Missouri Behavioral Health Providers Aligned on Care
Experts gathered in St. Louis to coordinate services for addiction, domestic violence, and sexual assault support.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Substance Abuse
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The Missouri Behavioral Health Council Conference brought providers together to discuss improvements in substance use and trauma-informed care for the state. Leaders like Lafayette House CEO Susan Hickam joined the three-day event to streamline collaboration across social services.
Why it matters
The conference focused on the intersection of substance use disorders with domestic and sexual violence, aiming to enhance how providers across Missouri support vulnerable residents. By sharing experiences, organizations hope to improve service matching and community-wide coordination.
Professional providers participated in a three-day, state-level summit designed to align collaborative support strategies. While participants engaged in shared learning, the specific outcomes of new service-matching protocols remain under ongoing investigation.
The players
Lafayette House
A Joplin-based organization providing integrated services for individuals dealing with addiction, domestic violence, and sexual violence.
Missouri Behavioral Health Council
An organization that hosts forums for providers to coordinate behavioral health and social service efforts across the state.
Susan Hickam
The CEO of Lafayette House who represented the organization at the 2026 Missouri Behavioral Health Council Conference.
The details
Lafayette House showcased the SAFE framework, a client-centered model designed to ensure care is delivered with sensitivity to trauma. The framework emphasizes secure privacy, asking for permission before proceeding with care, following individual priorities, and engaging coordinated support systems to address complex needs.
Timeline
September 16-18, 2026
Health Landscape
This development reflects a shift toward trauma-informed care protocols within state-wide behavioral health networks. It follows the pattern of institutional efforts to integrate addiction treatment with support for domestic and sexual violence survivors.
If you or a loved one are navigating substance use alongside trauma, inquire if your provider uses client-centered frameworks like SAFE to guide care. You can reach the Lafayette House 24-hour hotline for immediate support at 1-800-416-1772.
The takeaway
Effective behavioral health care often requires providers to integrate services for substance use, domestic violence, and sexual trauma. Residents seeking help are encouraged to ask potential providers about their use of standardized, client-centered care frameworks.
Further reading
Learn more about local support services and treatment coordination by visiting the Substance Abuse section.
More information
For more details on available programs, visit the Lafayette House services information website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Newstalk KZRG.
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