Skaggs Foundation is pleased to award $1.2 million in grants at the 11th annual Skaggs Legacy Endowment Grant Ceremony. This year’s event was especially significant, as Skaggs Foundation celebrates reaching the $10 million mark in total grants awarded to the community, a testament to its dedication to improving health and wellness in Stone and Taney counties.
This year’s grants will support 44 impactful programs across the six areas of focus for the Skaggs Legacy Endowment, including Access to Care, Child & Family Safety, Dental Care, Healthy Lifestyles, Mental Health, and Substance Use. In keeping with its mission to create a healthier future, Skaggs Foundation will distribute funds to projects ranging from expanding medical transportation services for rural residents to providing trauma-informed care training for local educators, and ensuring access to essential dental care for underserved children.
“We are honored to support initiatives that create lasting, positive change in our community,” said Meghan Connell, president of Skaggs Foundation. “Reaching $10 million in grants awarded is a remarkable achievement, made possible by the strength of our endowment and the dedication of the organizations we work with. Together, we’re improving the health and wellness of Stone and Taney counties for generations to come.”
Attendees of the ceremony heard from two grantees from last year who shared how their projects—funded by Skaggs Foundation—have made a lasting impact. These stories reflect the core of Skaggs Foundation’s mission and demonstrate the measurable outcomes that benefit the local community.
Skaggs Foundation’s dedication is further captured by the theme of the event, “Seeds of Change,” symbolizing the growth and transformation that Skaggs Foundation has helped cultivate over the past eleven years. This year’s grantees are a part of that ongoing legacy, as their programs lay the groundwork for future health improvements in the region.
For more information please visit the Skaggs Foundation website at www.skaggsfoundation.org.
Skaggs Foundation was established in 2002 as a primary funding source for Skaggs Regional Medical Center. In 2013, when Skaggs hospital merged with CoxHealth, Skaggs Foundation Board of Directors chose to retain the Skaggs name. Today, Skaggs Foundation continues to invest in the health and wellness of the people in Stone and Taney counties.
ACCESS TO CARE
Promoting essential health services for everyone
My Neighbor’s Charitable Pharmacy Staff
$150,800 | My Neighbor’s Charitable Pharmacy
Celebrating its first anniversary, My Neighbor’s Charitable Pharmacy has served 1,000 individuals and dispensed over $2.4 million in donated medications, allowing uninsured patients to access essential treatments for a $10 monthly fee. Funding a full-time pharmacist is crucial for managing medication dispensing and educating patients on disease self-management. This position ensures continued affordable healthcare access for under-resourced individuals in Stone and Taney counties.
CMCB Unites Stone & Taney Counties
$125,000 | Cox Medical Center Branson
Cox Medical Center Branson is receiving funding to expand its coordinated care network, enhancing collaboration with local health and social service providers through the Unite Us platform. This initiative fosters communication between CMCB and community-based organizations, transitioning to a proactive, person-centered model of care. By facilitating seamless electronic referrals, the program addresses patients’ social needs and promotes overall community health. Targeting high-risk and vulnerable individuals seeking care at CMCB’s Emergency Department and clinics, this collaboration aims to improve health outcomes and promote well-being across Stone and Taney counties.
Good Samaritan Fund for Patients 2024 (2-Year Grant)
$100,100 | Cox Medical Center Branson
The Good Samaritan Fund, originally created by Lester E. Cox, extends a compassionate helping hand to Cox Medical Center Branson patients facing unexpected financial hardship due to illness or injury. This program offers hope and relief, providing temporary assistance with medical bills as patients focus on recovery. Eligible patients must first apply any insurance or hospital discounts, then a committee reviews their application based on their unique circumstances. By easing the financial burden, this fund helps patients regain stability and health during a difficult time.
Enhancing Health and Wellness through Bariatric Recliners
$39,467.95 | Cox Medical Center Branson
Cox Medical Center Branson is receiving funding to introduce 10 bariatric recliners, designed for individuals with higher body weights, to improve patient comfort and support during medical procedures. These recliners will help reduce obesity-related complications and promote a more inclusive and supportive healthcare environment, ensuring quality care for all patients.
Improve Patient Experience, Wellbeing and Health through IV Ultrasound Equipment and Bladder Scanner
$36,514.36 | Cox Medical Center Branson
Cox Medical Center Branson is receiving funding to acquire advanced IV ultrasound equipment with an integrated bladder scanner. This cutting-edge technology provides a non-invasive way to monitor bladder volume and reduces the time needed to insert difficult IVs. By enhancing care for post-op and labor patients, this equipment will improve patient outcomes and support Cox Medical Center Branson’s commitment to delivering high-quality care.
Safer Air Medical Access for Rural Central Taney County
$28,500.79 | Central Taney County Fire Protection District
The Central Taney County Fire Protection District is receiving funding to construct a permanent, safe landing zone for air medical crews. This project includes a 30×30 concrete pad with FAA-approved lighting to provide a reliable and secure location for medical aircraft, first responders, and local ambulance crews. The existing site is used as a landing zone but can become unusable due to weather conditions. By establishing this enhanced landing zone, the program aims to improve healthcare access for community members and ensure a safer transportation process for patients.
CMCB Patient Transportation Assistance 2024
$24,000 | Cox Medical Center Branson
Cox Medical Center Branson provides transportation assistance to patients in Stone and Taney counties who lack access to reliable transportation. The program helps patients get to medical appointments and home after discharge from the emergency and psychiatric units. Eligibility is verified by a nurse or social worker, and assistance is provided through cab vouchers, gas cards, or prepaid visa cards. This initiative reduces the likelihood of hospital readmissions, medical complications, and death, while promoting overall community wellness.
Transportation Assistance 2024-2025
$7,500 | The Brook Wellness Center
The Brook Wellness Center proposes a program to eliminate transportation barriers faced by individuals with substance use and mental health disorders in Stone and Taney County, Missouri. By providing fuel cards for qualifying clients, the initiative aims to improve access to essential healthcare services, combat rising substance use issues, and enhance the overall quality of life in these underserved rural areas. Targeting both adults and adolescents, the program will support treatment attendance, family reunification, and psychological stability, ultimately promoting community integration and better mental health outcomes.
Free Medical Clinic of the Ozarks Rent and Computer Request
$7,000 | Free Medical Clinic of the Ozarks
The Free Medical Clinic of the Ozarks (FMCO), a non-profit organization serving uninsured adults in Stone and Taney counties, provides quality healthcare services at no cost to patients with incomes below 200% of the poverty line. The clinic relies on volunteer staff and partnerships, including Cox Medical Center Branson, which offers basic lab tests and x-rays for free. Funding will support new laptops to improve the timely access of patient information and help cover rising rent costs, ensuring more donations can be allocated to medications and patient care.
Empowering Individuals: Charis Group Transportation Access Grant
$5,200 | Charis Group
The Charis Group is committed to empowering individuals in Stone and Taney Counties by providing essential transportation services to those facing challenges such as domestic violence, substance recovery, and homelessness. With identified gaps in transportation, the Charis Group ensures safe and reliable access to critical destinations like government offices, recovery centers, and medical appointments. By collaborating with local courts and directly serving the community, they facilitate transportation for court-ordered next steps and provide support for individuals needing assistance. This initiative fosters trust and connection, helping individuals overcome barriers to essential services.
CHILD & FAMILY SAFETY
Ensuring the well-being and safety of children and families
Ozarks Technical Community College Foundation
$35,075 | Jr. Eagles Program – Table Rock Childcare Center
With a collaborative effort between Ozarks Technical Community College Table Rock Campus and the Ozarks Regional YMCA, this program addresses the urgent need for affordable childcare for our students, particularly those in the nursing program. By establishing a drop-in childcare center within the campus, the goal is to provide a safe and accessible environment for students to care for their children while they attend classes and labs. This initiative will accommodate up to 25 children for 20 hours per week, helping students focus on their education and pursue careers that can transform their families’ futures. Additionally, this partnership serves as a model for addressing childcare challenges in other rural areas, ultimately supporting workforce development and enhancing educational access for parenting students.
Harbor House Complete Wellness Project
$30,000 | Harbor House Domestic Violence Center
The Harbor House Complete Wellness Project aims to create a safe and accessible healthcare environment for women and children affected by domestic and sexual abuse. Funding will support wellness checks and preventive care, allowing a Nurse or Nurse Practitioner to provide compassionate medical attention to clients. Many clients arrive without insurance and have not seen a physician in years, so this program is essential for ensuring they receive the immediate and quality care they deserve. By fostering a supportive atmosphere, they can empower clients on their journey to recovery and help them regain their health and confidence.
Public Safety Classes & Training Room Accessibility
$7,500 | City of Crane
The City of Crane is committed to enhancing community safety and wellness through the provision of Public Safety Classes for city staff, local educators, and community members. Funding from this grant will support mandatory training sessions in AED, CPR, Naloxone (Narcan), and other essential public safety topics for city employees and volunteer firefighters. Additionally, this grant will improve the Fire Department Training Room by enhancing accessibility with audio-visual equipment and public restrooms. This upgraded space will not only accommodate the Missouri Highway Patrol’s monthly driving test program but also serve as a vital community resource for various events, meetings, and training sessions.
Dad Prep University
$7,500 | Options Pregnancy Clinic
Dad Prep University is an empowering, evidence-based program designed for fathers facing unexpected pregnancies. This initiative encourages dads to actively participate in their partners’ pregnancy journeys, starting with free and confidential pregnancy testing and ultrasounds. Through engaging eight-week evening sessions, dads are guided by seasoned volunteer dad coaches who help them explore their developmental history, learn the five characteristics of a 24/7 Dad®, and acquire essential skills such as collaboration with their partners and effective child discipline. This program, which aims to foster nurturing skills in fathers, specifically targets men aged 19 to 24 residing in Taney County with partners who are pregnant or have children under one year old. The funding from this grant will support curriculum costs, class facilitation, and program incentives.
Motel Closure Emergency Response Team
$7,500 | Generation Next Inc DBA House of Hope
The Emergency Response Team addresses the urgent needs of individuals displaced by motel closures in Branson, MO, due to unsafe living conditions. Many vulnerable residents rely on extended stays as their primary housing; when these establishments are shut down for health and safety violations, they often have little time to relocate. The response team assesses the situation promptly, working to provide essential resources and support for those affected. One of the significant challenges noted during previous closures is the lack of financial resources for tenants, who may be on fixed incomes or working for their room and board. This grant will enable the team to assist with relocation efforts, prioritizing the safety and stability of families while helping them maintain a healthy lifestyle amid the disruption.
Cents of Pride Store
$7,500 | Boys & Girls Club of the Ozarks
The Cents of Pride program at Boys & Girls Club of the Ozarks provides a reward system to encourage positive behavior and empower youth. Members earn Club Bucks through good choices and attendance, which they can spend in a store filled with essentials like clothing, hygiene products, and snacks. This initiative fosters independence and financial literacy while addressing the needs of the members. With this grant, the Club can enhance the program, ensuring that students have access to necessary items and promoting a sense of dignity and self-worth.
Buchanan Intermediate Pirate Store
$7,500 | Branson Public Schools
The Buchanan Intermediate Pirate Store empowers students to learn essential life skills such as earning, saving, and taking responsibility for their belongings. This initiative targets high-need populations, allowing students to purchase necessary items like school supplies, hygiene products, food, and clothing using points earned through good attendance, hard work, and positive behavior. The store fosters a sense of pride in students as they learn to value and take care of their possessions, breaking the cycle of dependency on handouts. By transforming their mindset and promoting financial literacy, the Pirate Store enhances students’ overall well-being and academic success, creating a supportive environment for nearly 500 learners at Buchanan Intermediate.
Pathways Project Social Media and Sex Trafficking Awareness Education
$7,500 | Pathways Project Coalition of the Ozarks
The Pathways Project Coalition of the Ozarks aims to combat human trafficking through education and awareness. This initiative will inform students, parents, teachers, and the community about the dangers of social media and the grooming processes employed by predators. The project also focuses on training law enforcement, healthcare workers, and frontline staff in identifying victims and providing trauma-informed care. With this grant, the Coalition will enhance its educational outreach, equipping families and professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to protect vulnerable individuals and address the exploitation of children.
Lifelike Learning for Real Life Scenarios
$7,395 | Central Taney County Fire Protection District
This grant will provide realistic training equipment, including manikins and thermal imaging suits, for fire and medical training. The program addresses the need for improved training scenarios that simulate real-life emergencies, enhancing the skills of firefighters and emergency medical responders. By utilizing lifelike manikins and equipment, the training will enable first responders to develop muscle memory for quick and effective patient care, ultimately leading to better preparedness and improved patient outcomes during emergencies.
Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Medical Equipment
$7,286.22 | City of Kimberling City Police Department
This grant will fund the acquisition of new Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for the Kimberling City Police Department, enhancing emergency medical response capabilities in a community that experiences significant seasonal population increases. The department is committed to comprehensive training for all officers, ensuring proficiency in using the AEDs to respond promptly to sudden cardiac arrest situations. This investment aims to significantly improve community safety and well-being by providing timely access to life-saving equipment.
Updating Nurses Office
$6,800 | Hurley R-1 School
This grant will fund updates to the nurses’ office, enhancing the space with new storage equipment, a refrigerator for medication and drinks, a medication cart, new scales and more. These improvements will create a more comfortable environment for students and staff.
Cents of Pride Store – Forsyth Schools
$6,000 | Gift of Hope, Inc.
Gift of Hope is expanding its Cents of Pride program at Forsyth Schools, designed for students in grades 5-12, to address essential needs and support students who may feel hesitant to seek help. This ongoing program provides a reward system that encourages students to engage and shop for items like hygiene products, school supplies, and snacks without feeling singled out. By creating a fun and inclusive shopping experience, the program fosters a sense of pride, accountability, and community among students while alleviating some financial burdens on their families. The Cents of Pride Store aims to ensure that all students have access to the necessities for their health and well-being, continuously adapting to meet the evolving needs of the student population.
PBIS Wolves Den Store
$5,000 | Reeds Spring School District
The PBIS Wolves Den School Store provides essential items such as hygiene products, school supplies, and spirit wear to students in need. With over half of the student population relying on free or reduced lunch, the store addresses basic needs that support both health and academic success. It also motivates students to earn points for positive behavior, fostering a sense of pride and ownership. By meeting these critical needs, the Wolves Den enhances students’ well-being and encourages their academic achievement.
Cents of Pride Store – Hollister Middle School
$5,000 | Gift of Hope, Inc.
Gift of Hope is implementing the Cents of Pride program at Hollister Middle School, aimed at supporting students in grades 6-8 by addressing essential needs that extend beyond basic nutrition. Through a reward system, all students can participate, ensuring no one feels singled out when “purchasing” necessary items such as hygiene products, school supplies, and sports equipment. This program aims to create a supportive environment that promotes self-sufficiency, accountability, and community spirit among students while alleviating some financial burdens on parents.
Cents of Pride Store
$4,250 | Galena R-II Schools
The Cents of Pride Store at Galena-Abesville Elementary empowers students in grades K-6 to earn Bear Pride Bucks through positive behavior, attendance, and timely submission of work. These bucks can be exchanged for essential items like clothing, toiletries, and food, fostering personal responsibility and economic lessons. Many students come to school in worn or dirty clothes; this initiative provides them with the opportunity to obtain necessities while also promoting self-efficacy and self-esteem. The Cents of Pride Store encourages a sense of belonging and helps meet students’ basic needs, allowing them to thrive both academically and personally.
Helping Hands
$3,000 | Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation (OACAC)
The OACAC Helping Hands project aims to support healthy lifestyles for income-eligible individuals and households in Stone County, Missouri. This initiative focuses on meeting the needs of low-income residents by providing assistance for healthcare items not covered by private insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare, as well as facilitating necessary small household repairs. By alleviating unexpected expenses, the Helping Hands project improves the overall health and mental well-being of the community, fostering financial stability and security for those in need.
Cents of Pride Store – Kirbyville Middle School
$2,500 | Gift of Hope, Inc.
This grant supports the Cents of Pride program at Kirbyville Middle School, serving students in grades 4 through 8. The program aims to meet essential needs, such as food, hygiene products, and school supplies, while fostering a sense of pride and accountability among students. By providing a reward-based system, the program encourages participation without singling out individuals, addressing the stigma around receiving assistance. Students can “purchase” items based on their individual needs, promoting budgeting and selflessness as some choose to gift items to peers in need. The Cents of Pride store alleviates some financial burdens on families and enhances students’ well-being, contributing to improved academic performance and overall school engagement.
Classroom Trauma Kits and CPR Equipment
$1,931.70 | Bradleyville R-I School District
To enhance safety and preparedness in classrooms, this project aims to equip each classroom with a trauma kit, including bleeding control supplies, to respond effectively to emergencies. Additionally, funding will support the integration of CPR training into health classes by providing a CPR training kit, allowing students to learn and practice on a manikin with feedback. This initiative addresses the critical need for emergency preparedness in schools and promotes essential life-saving skills among students.
DENTAL CARE
Supporting critical oral health services to underserved populations
Dental Care Connection
$7,500 | Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation (OACAC)
The Dental Care Connection project by Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation (OACAC) is designed to meet the oral health needs of uninsured and underinsured residents in Stone and Taney counties, focusing on individuals at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty guidelines while also providing access to all residents with unmet dental needs. This initiative offers up to $750 of assistance per household for essential preventive care, including exams and cleanings, as well as restorative services like fillings and crowns. By prioritizing oral health, this project aims to enhance overall well-being, promote self-esteem, and ensure that residents can maintain their health and quality of life.
Help Pay for Stainless Steel Crowns to Keep Teeth
$4,128 | Children’s Smile Center
Children’s Smile Center provides stainless steel crowns to its patient population, including over 1,200 children from Stone and Taney counties. This grant will cover the annual cost of $4,128, allowing the center to maintain children’s teeth rather than resorting to extractions. By utilizing stainless steel crowns, the center helps children preserve their smiles, promoting not just optimal oral health but also greater physical and emotional well-being. This initiative fosters confidence and encourages healthier habits, ensuring that children in our community grow up with bright, healthy smiles.
HEALTHY LIFESTYLES
Encouraging wellness through active living and nutrition
Wolf Pack Park
$25,000 | Reeds Spring School District
Reeds Spring School District is creating Wolf Pack Park to unite families and provide an inclusive space for community gatherings and recreational activities. The park will feature an Unlimited Play 21-piece ADA-accessible playground, six tennis courts, four pickleball courts, a half basketball court, hiking and biking trails, an 18-hole disc golf course, and a multi-purpose pavilion area. This park aims to foster community spirit and encourage active lifestyles through various public recreational opportunities. Wolf Pack Park will be a hub for families and individuals of all abilities, promoting health and happiness for everyone in Stone County and beyond.
Beyond Balance: Whole-Person Fitness
$7,500 | MU Extension
The University of Missouri Extension, in partnership with Fordland Clinic, is launching “Beyond Balance: Whole-Person Fitness” to improve access to comprehensive wellness for underserved middle-aged and older adults in Stone and Taney counties. This initiative will offer evidence-based educational programs, including Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention, Wits Workout, and Stay Strong, Stay Healthy, focusing on enhancing spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, and social health. By empowering individuals to address all aspects of their well-being, this collaborative effort aims to foster a healthier community, improve quality of life, and reduce the prevalence of chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and depression among residents, particularly older adults.
BridgeFit Scholarships for Seniors and Students
$7,500 | White River Community Development
The BridgeFit Scholarship program offers low-income students and seniors in Rockaway Beach, Merriam Woods, Venice on the Lake, and Bull Creek the opportunity to improve their fitness through access to a full range of exercise equipment. Scholarship recipients will receive a membership card with full access to BridgeFit and an orientation to the fitness center. Targeting middle and high school students as well as seniors over 60, this program aims to address the lack of fitness opportunities in these groups. For students, regular exercise can prevent health issues such as obesity and diabetes, while for seniors, maintaining mobility can reduce the risk of falls and isolation, enhancing their ability to remain connected with family and the community.
Sunny Side – Part 6
$7,500 | Branson Hollister Senior Center
Established in 1987, Branson Hollister Senior Center promotes the health and well-being of seniors through activities like Zumba, Tai Chi, chair exercises, and senior yoga, along with recreational clubs, a foot clinic, and homebound meal deliveries. The grant will help sustain these programs and introduce new initiatives in 2025, including “Yoga for Vitality” and an 8-week balance class series to target fall prevention, further enhancing the health and independence of local seniors.
Youth Sports Scholarship Program
$6,000 Branson Parks and Recreation
The Branson Parks and Recreation Department Scholarship Fund was created to encourage and allow access to youth sports and activities to those who otherwise may not have the financial means to participate. To be eligible for a scholarship, the participant must qualify for free or reduced school lunches. Scholarships are accessible to anyone who qualifies, allowing Branson Parks and Recreation to serve the residents of Taney and Stone counties.
Building Stronger Learners through Personal Hygiene and Life Skills
$4,000 | Thrive Academy
Thrive Academy, an alternative school serving kindergarten through 6th grade in Stone and Taney counties, is dedicated to addressing the hygiene and life skills needs of its high-needs students. Many students face significant challenges, often arriving at school with dirty clothes and inadequate hygiene. This program aims to enhance the life skills curriculum by teaching good hygiene practices and providing students with the opportunity to do their laundry during school hours. The funding will be used to purchase a washer and dryer, as well as necessary hygiene products. By ensuring students can practice personal care at school, this initiative will promote their overall well-being, boost self-esteem, and foster a more positive school environment, ultimately helping them thrive both academically and socially.
Community Garden Initiative
$3,219 | Christian Action Ministries
The Community Garden Initiative aims to enhance food security and improve the health and wellness of residents in Taney and Stone Counties, where nearly 100% of clients served experience low income and limited access to nutritious foods. This initiative will establish a sustainable garden, providing clients with direct access to fresh, nutrient-dense produce. The project will expand the garden with additional raised beds, implement composting bins to enrich soil quality, and offer educational programs to boost nutrition literacy and self-sufficiency. By empowering approximately 6,000 individuals and families each month, the initiative will foster healthier lifestyles and promote long-lasting community well-being.
Lending Love through Learning
$2,000 | Tri-Lakes Special Education Cooperative
The Lending Love through Learning project aims to support Early Childhood Special Education students and their families by promoting healthy living and wellness. The initiative will provide healthy snacks, head lice treatments, clothing, personal care items, and implement a “pantry” to send healthy food and wellness items home with students. Many families served are experiencing significant financial hardships, and addressing their essential needs will foster a safe and supportive learning environment. With 95% of the approximately 120-150 students coming from low-income families, this project is vital in positively impacting their well-being, focus, and overall success in school and beyond.
MENTAL HEALTH
Expanding support through counseling and mental wellness treatments
Hope Counseling Center
$349,168 | Hope Counseling Center
The Hope Counseling Center focuses on providing accessible and affordable mental health care to the residents of Stone and Taney counties. The center offers a wide range of services, including individual counseling, family therapy, and group therapy sessions. Their licensed therapists, along with supervised graduate students, are trained to address issues such as trauma, anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders. By working on a sliding fee scale, the center ensures that cost is not a barrier to receiving quality care. Additionally, Hope Counseling Center collaborates with local schools, justice systems, and community organizations to offer comprehensive mental health support to underserved populations, while providing graduate students with valuable clinical experience.
Overall Mental Health Network Initiative (OMNI) for CMCB 2
$98,717.22 | Cox Medical Center Branson
This funding will support the continuation of the Overall Mental Health Network Initiative (OMNI) for Cox Medical Center Branson employees in Stone and Taney counties. Led by Behavioral Health Consultant Bryan Mason, the initiative provides free mental health services such as assessments, therapy, crisis counseling, and referrals to psychiatric services. The program serves approximately 110 employees monthly, helping to address healthcare worker burnout through Psychological First Aid (PFA), peer support, and collaborations like Wellness for Warriors (W4W) workshops and campaigns.
Veterans of the Ozarks Suicide Prevention Program
$7,500 | Veterans of the Ozarks
The Veterans of the Ozarks Suicide Prevention Program aims to combat suicide, particularly among Veterans in Stone and Taney counties. This initiative focuses on raising community awareness through in-person training in suicide intervention techniques, such as Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR). Additionally, the program will identify Veterans exhibiting suicidal behaviors and connect them with necessary mental health resources. By enhancing public awareness and training community members, the program seeks to empower individuals to recognize and respond to signs of mental anguish, ultimately leading to prompt interventions and prevention of suicide.
Elevate Health-Counseling Program
$4,079.94 | Elevate Branson
This funding will enhance Elevate Branson’s affordable mental health counseling services for the working poor in Stone and Taney counties. By providing a sliding scale fee structure and pursuing Medicaid billing, Elevate aims to address long waiting lists at other providers, offering quality care to individuals with high Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) scores. Led by Community Counselor Bre Watson-Hill, the program focuses on trauma, domestic violence, and substance abuse through individual and group therapy. By reducing barriers to mental health support, Elevate Branson enables those in crisis to receive immediate assistance and ongoing counseling, ultimately improving their overall well-being.
Harmony Haven Wellness Center at Legacy Academy Branson
$3,500 | Legacy Academy Inc.
This funding will establish a student wellness center at Legacy Academy in Branson, aimed at enhancing the physical, mental, and emotional health of students. The center will provide exercise equipment and activities to improve physical health, along with a calming environment designed to foster mental well-being. Key features include sensory items for relaxation, a calming station for mindfulness, an art station for creative self-expression, and an engagement area with books and games to promote social interaction. Research shows that wellness rooms in schools can help students regulate emotions and stress, leading to improved attentiveness and academic success, making this initiative crucial for student development.
SUBSTANCE USE
Fostering prevention and recovery programs for substance-related challenges
Simmering Center Respite Care
$170,000 | Simmering Center, Inc.
The Simmering Center Respite Care program offers crisis stabilization housing and wraparound services for individuals who are unhoused, experiencing substance use relapse, awaiting treatment, or seeking to establish recovery goals. Participants can receive care for up to 29 days, which includes food, safe housing, peer support, mental health care, and group education to prevent overdose and other negative outcomes. The program emphasizes peer-led support and recovery pathways, aiming to help individuals connect with resources and develop a safer, more stable environment. Special attention is given to Veterans facing substance use challenges.
Stone & Taney Counties Substance Use Initiative & Tobacco Cessation Program (2-Year Grant)
$169,541.10 | Cox Medical Center Branson
The Substance Use Initiative & Tobacco Cessation Program (SUI & TCP) aims to reduce and prevent substance use and its negative consequences in Stone and Taney counties. This program focuses on enhancing the local continuum of care through collaboration with community coalitions and partners. Key activities include data tracking to inform evidence-based interventions, monitoring overdose incidents, and educating the community to build capacity in addressing behavioral health issues. SUI & TCP staff serve as resources and advocates, providing leadership and technical assistance to increase the effectiveness of prevention and intervention efforts. By fostering trusted relationships and a strong network, the program aims to expand opportunities and resources for addressing substance use challenges in the region.
Marijuana Brief Intervention
$42,846 | The Brook Wellness Center
The Marijuana Brief Intervention Program at The Brook Wellness Center will provide evidence-based treatments and education to adolescents in grades 6-12 and their families in Stone and Taney counties. The program aims to reduce risky marijuana use and enhance resilience against addiction through workshops for school faculty, community stakeholders, and families. Led by a licensed substance use disorder counselor, it will offer culturally relevant prevention and intervention services, ensuring support for those who may not afford it, and address the critical issue of adolescent drug use.
