Team

Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.

Our team of evaluators and field coordinators collaborates to educate the community on reducing access to lethal means.

Share our values

We aim to equip Missourians with knowledge and skills to prevent suicide in their community.

Make an impact

Field coordinators interact directly with our populations of focus to spread our mission.

Learn and grow

The evaluation team reviews outcomes to explore lessons to be learned.

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Get to know our team members.

Katie Ellison

Project Director

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Katie Ellison

Project Director

Katie is the project director for the Safer Homes Collaborative, overseeing program development and implementation. She focuses on lethal means reduction strategies, such as reducing easy access to firearms in the home as a means of preventing firearm suicide through her work for the Missouri Institute of Mental Health at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She also serves as the project director for the Bootheel Firearm Suicide Prevention Project and a lethal means safety consultant and training developer to the Missouri Child Psychiatry Access Project for Schools and the Missouri Governor's Challenge for Suicide Prevention for Service Members, Veterans and their Families. She is a certified instructor in Conversations for Suicide Safer Homes, QPR, and VitalCog: Suicide Prevention in the Workplace.

Phone:314-516-8400
Email:katie.ellison@mimh.edu

Bill Mays

Field Coordinator

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Bill Mays

Field Coordinator

Bill provides outreach in the St. Louis Metro area for Veterans’ organizations and First Responders. He is a certified instructor for Conversations for Suicide Safer Homes and QPR, and has been trained in Mental health and Addictions, Psychological First aid, Disaster Distress, and Crisis Intervention. Bill is also a certified firearms instructor.

Kurt Dudenhoeffer

Field Coordinator

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Kurt Dudenhoeffer

Field Coordinator

Kurt provides outreach in the Central and Northeast regions of Missouri for veterans’ organizations, employers, first responders, and faith-based organizations. He is a certified instructor for Conversations for Suicide Safer Homes. He enjoys being a youth mentor for spring turkey and fall deer hunting seasons and is longtime member of The United Sportsmen Club in Jefferson City, and member of the NRA.

Ron Orr

Field Coordinator

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Ron Orr

Field Coordinator

Ron provides outreach in the Southern Central region of Missouri for veterans’ organizations, employers, first responders, and faith-based organizations. He is a certified instructor for Conversations for Suicide Safer Homes. Ron is also an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church and has served as a board member for several food banks providing weekend food for youth.

Email:ron.orr@saferhomescollaborative.org

Julie Matthews

Evaluation Project Director

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Julie Matthews

Evaluation Project Director

Julie is the project director of the evaluation for the Safer Homes Collaborative. She oversees the coordination and implementation of the evaluation activities, including data collection and analysis, survey distribution, interviews and focus groups, and dissemination of reports. Julie also serves as the evaluation project director for the Bootheel Firearm Suicide Prevention Project.

Phone:314-516-8443
Email:julie.matthews@mimh.edu

Liz Sale, PhD

Principal Investigator

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Liz Sale, PhD

Principal Investigator

Liz is the lead evaluator for the Safer Homes Collaborative. She designs and oversees all evaluation components and provides advanced statistical analysis and reporting for the program. Liz serves as the Director of Evaluation for the Missouri Institute of Mental Health at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and is also the lead evaluator for the Bootheel Firearm Suicide Prevention Project, 988 Marketing Campaign, and Zero Suicide Prevention Initiative. She is a member of the Missouri Governor's Challenge for Suicide Prevention for Service Members, Veterans and their Families, the Missouri Suicide Prevention Network and the St. Louis Regional Suicide Prevention Coalition.

Phone:314-516-8400
Email:liz.sale@mimh.edu

Hannah Schleicher

Project Support Coordinator

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Hannah Schleicher

Project Support Coordinator

Hannah provides support to the program and evaluation for the Safer Homes Collaborative. She oversees the development of the firearm safe storage map, resource and material distribution, and communication with instructors Conversations for Suicide Safer Homes. Hannah also serves on the Bootheel Firearm Suicide Prevention Project, the Evaluation of 988 Marketing Campaign and is a member of the St. Louis Regional Suicide Prevention Coalition.

Phone:314-516-8400
Email:hannah.schleicher@mimh.edu

Reba Rice

Program Manager

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Reba Rice

Program Manager

Reba is a program manager for the Safer Homes Collaborative, focusing on faith-based organizations in Missouri's St. Louis Metro region. She represents the Safer Homes Collaborative on the Missouri Governor's Challenge initiative to engage faith leaders in the prevention of Veteran Suicide. Reba is a licensed counselor with a background in corrections and behavioral health, has experience training employees in evidence-based best practices, and is a certified instructor in Conversations for Suicide Safer Homes and QPR.

Phone:314-516-8400
Email:reba.rice@mimh.edu

Shanna Sorg

Program Manager

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Shanna Sorg

Program Manager

Shanna is a program manager for the Safer Homes Collaborative. She focuses on establishing partnerships with key stakeholders throughout Missouri, specifically with MU Extension, to develop the shared goal of creating a healthier community. She is a certified trainer in Conversations for Suicide Safer Homes and VitalCog: Suicide Prevention in the Workplace. Shanna has dedicated her career to community outreach and implementing evidence-based health and substance use prevention programs. She also volunteers her time, serving on the Board of Directors for a non-profit organization in her community that provides long-term substance use recovery services.

Phone:314-516-8443
Email:Shannon.Sorg@mimh.edu

Suzanne McCudden

Data Manager

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Suzanne McCudden

Data Manager

Suzanne is the data manager for the Safer Home Collaborative. She ensures the data quality is maintained, prepares data sets for analysis, and disseminates reports. Suzanne also serves on SPIRIT and the Zero Suicide Prevention Coalition.

Phone:314-516-8419
Email:Suzanne.McCudden@mimh.edu

Kelly Gregory

Project Support

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Kelly Gregory

Project Support

Kelly provides the coordination, dissemination, and sustainability of the Conversations for Suicide Safer Homes trainings, including registration, website, media production, speaker contracts and marketing. He serves as the Director of Professional Training for the Missouri Institute of Mental Health at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Phone:314-516-8422
Email:Kelly.Gregory@mimh.edu

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