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Annie Foncannon

Annie began working in the mental health field as a paraprofessional at Crider Center in 2000. Shortly after she became a part of the Marketing and Development team working on a grass-roots effort to create a Children’s Services Fund for St. Charles County. She was named the Social Marketing Liaison for the St. Charles County SAMSHA cooperative agreement to create a System of Care in that community. She went on to be the campaign manager for Lincoln and then Franklin County’s efforts to create Childrens Services Funds. All three counties successfully passed. During that time she worked on strengthening the System of Care in these communities earning her many recognitions including a gold and silver award in the national Excellence in Communications and Community Outreach for her work in System of Care Social Marketing. Due to her experience, she served as faculty/presenter at several national System of Care academies and meetings. In June of 2009 Annie was hired by the Franklin County Community Resource Board (FCCRB) to be the Executive Director of the Franklin County Putting Kids First Children’s Services Fund. In this capacity she serves as a member of the Franklin County System of Care. During her career she has served in statewide capacities to strengthen the System of Care in Missouri. In addition, she has been a contract consultant to the first St. Louis System of Care federal grant and the System of Care Grant that worked in Joplin, Jefferson City, and Springfield known as the SOC-CESS. Annie continues to believe in the power of System of Care to strengthen children, families, and communities.
 

Presentation(s): 

System of Care in Missouri

 

By

Cla Stearns, PhD

Dr. Stearns is Children’s Services Director for the Missouri Department of Mental Health (DMH) and a partner with Kinmundy Consultant Group. He is a Licensed Psychologist and holds Doctorate and Masters degrees from the University of Missouri. His over 30 years of professional experience includes: providing private practice psychological services for individuals, families, schools and governmental agencies; psychological and neuropsychological assessment, utilization review in managed Medicaid; and vocational assessment and rehabilitation. He has more than 13 years experience with the Department of Mental Health (DMH) in a variety of roles, beginning as the state director for assessment, eligibility and utilization review for DMHs Division of Developmental Disabilities, promotion to Assistant Division Director, and further promotion to his current position. He lives with his wife in Prairie Home, MO.
 

Presentation(s): 

System of Care in Missouri

 

By

JJ Gossrau, MSW, LCSW

JJ Gossrau, MSW, LCSW, is the Director of the Early Psychosis Care (EPC) Center and the Director of Young Adult Services at the Department of Mental Health. Her responsibilities include supervision and development of the EPC Center and connecting with key stakeholders including state government offices, private and nonprofit community service agencies, universities, and community behavioral health provider agencies. She is passionate about outreaching, educating, and supporting young people, transforming psychosis care, and ensuring timely access to effective early intervention services. More recently, JJ has worked to expand System of Care (SOC) across Missouri. JJ strongly believes in SOC and the positive impact of involving families and youth with lived experience in decisions about care, treatment, and support. JJ received her Master of Social Work from the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University. In her free time, she enjoys walking her dogs Jessie and Fredy and spending time with her husband and 2 boys.
 

Presentation(s): 

System of Care in Missouri

 

By

Rachel Cramsey, MSW, LCSW

Rachel Cramsey is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in Saint Louis, Missouri. Rachel’s career began as an inpatient social worker at Barnes Jewish Hospital. In 2015, Rachel started working with women and families impacted by the criminal justice system. Rachel transitioned into the role of Executive Director at that nonprofit before returning to BJC in 2019. From 2019-2025, Rachel provided therapy to perinatal and post-partum parents and later to students ages pre-K-8th grade. Since September 2025, Rachel has worked as Clinical Community Health Supervisor and now supports therapists on both the embedded and virtual behavioral health teams for St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Outside of work, Rachel enjoys running, spending time with loved ones, traveling, and listening to records.

Presentation(s): 

Through Community Collaboration, St. Louis Children’s Hospital Takes Behavioral Health Beyond Hospital Walls

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Nia Estes, MEd

Nia Estes, M.Ed.: Nia Estes is the Healthy Youth Coordinator for the Adolescent and School Health Program (ASHP) at the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MODHSS). Nia is transitioning from higher education to focus on the well-being of younger audiences. Nia collaborates with Missouri School Districts, local public health agencies, and partner organizations statewide, fostering well-being among youth and adolescents

Presentation(s): 

“Said No Teen Ever”—Beginning the Hard Conversations with Youth

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System of Care in Missouri

Room: Paradise A

Speaker(s): 

JJ Gossrau, LCSW

Cla Stearns, PhD

Annie Foncannon

Presentation: System of Care (SOC) is a comprehensive spectrum of effective services and supports for children, youth, and young adults with or at risk for mental health or other challenges and their families that is organized into a coordinated network of care. SOC Teams include a diverse array of community providers and partners, including family members and youth. All SOC Teams across Missouri work towards achieving the SOC core values and guiding principles. This presentation will provide an in-depth look at SOC, describe Missouri’s expansion efforts, identify key resources, and provide examples of why SOC is necessary. This presntation is interactive and will give audience members an opportunity to ask questions, have dialog with presenters, and other audience members. As a result, audience members will have a better understanding of how they can get involved and why they would want to connect with their local SOC team.

Objectives:

  • Discuss rates of mental health challenges for children are increasing
  • Review SOC core values and guiding principles
  • Describe why and how to get involved in local SOC team efforts

Slides and Handouts:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Missouri’s Youth Behavioral Health Liaisons

Room: Paradise A

Speaker(s): 

Amber Stockreef, MEd, DHS

Presentation:

General overview of the Youth Behavioral Health Liaisons and how they impact Missouri’s system for supporting youth and families in the community.

Objectives:

  • Define a Youth Behavioral Health Liaison
  • Identify how to locate a Youth Behavioral Health Liaison
  • Describe the multiple systems and supports a Youth Behavioral Health Liaison provides

Slides and Handouts:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Through Community Collaboration, St. Louis Children’s Hospital Takes Behavioral Health Beyond Hospital Walls

Room: Paradise A

Speaker(s): 

Rachel Cramsey, MSW, LCSW

Presentation: According to the State of Mental Health in America report, youth mental health saw progress between 2023 and 2024. There is, however, an overarching need for providers to increase access to mental health treatment, especially where barriers to treatment are more prevalent. Many youth experiencing depression and other mental health concerns lack access to therapy due to obstacles including, but not limited to, stigma, transportation, finances, and childcare. St. Louis Children’s Hospital (SLCH), a Level 1 Trauma Center for Illinois and Missouri, serves children from all 50 states and over 80 countries. Since 2018, SLCH has worked in partnership with various school districts in the St. Louis area to provide on-site mental health services within the school setting. Starting in 2020, a school-based virtual behavioral health program through St. Louis Children’s Hospital began to also increase mental health access to students and reduce barriers to treatment. This program, known as Healthy Kids, links licensed or provisionally licensed therapists to the school setting.

The partnership SLCH has established with school districts allows therapy providers to become a familiar piece of the school community, meet children where they are, and work with them in a safe environment on various mental health topics. This is done through many forms of funding including the St. Louis Children’s Foundation and a bridge payment program with partner schools. Whether the therapist is embedded or virtual, students have access to free, quality mental health support. Through this partnership, Healthy Kids at St. Louis Children’s Hospital takes mental health care outside the hospital walls and into the community where it’s most needed.

Objectives:

  • Identify and secure funders as key partners for financial sustainability
  • Identify barriers to child mental health services in Missouri
  • Utilize school partnerships to eliminate barriers to child mental health

Slides and Handouts:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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“Said No Teen Ever”—Beginning the Hard Conversations with Youth

Room: Paradise A

Speaker(s): 

Nia Estes, MEd

Presentation: Do you have a teen in your life who sees you as a trusted adult? Do you have a niece or nephew you’re concerned about but aren’t sure how to broach a conversation with them? This session is designed for anyone working directly with teens or who has teens in their lives whom they offer support to. Join us to learn how to start conversations that may be difficult to have with young people (relationships, substance use, mental health, etc.). The session is designed to give insight into youths to allow for deep and meaningful conversations.

Objectives:

  • Discuss how to create a safe and supportive environment where difficult conversations can occur
  • Review active listening and communication skills needed for successful and meaningful conversations
  • Describe ways to guide teens towards sensible and responsible decisions

Slides and Handouts:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

Amber Stockreef, MEd, DHS

Dr. Amber Stockreef has over 15 years of experience in mental health, starting with at-risk youth while earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology. She worked as a direct support professional and later as a Community Support Specialist at mental health centers in Central Missouri. Amber joined the Department of Mental Health, focusing on positive behavior support while obtaining her masters in Applied Behavior Analysis. She earned a Doctorate in Human Services and serves as a Licensed Behavior Analyst, helping youth and families with dual challenges. Amber has significantly contributed to the development of the Behavioral Health Intellectual/Developmental Disability (BHIDD) and advocates for supportive programs for affected individuals.

Presentation(s):

Missouri’s Youth Behavioral Health Liaisons

Integrated Support: Serving the Whole Person