2022 Vulnerability Assessment Stakeholder Meetings – Newly Added Dates

Date: July 20, 2022

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has been granted Overdose Data to Action funding to update the Missouri Opioid Overdose and Bloodborne Infection Vulnerability Assessments. These assessments were last published in 2020 and identified counties at highest risk for 1) opioid overdoses and 2) bloodborne infections (i.e., HIV, hepatitis C, hepatitis B) associated with nonsterile drug injection. The overall purpose of the assessments is to raise awareness of areas more impacted by these health conditions and allow stakeholders to use the findings to better target services that will reduce risk of overdoses and risk of bloodborne infection spread through nonsterile drug injection.

In order to gain community-level feedback on the 2022 update and gather suggestions for possible future updates, DHSS is holding stakeholder meetings in each of Missouri’s six HIV Care Regions. DHSS is partnering with the Disaster and Community Crisis Center at the University of Missouri to facilitate the meetings.

Due to the need to gather very specific feedback on the assessments (rather than comments on the opioid epidemic in general) in a relatively short amount of time and due to the need for social distancing, a limited number of stakeholders will be accepted to each meeting. Registration is required and will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. Lunch will be provided at the meetings. DHSS will take additional steps to gather feedback from a broader audience in the future.

For more information on the overall Overdose Data to Action funding, view the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Overdose Data to Action.

The 2020 Missouri Opioid Overdose and Bloodborne Infection Vulnerability Assessments and related materials are available on the Department of Health and Senior Services web page.

Use the links below to register for currently scheduled meetings.

St. Louis, MO (St. Louis County Library – Thornhill Branch) – Tuesday August 9, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm Registration Link

Cape Girardeau, MO (Cape Girardeau Public Library) – Wednesday August 10, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm Registration Link

Springfield, MO – Date to be determined

Columbia, MO – Date to be determined