Bio

Beckie is the Director for the DMH Office of Disaster Services. Beckie is also a contracted national trainer with SAMHSA for the FEMA Crisis Counseling Program (CCP) and has trained crisis counselors all around the country (states and territories) in response to natural disasters and public health emergencies. Beckie is also a national trainer for the FEMA CCP Train the Trainers training. Beckie provides trainings for DMH consumers, staff and providers, voluntary organizations, hospitals, community businesses, and first responders at local, state and national conferences and in agency settings on behavioral analysis, trauma-informed care, self-care/team-care, personal preparedness, mental health first aid, psychological first aid, continuity of operations, skills for psychological recovery, disaster fatigue, and the importance of behavioral health in emergency planning. She is also a part of a cadre of FEMA trainers for Continuity of Operations and one of three trainers in FEMA Region VII. Beckie was part of the team that created and stood up the first ever Behavioral Health Strike Team for the State of Missouri. Through Beckie’s work, she trains individuals, agencies and communities about signs and symptoms of stress and trauma; when, how and where to get assistance; recovery and resiliency; and what to watch for after traumatic events. Beckie has done media interviews on these topics and was a key-partner in developing the MO Well-being Playbook for healthcare. Some of Beckie’s work can be found online in a course called Trauma-Informed Care for Helping Professionals. Beckie has worked with the MO Department of Mental Health (DMH) for 18 years and has worked for the State of Missouri for 23. Beckie has a Master’s of Science from the University of Central Missouri.

Beckie’s biggest takeaway from Missouri Leadership Academy is the capstone project development, networking and teamwork were the most rewarding aspects.