ASCS is HOSTING

You're Invited: To a Free Virtual Event - After School Special – Suicide Prevention

Join us for a free virtual discussion designed for adults who interact with youth. This informative session will provide practical tools to recognize when a young person may be struggling, understand the impact of bullying, and learn how to respond with support and connect youth to helpful

resources to prevent youth suicide.

Special Guest Speakers

• Kirk Smalley, Co-Founder of Stand for the Silent
• Shawn Hickey, Outreach Coordinator for Speak Out Against Suicide

Who Should Attend?

This event is ideal for:

• Parents and caregivers
• Educators and school staff
• Community members
• Anyone who works with or supports youth

Event Details

Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Time: 4:00–5:30 p.m. (Central)

Location: Zoom

Cost: Free

About Our Guest Speakers

Kirk Smalley is the co-founder of Stand for the Silent, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to ending bullying and preventing youth suicide. Following the tragic loss of their 11-year-old son, Ty, to suicide after years of bullying, Kirk and his wife, Laura, turned their grief into a mission to educate and inspire communities across the country.

Shawn Hickey serves as the Outreach Coordinator for Speak Out Against Suicide, where she has spent the past five years providing education, awareness, resources, and support throughout Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois. She is joined in her outreach efforts by her therapy dog, Chance.

This event is hosted by Area Substance Abuse Council. 

Together, we can build safer, more supportive communities for our youth. We hope you'll join us for this important conversation.



Please contact Prevention@asac.us if you have any questions. 

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions for joining the meeting.

988

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

You don’t have to wait until a crisis to reach out. If you or someone you know is struggling, call, text or chat 988 to connect with a trained crisis counselor. Support is available 24/7, free and confidential.

Your reason is reason enough.



What a FUN day at the NASCAR Hy-VEE Perks 250 at Iowa Speedway!

YSS partnered with NASCAR driver Carson Ware to launch their statewide:

"Before it Becomes More: Strengthening Iowans Against Opioids"

Carson's powerful story of addiction, recovery, and second chances makes him an incredible ambassador, and we're excited to have this message featured during race weekend

YSS + NASCAR + Recovery!

Carson has a powerful story! We had the privilege of meeting, talking to him and hearing a bit about his story! he is an amazing young man and we hope to share more about him in the future!

If you are a racing fan - Carson will be a fun one to watch!! 

To Learn MORE about YSS's "Before it Becomes More"

click on the link below.

There is also a 2nd link called "Looking for Support". The screening form is how you can get started in the program.

"YSS Early Intervention Services"



DID you see the YSS trailer at the

Iowa StateFair?

Hidden in Plain Sight:

Helping Adults Recognize the Signs

YSS’s Hidden in Plain Sight trailer is a mobile, interactive educational exhibit designed to help parents, caregivers, educators, and other trusted adults recognize possible signs of substance use among teens. Inside the trailer is a realistic teen bedroom filled with items that may look completely ordinary at first glance.

Participants are encouraged to walk through the space and identify objects, hiding places, or other subtle clues that could indicate substance use or risky behavior.

The purpose is not to teach parents to search through their child’s room, but to help adults become more aware of what they may be seeing and to create opportunities for earlier conversations and intervention.

YSS describes the exhibit as a way to equip adults to recognize warning signs before substance use becomes something more serious. The trailer travels to communities and events across Iowa, making this type of prevention education accessible to parents, schools, professionals, and community organizations.

EVENTS IN IOWA

Events in September:

Come see us September 8th in person or ZOOM - see flyer above!

Honoring Recovery Month with Brandon Novak & Expert Panel

• When: September 12, 2026 | 2:30–5:00 p.m.
• Where: Heritage Center, University of Dubuque, Dubuque, Iowa
• Focus: Hillcrest Family Services will host Brandon Novak, known from Jackass and Viva La Bam, as he shares his personal story of addiction and more than 11 years of sobriety. A panel of local experts will follow to discuss addiction in Iowa communities, available resources, and ways families and communities can support recovery. The event is free and open to the public. (University of Dubuque)

Recovery Festival – Des Moines

• When: September 19, 2026
• Where: Riverview Park, Des Moines, Iowa
• Focus: Presented by Kingdom Living, the Recovery Festival is a community celebration of sobriety, resilience, recovery, and hope. The event brings together people in recovery, families, recovery organizations, community resources, activities, and opportunities to celebrate the many pathways to recovery. (Recovery Iowa)

Central Iowa Out of the Darkness Walk

• When: September 20, 2026 | Check-in 11:00 a.m. | Walk begins 1:00 p.m.
• Where: Des Moines Area Community College, Ankeny Campus, Ankeny, Iowa
• Focus: The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Central Iowa Walk brings together individuals and families affected by suicide while raising awareness and funds for suicide prevention research, education, advocacy, and community programs. The event includes an opening ceremony, activities focused on hope and healing, resource tables, honor beads, and a 1.2-mile walk around the DMACC campus pond. (AFSP - Community & Campus Walks)

Iowa’s 4th Annual Recovery Conference

• When: September 21, 2026
• Where: Iowa — location/details to be announced
• Focus: Iowa HHS will host the fourth annual Iowa Recovery Conference during National Recovery Month. The conference brings together recovery professionals, peer-support specialists, people with lived experience, community organizations, and others working to strengthen Iowa’s substance-use recovery system. Additional program and registration details are expected from Iowa HHS. (Facebook)

Cedar Rapids HOPEwalk

• When: September 26, 2026 | Registration 8:30 a.m. | Opening program 9:30 a.m.
• Where: Cherry Hill Park, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• Focus: HOPEwalk stands for Honoring, Openness, Prevention and Education. This community suicide-prevention event remembers those lost to suicide, supports survivors and families, promotes open conversations about mental health, and raises funds for suicide-prevention efforts in the Cedar Rapids community. (HOPEWalk CR)

NAMIWalks Iowa

• When: September 26, 2026
• Where: Iowa — additional 2026 walk details available through NAMI Iowa
• Focus: NAMIWalks Iowa brings individuals, families, advocates, and community organizations together to raise awareness of mental illness, reduce stigma, support people living with mental health conditions, and strengthen access to mental-health education and support throughout Iowa. (NAMI Iowa)

NAMI Iowa Family Support Group

• When: September 12, 2026 | 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
• Where: Des Moines Public Library, 1000 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa
• Focus: A free, peer-led support group for adults who have a loved one experiencing symptoms of a mental-health condition. Participants can connect with other families, share experiences, learn from one another, and receive support in a structured and confidential environment. (NAMI Iowa)

Make It OK – Talk About Mental Illness Presentation

• When: September 17, 2026 | 3:00–4:00 p.m.
• Where: Iowa / event information through the Healthiest State Initiative
• Focus: Make It OK is a community campaign designed to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness by encouraging open conversations and increasing understanding. The presentation gives participants practical information for talking about mental health and helping create communities where people feel more comfortable seeking help. (Iowa Healthiest State Initiative)

CRUSH of Iowa Recovery Support Meetings

• When: Throughout September 2026
• Where: CRUSH Recovery Community Center, 317 7th Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with select virtual meetings
• Focus: CRUSH offers ongoing peer-led recovery and family support throughout the month, including All Recoveries meetings, SMART Recovery, Family & Friends support, Parents in the Middle, Narcotics Anonymous, Crystal Meth Anonymous, Dual Diagnosis Anonymous, and Wellbriety. Programs support people at all stages of recovery as well as families affected by substance use and co-occurring mental-health conditions. (CRUSH RCC)

Recovery Café Des Moines

• When: Throughout September 2026
• Where: Grace Lutheran Church, 5201 Urbandale Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa
• Focus: Recovery Café Des Moines provides a welcoming community for people recovering from substance use, mental-health challenges, trauma, and other life experiences. The café offers peer connection, recovery support, resources, training opportunities, and a safe place to build relationships and strengthen long-term recovery. (Recovery Iowa)

National Recovery Month

• When: Throughout September 2026
• Where: Nationwide, including communities throughout Iowa
• Focus: National Recovery Month celebrates people in recovery from mental-health and substance-use conditions, recognizes the families and professionals who support them, and reinforces the message that recovery is possible. (SAMHSA)

Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

• When: Throughout September 2026
• Where: Nationwide, including communities throughout Iowa
• Focus: A month dedicated to increasing awareness of suicide prevention, reducing stigma around mental-health struggles, recognizing warning signs, encouraging conversations, and connecting individuals and families with lifesaving support and resources. (NAMI)

World Suicide Prevention Day

• When: September 10, 2026
• Where: Worldwide
• Focus: An international day focused on suicide prevention, encouraging communities to talk openly about suicide, increase awareness of prevention strategies, support those affected by suicide, and reinforce that suicide prevention is a shared responsibility. (Wikipedia)

Upcoming Events in October:

NAMIWalks Greater Mississippi Valley

• When: October 10, 2026
• Where: Veterans Memorial Park, Bettendorf, Iowa
• Focus: A community mental health awareness walk supporting free education, support, advocacy, and outreach programs while reducing stigma and reminding individuals and families that they do not have to face mental health challenges alone. (NAMIWalks)

NAMIWalks Northwest Iowa

• When: October 10, 2026
• Where: Children’s Park, Sioux Center, Iowa
• Focus: A community walk centered on “Mental Health for All,” bringing people together to raise awareness, support individuals and families affected by mental illness, and help fund NAMI’s mental health education and support programs. (NAMIWalks)

UI Addiction and Recovery Collaborative Benefit Concert

• When: October 11, 2026
• Where: The Englert Theatre, Iowa City, Iowa
• Focus: The University of Iowa Addiction and Recovery Collaborative’s annual benefit event supporting addiction and recovery efforts and helping bring greater awareness to substance use, recovery, and community support. (UI Addiction and Recovery Collaborative)

Make It OK to Talk About Mental Illness

• When: October 14, 2026
• Where: Iowa
• Focus: A presentation through the Make It OK campaign designed to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness by encouraging open conversations, increasing understanding, and helping people feel more comfortable talking about mental health. (Iowa Healthiest State Initiative)

NAMIWalks Central Iowa

• When: October 17, 2026
• Where: Ada Hayden Heritage Park, Ames, Iowa
• Focus: A mental health awareness and fundraising walk bringing together individuals, families and community members affected by mental health conditions. Funds help keep NAMI Central Iowa’s support groups, classes, presentations and other mental health services available at no cost. (NAMICentralIowa)

Iowa Behavioral Health Town Hall

• When: October 22, 2026
• Where: Virtual — Statewide Iowa
• Focus: A statewide Iowa Health and Human Services town hall focused on Iowa’s behavioral health system, including mental health and substance-use services, community needs, access to care and ongoing changes to behavioral health services across the state. (Health & Human Services)

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