A heartfelt thank you to all of our 2025 donors — we truly could not do this without you.

Your generosity, belief in our mission, and continued encouragement mean more than words can express. Because of you, we are able to create impact today and build momentum for the work ahead.

Your support not only helps us serve our community now, but also gives us the foundation to dream bigger — to expand our reach, strengthen our programs, and make an even greater difference in 2026 and beyond.

We are deeply grateful for every contribution, every share of our message, and every step you’ve taken alongside us.

Thank you for being a vital part of our journey. 

CMG Financial

Janel Ketelsen Davis – Allstate

Justin Hampton – North Grand Dental

Emina Pajazetovic – Magnolia Homes

Don & Heidi O’Brien – O’Brien Settlement Services

Janice Beeler

Michael & Chelsea Mathews

Susan Johnstad

Chase Stookey

Jerry Austill

Shelby Freestone Walton

Jay Chapman

Jason & Melissa Burke

Bruce & Barb Lehnen

Anonymous Donors

and to everyone who submitted stories and pictures of loved ones to our website.

We have to see it to believe it.



@dahlgrenkevin

truthonthestreets

It's hard to watch, but this is reality.



NARCAN may not work!

DEA Warns of ‘Purple Fentanyl’ Spreading Across the Midwest

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is sounding the alarm about a new, potentially more dangerous form of fentanyl that’s appearing in communities across the Midwest. Law enforcement officials say this substance — often called “purple fentanyl” because of its distinctive color — is circulating in the illicit drug supply and appears to be more difficult to reverse during an overdose using naloxone (Narcan).

Unlike typical fentanyl, this version may include additives that are not opioids, meaning naloxone — a lifesaving medication used to reverse opioid overdoses — may not be effective on all of its components. This raises serious concerns for first responders, family members, and anyone involved in overdose response, as some parts of the drug may not respond to traditional reversal methods.

Officials are urging communities to be aware that:

• The drug may be deliberately colored to appeal to users or signal potency.
• Traditional overdose reversal tools like Narcan may only address the opioid part of the drug, not the additive.
• Awareness, prevention, and timely action are critical because fentanyl and its variants remain extremely potent and dangerous.

DEA Launches “Fentanyl Free America” Initiative

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has launched a nationwide effort called Fentanyl Free America to confront the synthetic opioid crisis that has devastated communities across the country. The initiative combines expanded enforcement actions, public awareness efforts, and community engagement aimed at both reducing the supply of fentanyl and lowering the demand for it.

What the initiative does:

• Targets drug trafficking networks and cartel operations that produce and distribute fentanyl and counterfeit pills.
• Emphasizes the importance of public education and awareness to prevent accidental overdoses and misuse.
• Encourages partnerships with community leaders, schools, parents, healthcare providers, and local organizations to spread accurate information and prevention resources.

The campaign underscores that fentanyl remains a leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the U.S., and insists a coordinated strategy — combining law enforcement, education, and public engagement — is essential to saving lives and protecting communities.

VIDEO in 2026!

Please follow us on Facebook and Instagram. We will be adding video to our social media to explore the issues facing mental health, substance abuse, and MUCH MORE.

Thought provoking? Controversial?

We hope so!

This is how we all learn and grow -- by challenging ourselves and each other with new information and view points.

We welcome you to engage in the

comment section!

When you sit down with your 2026 goal setting binder, notebook or pile of sticky notes, we invite you to think about goals a little differently — whether they involve your family, your work, or just getting through everyday life.

Real growth rarely happens on a neat timeline. Strong families, healthy minds, meaningful work, and balanced lives are built over time — usually with a few detours, setbacks, and moments of “well…that didn’t go as planned.” And that’s okay.

This season isn’t about doing everything perfectly or having it all figured out. It’s about staying on the journey, giving ourselves and others grace, and remembering that progress — even imperfect, messy progress — still counts.

Because forward is forward.....even if you

tripped a little getting there!

The message above is powerful! We attended this service at Lutheran Church of Hope, WDSM location and we FELT it and when I say we NEEDED it, we NEEDED it!

Life gets to be so fast paced and we forget to slow down and enjoy the journey and ALL it has to offer and learn from.

1. Growth Takes Time — and That’s Intentional

A central message is that meaningful growth doesn’t happen instantly. Whether it’s personal growth, faith, healing, or purpose, the process is gradual by design. Rushing the outcome often causes people to miss what they’re meant to learn along the way.

Progress is unfolding even when it feels slow. The timeline matters less than staying engaged in the process.

2. The Waiting Is Part of the Work

Waiting is not wasted time. Seasons of uncertainty, delay, or quiet are often where strength, clarity, and resilience are developed. The message reframes patience as active, not passive.

Being patient doesn’t mean doing nothing — it means continuing forward without forcing the outcome.

3. We Often Want the Result Without the Refinement

Another strong undercurrent is that people tend to want the destination without the discomfort of the journey. But the journey itself shapes perspective, character, and readiness.

Skipping steps may feel efficient, but it often costs us long-term stability and growth.

4. Enjoying the Journey Requires Letting Go of Control

Frustration often comes from trying to control timing and outcomes. Peace comes from trusting the process, staying present, and allowing growth to unfold.

Enjoying the journey isn’t about loving every moment — it’s about staying grounded even when things aren’t perfect.

5. Progress Is Still Progress — Even When It’s Quiet

There’s an emphasis on unseen progress — things changing internally before they show externally -- patience with results that aren’t immediately visible.

Just because you don’t see dramatic change doesn’t mean nothing is happening.



Recently (Dec. 18, 2025), President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to begin the process of rescheduling marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act from Schedule I to Schedule III.

• Schedule I drugs are defined as having no accepted medical use and high potential for abuse (similar to heroin).
• Schedule III drugs are seen as having some medical use and lower potential for dependence (closer to substances like codeine).

While this executive order does not immediately legalize marijuana at the federal level, it directs the Attorney General and other agencies to move forward with rescheduling, which could make medical research easier and allow prescriptions in the future. Research barriers that have existed due to Schedule I status are explicitly a focus of the order. 

Why This Is Important for BTV

This policy shift touches on several areas that intersect with BTV’s mission around mental health, substance use awareness, and education:

1. Changes in Research Opportunities

Rescheduling may make scientific research into marijuana and related compounds (like CBD) more accessible. That means better data on potential benefits, risks, and effects on mental health, anxiety, depression, and developing brains, especially in vulnerable populations like adolescents and young adults — a topic directly relevant to BTV’s prevention and educational work.

2. Public Perception & Awareness Needs

When federal policy shifts — even gradually — public perceptions can shift faster than the science. BTV’s role in helping families distinguish between evidence-based information and assumption becomes even more important. Reports suggest the order may generate confusion about legality and health impacts, which BTV can help clarify for communities and parents.

3. Youth and Adult Education

Rescheduling does not equate to universal safety or unregulated access. Discussions about potential medical use, ongoing risk factors, and impact on developing brains or co-occurring mental health issues (anxiety, depression, addiction vulnerability) remain core to BTV’s mission — and federal policy shifts underline why education is needed now more than ever.



EVENTS IN IOWA

Events in January:

Motivational Interviewing & SBIRT Training – Level 1

• When: January 7, 2026, 11:00 am-2:00 pm CT
• Where: Online (virtual)
• Focus: An interactive skills-based workshop teaching the relational skills of motivational interviewing and SBIRT (screening, brief intervention, referral to treatment), aimed at helping service providers.

Teach to Heal: Systemic Approach to Support Mental Health in Our Schools

• When: January 15-16 & January 30, 2026
• Where: Cedar Rapids Area, Iowa IOWA ASCD
• Focus: A 3-day series for school teams to build systemic supports for mental health in education—ideal for educators and school professionals.

NAMI Iowa Family Support Group

• When: January 24, 2026, 10:30 am-12:00 pm CST
• Where: Des Moines Public Library — 1000 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50309 NAMI Iowa
• Focus: A free peer-led support group for adult loved ones of someone with a mental health condition—safe place for connection and support.

Upcoming Events in February:

Make It OK

• When: February 5, 2026
• Where: Online (Zoom/virtual)
• Focus: Make It OK to Talk about Mental Health — A free 60-minute presentation focused on reducing stigma, increasing understanding of mental illness, and helping attendees feel more confident talking openly and supportively about mental health. 

Iowa Healthiest State Initiative

• When: February 10, 2026
• Where: Online/In-Person (Iowa State University Extension)
• Focus: Youth Mental Health First Aid Training — Mental Health First Aid certification focusing on identifying, understanding, and responding to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders in youth (ages 6–18). 

UI Addiction and Recovery collaborative

• When: February 21, 2026
• Where: Xtream Arena, Coralville, IA
• Focus: UI Addiction & Recovery Collaborative Community Outreach at Iowa Heartlanders Game — Outreach event distributing naloxone and raising awareness about addiction education, harm reduction, and recovery resources statewide. 

Make it OK

• When: February 24, 2026 (virtual)
• Where: Online (via Make It OK / QPR program)
• Focus: QPR Suicide Prevention Training — “Question, Persuade & Refer” session offering suicide prevention skills anyone can use to help someone in crisis.

If your organization has an upcoming event and would like us to add it to our newsletter, please contact us.



Why Donate?





Make a lasting impact.

Your donation directly supports initiatives that raise awareness about the connection between mental health and substance abuse, helping to prevent tragedies and support those in need as well as their families.

Support a meaningful cause.

Funds go towards education, advocacy, and outreach programs that provide resources to individuals and families affected by mental health and addictive challenges. This includes grants, scholarships, and funding to bridge the gap for recovery programs. Click on the link below for full details.

Tax-Deductible contribution.



As a 501(c)(3) non profit, donations to the the Sebastian Kidd Foundation are tax-deductible, allowing you to support a vital cause while receiving potential tax benefits.

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Contact Us

Email: DericAndKathyKidd@BecomeTheirVoice.org

Website: BecomeTheirVoice.org