BILL NUMBER: DATE: HB 11 2/24/2025 COMMITTEE: Budget TESTIFYING: IN SUPPORT OF IN OPPOSITION TO FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES
WITNESS NAME INDIVIDUAL: WITNESS NAME: PHONE NUMBER: BARBIE TODD BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION NAME: TITLE:
ADDRESS:
CITY: STATE: ZIP:
EMAIL: ATTENDANCE: SUBMIT DATE: peanuttodd96@gmail.com Written 2/23/2025 9:57 PM THE INFORMATION ON THIS FORM IS PUBLIC RECORD UNDER CHAPTER 610, RSMo. February 24, 2025Chairman Dirk DeatonChair, House Budget Committee201 W. Capitol Ave., Rm 309Jefferson City, MO 65101Dear Chairman Deaton,As the lead Missouri volunteer for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACSCAN), I would like to submit the following testimony in support of continued funding for theShow-Me Healthy Women Program, the State’s tobacco prevention and cessation programs,and access to care through the health insurance that the MO Healthnet Program provides.The Show-Me Healthy Women Program provides breast and cervical cancer screenings andfollow-up services for low-income, uninsured and underinsured women. Deaths from breast andcervical cancer occur more frequently among women who are uninsured or underinsured andmany of those deaths could be avoided by increasing screening rates through the Show-MeHealthy Women Program.Tobacco use claims the lives of 11,000 Missourians each year and costs Missouri over $3.52 billion inannual health care costs. Funding for comprehensive tobacco prevention and cessation programs helppeople who smoke quit and ultimately save lives and money.Access to comprehensive health insurance coverage through funding of the MO HealthnetProgram helps reduce mortality rates for individuals diagnosed with breast, lung and colorectalcancer and will lead to earlier detection of the disease.Early detection programs like Show-Me Healthy Women have proven to save lives and keepwomen across the state in better physical shape. Tobacco prevention and cessation programshave proven to help reduce the burden of tobacco use in our state. MO Healthnet promotesearlier cancer detection, fewer deaths, and improved outcomes for patients.Funding for these programs not only helps keep our citizens in better physical shape but it helpskeep the state in better financial shape by catching cancers at an early, more treatable stageand keeping people from becoming addicted to the deadly effects of tobacco use.I urge the members of this committee to appropriate the necessary funding for these important,lifesaving programs.If you have any questions or need additional information about ACS CAN, don’t hesitate tocontact our ACS CAN Government Relations Director, Emily Kalmer, at emily.kalmer@cancer.org.Thank you,Barbie ToddMissouri State Lead AmbassadorAmerican Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) MISSOURI HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WITNESS APPEARANCE FORM
BILL NUMBER: DATE: HB 11 2/24/2025 COMMITTEE: Budget TESTIFYING: IN SUPPORT OF IN OPPOSITION TO FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES
WITNESS NAME BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION: WITNESS NAME: PHONE NUMBER: CHERI D. TILLIS 314-333-4170 BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION NAME: TITLE: FATHERS & FAMILIES SUPPORT CENTER CEO ADDRESS: 1601 OLIVE CITY: STATE: ZIP: ST. LOUIS MO 63103 EMAIL: ATTENDANCE: SUBMIT DATE: ctillis@fatherssupport.org Written 2/24/2025 1:41 PM THE INFORMATION ON THIS FORM IS PUBLIC RECORD UNDER CHAPTER 610, RSMo. The Fathers & Families Support Center is in agreement with HB 11l. The agency has for the last 27 years provided support to Father and parents to assist them with understanding FFSC is a nonprofit social agency that empowers fathers and mothers to become responsible parents through educational and employment programs and supportiveservices. In 2024 the agency served 357 participants into its Family Formation Program. Of which 83% reported improved parent child relationships. Of the 203 that were unemployed 151 were placed in employment. The agency has a ROI of $14 million and over the past 5 years its participants have made over $5 million in child support payments. MISSOURI HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WITNESS APPEARANCE FORM
BILL NUMBER: DATE: HB 11 2/24/2025 COMMITTEE: Budget TESTIFYING: IN SUPPORT OF IN OPPOSITION TO FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES
WITNESS NAME BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION: WITNESS NAME: PHONE NUMBER: DEBRA H COTTEN 314-570-1373 BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION NAME: TITLE: ALIVE VP OF PHILANTHROPY, ALIVE ADDRESS: 523 COULTER AVE CITY: STATE: ZIP: ST. LOUIS MO 63122 EMAIL: ATTENDANCE: SUBMIT DATE: debra.cotten@alivestl.org Written 2/24/2025 9:59 PM THE INFORMATION ON THIS FORM IS PUBLIC RECORD UNDER CHAPTER 610, RSMo. Thank you for learning more about this life-changing budget request. Funding would support Missouri domestic violence (DV) survivors and their children with ALIVE programs through these and related services:• Providing safe shelter at ALIVE Nights of Safety (NOS) partner motels as soon as victims need to leave their abusers, rather than remaining in a dangerous situation while waiting for space to open at a traditional shelter.• Transporting DV victims, many of whom have little or no access to transportation, to safe shelter and other resources.• Providing specialized counseling to DV survivors, supporting their safety, healing, and health as they navigate the immediate threats and ongoing impacts of their abusive relationship.Despite ALIVE’s longstanding commitment to restoring safety and peace to DV survivors and their children, recent funding cuts and growing needs for ALIVE services have resulted in unmet needs for survivors. Over the past three years, clients could not be served due to inadequate funding.• 209 DV victims seeking safe NOS shelter for themselves and their children had to be turned away, which is extremely concerning since ALIVE serves as the safety net when traditional DV shelters are full. Although our crisis line advocates helped these victims with safety planning, their safety was potentially at risk.• Limitations had to be applied to emergency transportation, stranding victims seeking safety and support. Because ALIVE is the area’s go-to resource for providing transportation to DV victims, many victims could not access the help they needed.• 360 victims seeking ALIVE’s specialized therapy could not be served at the time they requested counseling. Their safety or well-being may have been compromised as a result.HB 11.330 ALIVE, Inc. VOCA - $800K would fund client transportation, Nights of Safety shelter, food, and supplies as well as ALIVE’s crisis line, specialized staff advocates facilitating direct client services, and technology supporting client services.HB 11.325 ALIVE, Inc. Core-DV - $150K would fund essential support services and staff.Your support will ensure ALIVE’s lifechanging services are available to ALL DV survivors, empowering them to build safe and hopeful futuures.WHO are we and who do we serve? ALIVE’s mission is to provide counseling, emergency sanctuary and other critical services to adults and children impacted by domestic abuse, as well as to increase awareness in order to create a supportive community. Founded in 1983, ALIVE offers a full array of lifesaving programs for domestic violence (DV) victims in urban and rural Missouri communities. WHAT do we do?Programs provided by ALIVE’s two offices – in St. Louis and Franklin Counties – along with applicable service statistics for the past three fiscal years, include:· Nights of Safety (NOS) offers emergency shelter at confidentially located motels when traditional DV shelters are full or cannot meet victim needs, serving 2,965 clients with 13,410 bed nights.· Our 24-hour Crisis line provides support, safety planning, information, access to ALIVE programs, and referrals. ALIVE advocates answered 52,850 crisis line calls, including 23,057 crisis calls from victims seeking immediate safety and 25,590 case management calls from current clients.· Adult counseling helps victims create a safe plan to disengage from the perpetrator and then heal from the effects of DV, including decreasing trauma symptoms. Specialized, trauma-informed therapists provided 13,074 hours of individual counseling to 1,379 adult victims.· ALIVE’s Children's Treatment Program helped 344 children who witnessed DV and their nonabusive parents with 2,317 hours of counseling supporting healing and relationship skills.· Emergency transportation connected 2,315 victims to locations supporting safety and stability.· Court advocacy for 764 victims, including 1,031 hours of support during ex parte and Order of Protection hearings.· Support groups for 145 victims who attended 240 sessions focused on topics like coping and life skills, DV education, and navigating the legal system, led by advocates to enhance peer support.WHERE do we serve DV victims?ALIVE’s primary service area of St. Louis City and the Missouri counties of St. Louis, Franklin, Jefferson, and St. Charles.WHEN do we help DV survivors?We’re available 24 hours a day. ALIVE’s flexibility and record of positive outcomes have positioned the agency as a safety net, filling service gaps for DV victims in our community. Our commitment to empowering DV victims regardless of age, race, ability, gender, financial means, and other factors fuels successful client outcomes.WHY is this funding important to Missourians?The CDC identifies domestic violence as a public health epidemic. One in four women experiences severe physical violence, sexual violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner, resulting in impacts such as injury, PTSD, other serious outcomes, or even death. Data at showmecrime.gov indicates police officers respond to over 10K DV incidents in ALVE’s service area annually. The true impact is much greater: not reflected are calls undisclosed as DV and unreported assaults, estimated at 40%HOW do we know our services are effective?Client surveys are completed during or upon completion of ALIVE services. Over the past three years§ 90% of victims indicated that they gained strategies for enhancing their safety and/or their children’s safety.§ 89% of victims reported acquiring more knowledge about community resources. § 85% of victims improved their ability to cope with the aftermath of abuse,Clients like Diane say it best."After three years in a very abusive relationship, a dear friend referred me to ALIVE. Soon after, I had enough and escaped my abuser. I left with nothing. I found low-income housing near Festus, but slept on the floor and had no food. A call to ALIVE changed everything. They made sure I had food, transportation and furniture, and even connected me with a local court advocate.Today I have everything I need in my life. I started ALIVE’s counseling and see my therapist weekly and we address PTSD from the past abuse. I don’t know where I'd be today without ALIVE’s help. At age 57, I have a new, happy life. Thank you, ALIVE!"Diane, ALIVE ClientWe urge you to support this bill, empowering DV victims with shelter, healing, and hope! Thank you!ALIVE MISSOURI HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WITNESS APPEARANCE FORM
BILL NUMBER: DATE: HB 11 2/24/2025 COMMITTEE: Budget TESTIFYING: IN SUPPORT OF IN OPPOSITION TO FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES
WITNESS NAME INDIVIDUAL: WITNESS NAME: PHONE NUMBER: KATHERINE HEMBREE BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION NAME: TITLE:
ADDRESS:
CITY: STATE: ZIP:
EMAIL: ATTENDANCE: SUBMIT DATE: kate.hembree13@gmail.com Written 2/24/2025 6:47 PM THE INFORMATION ON THIS FORM IS PUBLIC RECORD UNDER CHAPTER 610, RSMo. As a former client and now lifelong supporter of ALIVE, I would first like to thank you for your time and consideration of funding allocated to ALIVE for the amazing work they do in our community. As someone who found myself in need of ALIVE and their services, I can testify firsthand to how much good this organization does. By the time I was introduced to ALIVE, I had been through a lot of trauma. No one on their team had a hand in any of the damage I’d been through, but every single member of their team had a hand in repairing it. I’m not sure the gratitude I have for them could be fully understood without walking in my shoes, but they truly helped me get my life back. ALIVE isn’t just about being there in the moment, they work to empower domestic violence survivors to move their life forward. They truly make a lasting impact on those they work with.The team at ALIVE works hard to raise funds and make an impact, I see it first hand, but your help is needed. Too many people have experienced domestic violence, too many people need the services of organizations like ALIVE. But you can help. We can’t stop domestic violence, but we can make a difference in the lives of those who experience it in our community. I believe your consideration of funding for ALIVE and other organizations like it is crucial. Domestic violence impacts more people than most realize, and can be hidden well. If you or someone you know haven’t personally been affected by it, think about your daughter, your niece, your sister, think about how you would want to do anything you could to protect them from a domestic violence situation. That is what ALIVE did for me. And so many others. They are making a tremendous impact in the lives of survivors and their services are vital to our community.Thank you all for the work you do for Missouri and for your time. I, along with many others, have been impacted by the funding given to ALIVE and I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to speak in support of this tremendous organization. MISSOURI HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WITNESS APPEARANCE FORM
BILL NUMBER: DATE: HB 11 2/24/2025 COMMITTEE: Budget TESTIFYING: IN SUPPORT OF IN OPPOSITION TO FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES
WITNESS NAME REGISTERED LOBBYIST: WITNESS NAME: PHONE NUMBER: MARY CHANT 573-303-6765 REPRESENTING: TITLE: MO COALITION FOR CHILDREN ADDRESS: 213 E. CAPITOL AVE. STE. 101 CITY: STATE: ZIP: JEFFERSON CITY MO 65101 EMAIL: ATTENDANCE: SUBMIT DATE: 2/24/2025 12:00 AM THE INFORMATION ON THIS FORM IS PUBLIC RECORD UNDER CHAPTER 610, RSMo. MISSOURI HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WITNESS APPEARANCE FORM
BILL NUMBER: DATE: HB 11 2/24/2025 COMMITTEE: Budget TESTIFYING: IN SUPPORT OF IN OPPOSITION TO FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES
WITNESS NAME BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION: WITNESS NAME: PHONE NUMBER: OPAL M. JONES 314-328-2701 BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION NAME: TITLE: DOORWAYS PRESIDENT & CEO ADDRESS: 1101 N. JEFFERSON AVE. CITY: STATE: ZIP: SAINT LOUIS MO 63106 EMAIL: ATTENDANCE: SUBMIT DATE: ojones@doorwayshousing.org Written 2/24/2025 9:16 PM THE INFORMATION ON THIS FORM IS PUBLIC RECORD UNDER CHAPTER 610, RSMo. Distinguished Members of the House of Representatives Budget Committee,Please allow me to introduce myself as the President and CEO of DOORWAYS. We are an interfaith nonprofit organization dedicated to providing housing and healthcare services to our most vulnerable citizens – those battling HIV, homelessness, mental illness and more, due to a lifetime of marginalization and limited opportunities. DOORWAYS serves 62 counties in Missouri, bringing critical services to areas where there is unmet need for those low-income and living with HIV. Those services include housing, whether it be one of our apartment buildings, or rental and utility subsidies for people to remain in their own accommodations, in their own neighborhoods. One of our housing programs, Cooper House, is a 36-bed assisted living facility serving the sickest people living with AIDS in our region, accepting clients from across the state, who would otherwise be destitute or deteriorating alone without the program. We also provide empowerment services that stabilize people and help them reach higher levels of independence. This includes behavioral health therapies to address mental illn