Lunch & Learn-Mental Illness Is Not a Crime: City Program Diverts 911 Calls to Mental Health Professionals |
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Thurs., March 3, 1 p.m.(CST)
Virtual event
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We were all taught to call 911 if we needed help. But what if we need help for a mental health crisis of a family member or a neighbor? Until recently, 911 calls in St. Louis City for a mental health concern typically resulted in a response by armed police or an ambulance.
A year-old program now diverts many of those 911 calls to more appropriate responders. Since February 2021, after two successful pilot programs, health professionals from Behavioral Health Response (BHR) have been partnering with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department to get people behavioral health services and prevent them from needlessly going to jail or the hospital.
The program, said to be among the first in the U.S., has helped thousands of St. Louis City residents receive appropriate care for mental health, substance abuse, trauma or self-sufficiency issues. In addition, by having a clinician respond to a 911 call or by embedding mental health professionals with police for crisis support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the program has relieved police and EMS workers from responding to many of these crises.
Please join us to learn more about this innovative program. For more information, see www.bhrstl.org.
Speakers:
Tiffany Lacy Clark, chief operating officer, Behavioral Health Response, Inc
Bart Andrews, PhD, BHR chief clinical officer
Felicia Spratt, MS, LPC, clinical director with the BHR 911 Diversion and Crisis Response Unit program
Lt. Leonard Day, Jr., commander, Crisis Response Unit, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department
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Rung for Women: Helping Women Climb the Ladder Toward Economic Self-Sufficiency |
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Thurs., March 10, 7 p.m. (CST)
Virtual event
Learn about Rung for Women (https://rungforwomen.org/), an organization uniquely focused on the economic advancement of women. Rung’s intensive individualized career training and support program helps women earning less than $50,000 a year to climb the career ladder and become economically self-sufficient. Rung’s strategy is to introduce women to careers that will offer them the opportunity to quickly achieve living-wage salaries. Recently Rung launched an initiative with Maryville University to create a Geospatial Analyst Training Program. Join us to learn about Rung’s approach to job training with integrated support services.
Speakers:
Lisa Weingarth, vice president, institutional advancement
Rhonda Gray, vice president, strategy & innovation
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Beyond Bathrooms: The Painful Story of Transgender Discrimination |
At the February program we heard from three speakers: Christopher Lewis, MD, co-director, Pediatric Transgender Health; director, Differences of Sex Development Clinic; and assistant professor of pediatric endocrinology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Samati Nioymchai, HIV/AIDS case manager, Washington University, and Rabbi Daniel Bogard, co-rabbi, Central Reform Congregation. As Missouri legislators are considering proposals designed to stigmatize transgender kids and limit access to medical therapies, our speakers corrected the harmful misinformation behind these bills.
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SHED (Sustainable Housing & Equitable Development) Builds Accessible, Inclusive Communities |
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At the February Lunch & Learn, speakers Mimi Taylor-Hendrix, board president and Adam Brown, executive director, both of SHED, described how the organization builds accessible, inclusive communities. SHED has served University City since 2009 by providing volunteer home maintenance for seniors and people with disabilities primarily in the city’s 3rd Ward.
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Volunteer to Help Pass Prop R |
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St. Louis City deserves ethical, transparent and accountable government! On April 5, voters in the City of St. Louis have an opportunity to pass Proposition R for Reform to put people over politics and empower St. Louisans to hold our leaders accountable. Women's Voices is a member of the coalition working to pass this important reform effort.
Here is what Proposition R will do:
- Prohibit alderpersons from taking official actions when they or a family member have a personal or financial conflict of interest related to the legislation being considered.
- Give the power to draw ward boundary maps to an independent citizens commission composed of diverse, qualified city voters that must hold public hearings. Currently, the alderpersons draw these lines, essentially allowing them to choose voters.
- Prohibit the Board of Aldermen from overriding the will of the people on how we vote for municipal offices.
We need your help as canvassers or for other volunteer tasks. Please consider signing up for a shift.
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Vote on April 5: What You Need to Know |
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Absentee voting opened February 22, 2022.
Last day to register is March 9, 2022.
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Stop the Spread of Misinformation on Social Media |
There’s a flood of real, misleading and fake breaking news and information on social media. Proceed with caution.
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Children Injured in Preventable Shooting--Again |
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Another recent tragic shooting involved two sisters, ages 3 and 4, who found their parent’s unlocked gun in a coat pocket in their home. Both girls were wounded, one critically.
Interviewed by Fox2 News, Lock It for Love volunteer, Andrea Bauman, explained that this tragedy would not have occurred if the gun had been locked and unloaded. “It’s very sad because it does not have to happen. Kids are so innocent but so curious,” said Bauman.
Here are the facts:
- Nearly 5.4 million children in the U.S. live in homes with loaded, unlocked guns.
- Many people believe that they have hidden their guns where children can’t or won’t find them in the home. But, as in this case, children usually have no problem finding a gun.
- Children as young as age 3 may be strong enough to pull the trigger on a handgun.
The bottom line is this: unintentional shootings are 100% preventable when guns are locked and unloaded, and ammunition is stored separately.
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March Highlights Women’s Pay Gap |
March is Women's History Month and March 15 is Equal Pay Day—dates that raise awareness of the U.S. gender pay and wealth gap at local, state, and national levels. Women earn 83% of what men are paid. The gender wealth gap is even worse; women own only 32% of the wealth men have accumulated, and 15 of the highest-paying jobs are dominated by men. These facts are especially relevant in light of a UNICEF study which found that the U.S. ranks last of 40 developed countries for family-friendly policies. We can, however, take inspiration from the national women’s soccer team, which in February won a $24 million settlement for equal pay. In addition to informing our members about these issues, the Women's Voices Advocacy Committee is currently collaborating with the Women's Foundation of St. Louis regarding paid family leave for the City of St. Louis. For more information, see the American Association of University Women, (pay and wealth) and www.forbes.com (UNICEF study).
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Members of the Women’s Voices Attainable Housing Task Force don’t have hammers, or nails, or drills or saws….but they do have voices and they are definitely using them!
In just the past month, members have sponsored a Lunch and Learn program about preserving housing in University City; published a letter to the editor in the Post-Dispatch; made a presentation to the Kirkwood Social Justice Coalition board, posted two actions on the Women’s Voices Facebook page, and provided testimony in the Re-envisioning Public Safety townhall sponsored by the City of St. Louis.
Author Margaret J. Wheatly said: “There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.” If you care about housing, get in touch with the task force at: housingjustice@womensvoicesraised.org.
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Keeping up with Women’s Voices |
You are reading our newsletter! That’s one way to learn about our programs and advocacy work. But did you know that our Facebook page highlights our upcoming programs and includes links to articles about the issues our members are working on and to letters our members have had published?
To be sure to see our posts, go to our Facebook page and under the banner click “like.” Then click on the 3 dots and open “follow settings,” where you can select “favorites,” which will see that our posts go to your news feed.
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Women's Voices Members respond to injustice! |
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Have something to submit for Loud & Clear?
Loud & Clear is the official monthly e-newsletter of Women's Voices Raised for Social Justice and is usually distributed on the first Monday or Tuesday of the month. The general deadline for article submission is the Wednesday prior to publication. Click here to contact editor Laura Rose.
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Even if you can’t come to meetings or become personally involved, your membership is important…and greatly appreciated.
Benefits of Membership
When you join Women’s Voices you:
- Make our voice stronger when we advocate with elected officials.
- Provide support to the organization by adding your name to our advocacy efforts.
- Provide ideas and suggestions to help determine how to define our positions and choose our causes.
- Participate in advocacy activities in any way that you want or is possible for you.
- Can take pride in your affiliation with a strong, progressive group of women working for social justice.
- Help cover our administrative and outreach costs through your dues.
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Annual Dues:
$60 (Regular Membership)
$100 (Silver Level)
$150 (Gold Level)
$20 (Student Membership)
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Send a check (payable to Women's Voices) to:
Women's Voices
7401 Delmar Blvd.
University City, MO 63130
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