DECEMBER 2011

SAFETY NET NEWS

Mercy & Truth Clinic expansion plans featured on air — On Nov. 22, KSHB-TV aired a feature story about the Mercy & Truth clinic in Raytown, Mo. The story focuses on the increased need for safety net health services and Mercy & Truth's expansion plans. The story is available online.

Cabot Westside Health and Dental Center hosts Mexican Consul — On Nov. 2, Cabot Westside Health and Dental Center welcomed Consul Jacob Prado from the Mexican Consulate. Prado joined Cabot Board Chair Mark Litzler (left) and CEO Liz Cessor (right) to discuss the current and future medical and dental needs for the Mexican community.

METROPOLITAN MENTAL HEALTH NEWS

Jan. 19 Workshop — The Children's System Change Committee of the Metropolitan Mental Health Stakeholders recently completed a regional needs assessment for children's behavioral health care. We invite you to join us for a special workshop to review the assessment and draft action plan and discuss how to implement the plan's recommendations. The workshop will be held on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012, from 9 a.m. to 3p.m., at the Kauffman Foundation Conference Center. Learn more>

LOCAL & REGIONAL NEWS

Building Health Equity — On Dec. 7, the Center for Health Policy at the University of Missouri, Columbia, will host " Building Health Equity in the Kansas City Region" at the Kauffman Conference Center in Kansas City, Mo. The meeting is part of the Missouri Health Equity Collaborative (MOHEC), a project led by the MU Center for Health Policy, and supported by the Missouri Foundation for Health, and the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City. More information>

Aim4Peace seeks to end violence — More than 2,000 individuals and community partners have signed Aim 4 Peace's Commitment to Peace Agreement. The organization hopes that by having more individuals publicly committed to peace, community norms will begin to change. Neighborhoods will mobilize together to foster healthier lifestyles, say no to violence and instead peacefully resolve conflicts. Kansas City Mayor Sly James joined other community members to sign the agreement at the group's Walk4Life event in August. Read more in the Aim4Peace newsletter>

STATE & NATIONAL NEWS

Missouri DIFP receives award from Autism Speaks — The nation's largest advocacy group for autism recently recognized the Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration for its implementation of the state's new autism insurance law. Autism Speaks presented the award to the department for exceptional efforts on behalf of individuals with autism. Learn more>

CForward — CForward, a new nonprofit organization launched in early November, seeks to educate political candidates about how nonprofits contribute to the economy by creating jobs, generating payroll taxes, and bringing money into their communities in the form of grants and contracts. The group will focus on local elections, preparing educational materials, supporting and publicizing candidate forums, and developing get-out-the-vote campaigns. Learn more>