1. COVID_Resources
    #CompassionIsContagiousToo
    We will continue to update our website's COVID-19 Resources section as we become aware of information that we believe might assist you and/or your organization. When we complete updates will post links on social media, so please follow us on Facebook and Twitter. 

    » COVID-19 Resources

    » FREE Testing: The Jackson County Health Department wil be conducting 11 COVID-19 testing clinics at locations throughout the county September 21-25.

    » Resource Maps

    COMBAT-Funded_Agencies_Banner
    » Violence Prevention Programs
    Bullying  • Child Abuse • Counseling • Diversion Programs • Domestic Violence • Job Training  • Legal Services • Parenting • Re-entry • School Attendance • Sexual Assault  • STRIVIN' • Victim Support  • Youth-Oriented

    » Substance Abuse Prevention Programs

    » Substance Use Disorder Treatment Programs
    Drug Counseling • Intensive Outpatient • Partial Hospitalization • Recovery Houses • Residential Inpatient

    » Law Enforcement School-Based Programs
Community Backed Anti-Drug Anti-Crime Anti-Violence Tax
  1. Creating A New Normal

    ‘We Are Truly In This Together’
    Violence and COVID-19 have combined to create “one public health crisis on top of another.” From this adversity, COMBAT Director Vince Ortega is hopeful a new—and better—“normal” emerges. As summer ends and fall begins, he urges law enforcement agencies to hear the calls for social justice and reform, and stresses everyone—social workers, educators, concerned citizens—must work together to address the underlying issues sparking violence and drug abuse. We are truly in this together, so every neighborhood can become a safe place to call home. 
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  1. Rediscover Urgent Care

    New Behavioral Health Clinic Opens In Raytown
    “With our virtual care, we are here when you need us.” ReDiscover has opened a new urgent care clinic in Raytown to provide services for behavioral health emergencies. The clinic is located in Raytown and open seven days a week. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the clinical’s initial services are being provided virtually. ReDiscover has been providing mental health and substance use disorder services in Jackson County for a half century. 
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  1. Domestic Violence

    Domestic Violence Was Already An Epidemic Before COVID-19

    Domestic violence increases whenever families spend more time together—whether they’re spending more time together during the holiday season or due to a pandemic. With COVID-19 forcing many families into isolation, surges in intimate partner abuse were probably inevitable. They’ve been reported all across the nation and around the world, promptly the United Nations to declare domestic violence a global crisis. Locally, agencies that operate shelters and provide other services for abuse victims have experienced a significant increase in crisis hotline calls. They’ve also reported “not only seeing more abuse, but injuries being inflicted that are more severe. The level of violence… has only gotten worse with the pandemic.” 
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  1. Child Abuse

    'More Egregious' Abuse


    Child Abuse & COVID-19—Two Public Heatlh Crises
    Reports to Missouri’s child abuse hotline dropped more than 50% in March. That was an ominous sign. With children in isolation after schools closed due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, teachers and other mandatory reporters could no longer watch over them and look for signs of abuse—signs, if spotted, they’d be required to report. If anything, the decrease in hotline calls sent off alarm bells. And in June the Child Protection Center experienced a surged in calls for its staff to interview victims—to acquire the statements the police needed to make arrests. CPC began seeing cases of abuse “much more egregious” than before the pandemic.
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  1. CALENDAR
  1. FUNDING DISTRIBUTION

COMBAT Funding Pie Chart

Half Toward Enforcement

COMBAT is supported through a quarter-center sales tax that Jackson County voters first approved in 1989 and have since renewed multiple times—the last time being in 2016 when they voted (with record 77% support) extending the COMBAT text another nine years. 

The tax generates more than $20 million a year to support prevention, treatment and anti-violence programs. The County Legislature approved a forumlar to distribute the funding, with half the revenue going toward law enforcement efforts.

A quarter-cent sales tax equates to an extra 25 cents per $100 spend. An estimated 30% of COMBAT revenue is generated by non-Jackson County resident paying the tax when shopping in the county.
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  1. #STRIVINTogether

STRIVING Together To Reduce Violence In Neighborhoods

Initiative Focuses On Need For Joint Effort To Reduce Violence In Neighborhoods

This COMBAT initiative brings together school administrators, police officers, elected officials, mental health professionals, social workers, faith-based leaders and concerned citizens to address violence in Jackson County’s most vulnerable neighborhoods. 

With a focus on developing a collaborative, comprehensive and coordinated plan in each “hot spot,” STRIVIN’ recognizes that no one individual or single agency can “save a neighborhood.” It takes working together—striving together—to make any neighborhood a safe place to call home.
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