelessly to reduce the impact of alcohol, drugs and addiction in our community. Nomination categories include Lifetime Achievement, Professional of the Year, Youth of the Year, and Recovery Champion. The deadline for submission is December 10. Click below to nominate someone today!

YOUR INPUT MATTERS! Give 5 minutes (maybe 10) to help shape the future! The Jackson County Legislature, Jackson County Combat Commission and Jackson County Prosecutor's Office are considering revisions to the basic formula for allocating funding from the county’s quarter-cent Anti-Crime sales tax, commonly referred to as COMBAT. And they want to hear from you! The funding formula is used to determine what percentage of COMBAT tax revenue is allocated for prevention, treatment, law enforcement agencies and more. Use your phone, tablet, PC or laptop. The survey is intended for Jackson County residents only. TAKE THE SURVEY RIGHT NOW!

LISTEN to President and CEO Susan Whitmore as she speaks on this Mid-America ATTC podcast on Post Pandemic Trends in Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder. #COVID19 #addiction #mentalhealth

Thank you South KC Chamber for being featured in the Member Spotlight. We love being a part of the South Kansas City community.

Healing House, Inc., a nonprofit, faith-based Recovery Support Service Provider in Kansas City, recently opened a new recovery home for women called Emily’s House in honor of Emily LaGree, a friend and supporter of Healing House who passed away in 2018. Founded in 2003 by Bobbi Jo Reed, a person now in long-term recovery, Healing House provides recovery support and housing to help those with substance use disorders achieve long-term recovery. Over 200 people are housed daily in the 13 homes and 2 apartment complexes owned by Healing House. Emily’s House is the sixth recovery home for women. Visit the link below to see the Virtual Dedication and Open House, hosted in part by Emily’s parents and brother. #community #recovery

THANK YOU to everyone who participated in the DEA Drug Take Back Day on October 24. It was a great turnout thanks to a community-wide commitment to a great cause. Your efforts prevented the possibility of unwanted or unused prescription drugs from falling into the wrong hands or being improperly discarded. The total collected in the metro area was 2,508 lbs.! #takebackday

First Call's essential services and 24-hour Crisis Call Line are of critical importance to our clients, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. First Call transitioned to remote service delivery and telehealth in March, without any lapse in services. Your gift can help mitigate the financial impact of our transition to telehealth and the cancellation of our events that we rely on to provide dollars for core mission support. Visit firstcallkc.org/covidrelief. #covidrelief

SPOTS ARE STILL AVAILABLE for the virtual November How to Cope session, which begins on November 2, from 5:30-8 p.m. How to Cope is a seven-session course for adult family members and friends impacted by a loved one's substance use. Click below to register today!

Congratulations to our Reentry clients, Kourtni Mabry and Morris Miller, Jr.! On Oct. 16, the two men became certified Warehouse and Material Handlers (CWMH), completing all the coursework, training and exams through First Call's partner, Warehouseman Training, Inc. Kourtni and Morris are the clients of Reentry Recovery Advocate Rita Mwangong.

First Call helps individuals navigate the recovery journey. Our specialized one-on-one support with recovery advocates makes all the difference. You are not alone. For help, visit firstcallkc.org.