JEFFERSON CITY — Community leaders from Cole, Osage, and Callaway counties marked a significant step in regional public health collaboration last week during the kickoff meeting of the new Tri-County Prevention Coalition. The meeting drew approximately 50 attendees representing schools, public health agencies, law enforcement, higher education, and youth-serving organizations. Organizers said the strong turnout reflected both concern about rising behavioral health challenges and a shared commitment to coordinated, long-term prevention.

The coalition grew out of recent community health assessments across the three counties, which continue to identify youth substance use, suicide risks, and unmet mental health needs as urgent, widespread issues. While these concerns are not new, participants emphasized that local efforts have often operated in isolation, making it difficult to effectively address complex, overlapping problems. The new coalition is designed to bring those efforts together, offering a shared space for data review, resource alignment, and collaborative planning.

Public health representatives from all three counties discussed the shift in their work over the past decade. Traditional public health responsibilities, such as communicable disease control and environmental health, have expanded to include behavioral health, suicide prevention, and community resilience. Several noted that rising suicide rates, frequent mental-health-related EMS calls, and increases in youth vaping and prescription drug misuse have forced local systems to respond in new ways.

Law enforcement leaders echoed those concerns, describing the emotional toll that suicide and mental health crises take on officers, families, and rural communities. They highlighted the importance of community-wide prevention strategies that strengthen protective factors long before a crisis reaches first responders.

Representatives from higher education added that college-aged youth mirror many of the same struggles seen in K-12 settings, including depression, anxiety, substance use, and social isolation. While campuses offer counseling and support services, they said students’ challenges do not disappear when they leave school property, underscoring the need for a broader, community-based safety net.

The coalition will be supported by Compass Health Network, which will provide technical assistance, data analysis, and educational resources. Compass staff emphasized that their role is not to direct community decisions, but to assist local members as they identify priorities, develop strategies, and pursue potential funding. The coalition’s structure is fully community-driven, allowing each county to shape its work based on local needs and resources.

During the meeting, participants reviewed recent data showing that all three counties exceed state and national averages in suicide rates and several categories of youth substance use. Speakers acknowledged the likelihood of underreporting, especially in suicide-related data, which can complicate prevention planning. Results from the Missouri Student Survey were also presented, showing that youth in the tri-county region report higher-than-average use of alcohol, tobacco, e-cigarettes, and prescription drugs. Marijuana use was reported slightly below the state average, though accessibility and perceived low risk remain concerns across all substances.

Students also reported high levels of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, including serious consideration, planning, and attempts. At the same time, many students indicated they have at least one trusted adult and feel hopeful about their future, suggesting resiliency is present but unevenly distributed. Coalition organizers said strengthening those protective factors — connection, trust, and supportive environments — will be central to their long-term prevention approach.

A briefing on prevention science outlined the strong connection between early substance use and later addiction, noting that youth who begin using substances before age 18 face significantly higher lifetime risk. Presenters also stressed the intertwined nature of mental health and substance use, which often reinforce one another and elevate the risk of depression and suicide. Prevention was framed as “upstream work,” addressing root causes well before harmful behaviors take hold.

The coalition will follow the Strategic Prevention Framework, a nationally recognized model that guides community coalitions through assessment, capacity building, planning, implementation, and evaluation. Participants were introduced to seven evidence-based strategies for community change, which range from education and skill-building to environmental approaches such as policy development and enforcement. Cultural competence and sustainability were emphasized as expectations throughout the work.

County-level table discussions formed the core of the kickoff meeting. Participants reviewed local data, identified community strengths and gaps, and discussed both risk and protective factors influencing youth and families. These worksheets will guide each county’s priority setting in future meetings, where members will vote on the substances or issues they believe require the most immediate or coordinated attention.

Several key questions emerged during discussions, including how survey categories for suicidal thoughts and behaviors are defined, how to address underreporting, and how best to balance immediate needs with long-term prevention outcomes. Organizers said these questions would be revisited as the coalition refines its goals and examines additional data sources.

By the end of the meeting, the coalition was formally launched and attendees agreed on a data-driven, community-led approach moving forward. Organizers are planning a follow-up email that will include the meeting summary, next-step instructions, and a scheduling poll. Proposed dates for the next meeting are Jan. 8, 28, or 29 in Jefferson City at a Compass Health location.

Before the next meeting, county teams will finish their discussion worksheets, review available data, and identify potential issues for prioritization. Members were encouraged to share information about the coalition within their organizations to broaden awareness and participation. Compass Health will continue providing technical assistance and supporting resource development as the coalition expands.

The coalition’s leaders said the strong turnout and active engagement at the kickoff demonstrate the communities’ readiness to work together. With rising behavioral health concerns affecting families across the tri-county region, they expressed optimism that the coalition’s collaborative structure will help build a more resilient and better-connected system of support.