• Facebook
  • Twitter
Missouri Works Initiative: Workforce development and career opportunities
Missouri Works Initiative
  • Home
  • Your Journey
    • Start your career
    • Develop your career
    • Laid Off Help
  • Industries
    • Construction Trades
    • Manufacturing
  • Workforce Programs
    • Apprenticeship Ready Program in Construction
    • Apprenticeship Ready Program in Manufacturing
    • Worker Wellness
    • Safety Training
    • Dislocated Worker Program – Rapid Response Services
  • About
    • Mission
    • Team Members
    • Board Members
  • News
    • Success Stories
    • In the News
    • Worker Wellness News
    • Partner Spotlight
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Menu Menu

Archive for category: Worker Wellness News

Work life balance
Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights March 17th

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of Mar 17, 2025

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at how drugs like Xanax are posing problems (i.e., anxiety, memory loss, physical pain) for patients seeking to quit the use of benzos—to how proposed cuts to SAMHSA (the govt agency that oversees efforts addressing drug addiction and mental illness) may negatively impact recent progress—to how Gen Z is seriously considering the skilled trades over the traditional “college for all” pathway. This week I would like to take this opportunity to continue my acknowledgement of women who have touched my life.

 

As most of us reflect on our years in the K-12 school system, we can likely point to a few teachers who positively impacted our lives. To me, those years provided the foundation for lifelong learning. As I think back, it was more often than not, women in higher education and the workplace who inspired me to think differently. Those women include Dr Celia Edmundson, Dr Deborah Henry, and Sr Antona Ebo.

 

To this end, just yesterday I was invited to participate in an event at St. Joseph’s Academy High School in St. Louis County. It was called “Witness History: The Sisters Who Marched on Selma.” The event consisted of watching the documentary movie (linked below), a panel discussion with 3 of the nuns who were in Selma (+ the film’s director), and a brief Q&A session. Two of these sisters actually marched (1 Black and 1 White). The third was a (White) nurse in the hospital who treated many of protesters/victims who were beaten by State Police near the site of the Edmond Pettus Bridge. Interestingly enough, the hospital where the nun who served as a nurse, was the only hospital in Selma willing to accept Negro patients. As sad and disturbing as it was to see/hear firsthand accounts about this dark era of US history, I was so VERY proud to see my dear friend, Sr Antona Ebo, front and center in this crucial turning point alongside other Civil Rights leaders like US Rep John Lewis and Ambassador Andrew Young.

 

As we enter further into a time of uncertainty and renewed bigotry, I cannot help but to think about words of wisdom from historical figures. Below is merely a sampling that come to mind:

 

J Lewis: “Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”

 

A Lincoln: “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”

 

Napoleon: “Never interfere with an enemy while he’s in the process of destroying himself.”

 

E Burke: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

 

Source: https://stlouiscatholicarchivescollective.com/sisters-on-the-silver-screen/

 

Construction Industry: Safety Attitudes

 

MH & Skilled Trades

 

MH struggles in the Workplace

 

Benzos: The Dark Side

 

Update on Fentanyl: Winning Battles but not the War

 

How Purdue Pharma Re-harms its Victims

 

Big Pharma & MH

 

AI’s impact on MH

 

Body Image & MH

 

Mindfulness & OUD Treatment

 

COVID & Grief

 

Deep Distress & Moral Injury

 

MH Professionals & Disasters

 

Fed Cuts to SAMHSA

 

Focus: Goals v Time

 

Words: Chaos v Joy

 

Placebos & Pain

 

Aging @ Different Speeds

 

Palliative Psychiatry & Assisted Suicide

 

Benefits of Walking

 

The “Falsie” Journey

 

Cooking Oils & Your Health

 

B Sanders / PRO Act / NLRA

 

Fast Track to Labor Contracts?

 

New US Secretary of Labor Confirmed (1)

 

New US Secretary of Labor Confirmed (2)

 

Homebuilders / Tariffs / Pricing Pains

 

Update: US-DOT on Equity & Environment

 

Italy’s Labor Stance on Musk

 

BRC / Trump / Supreme Court

 

Dealing w/ anti-DEI

 

Eliminating Watchdogs = Foxes Guarding the Henhouse

 

DOGE: More Mistakes & Less Transparency

 

Will Musk Target Social Security?

 

Paid Family Leave v Career Setback

 

COVID’s impact on Construction

 

Adv Mfg Workers wanted in STL

 

DC Politicians sit back & watch “local” cuts

 

MO Politicians seek to reverse Prop A

 

IL Politicians battle Fentanyl

 

NY Construction Deaths Rise

 

Failing Economy + Lack of Housing = Trumpvilles

 

Domestic Workers: Saudi’s Mistreatment of African Women

 

Gen Z: College v Trades

 

 

Upcoming webinars, etc.:

988: Engaging Communities (3/27)

 

Financial (Employee) Wellness (4/2)

 

Narcan (Naloxone) Training (4/22)

 

The NEW Drug Talk

 

Sisters of Selma

 

Work Should Not Hurt

 

FREE Diapers

 

FREE Food

 

NOTE: The links provided above are for informational purposes only. None of these serve as a substitute for medical advice one should obtain from his/her own primary care physician and/or mental health professional. Please contact jgaal@moworks.org with related questions or comments.

March 17, 2025/by Dr. John Gaal
https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/iStock-697895326.jpg 779 1345 Dr. John Gaal https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/missouri-works-initiative-logo-new-1-300x222.png Dr. John Gaal2025-03-17 15:11:062025-03-17 15:11:06Wellness & Well-being Highlights March 17th
Work life balance
Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights March 10th

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of Mar 10, 2025

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at why those who curse more may have a higher tolerance to pain—to why women tend to live longer than men—to how DOGE’s cuts may negatively affect Vets and retirees. This week I would like to take this opportunity to discuss the importance of women in the workplace.

 

March is the time of year we “officially” celebrate the contributions women have made to society. In the US, there are more women than men…and yet the “rules of the game” are seemingly still very male-oriented. Truth be told this is concerning to me as I have “4” daughters as well as a VERY understanding wife. However, equally important is the fact that I have worked and still work with some VERY talented women (to name a few: Dr Ann Marie Dale, Patte Ackermann, Diana Wilhold, Senator Gina Walsh, Dr Pamela Hatton….). While I have included several articles in this week’s blog honoring women in the workforce for their passion and compassion, the one that I wish to focus on is linked below. Why? Because this author’s research suggests reasons why girls (some of which should be our future leaders) avoid STEM (science, math, engineering, and math) careers.

 

While this author acknowledges that sexism plays a part in attracting and retaining women in the fields of engineering and computer science, he goes on to say this is NOT the major problem. In fact, he posits that if this claim of discrimination were true then why do stats in lesser developed countries (Read: More repressive) reveal just the opposite vs more developed countries (Read: Less repressive). Thus, in general, “Women with strong quantitative skills in poor countries have good reason to enter the sciences to make a living. Women in relatively rich countries can afford to pursue less lucrative careers without risking a life of poverty.” As such, in the US, we graduate more men PhDs in the STEM fields while we graduate more women PhDs in the social and life sciences fields. This author boils the choices down to the attractiveness of these fields to those genders. Simply put, in general, men are less social and like to tinker with objects while women are more social and seek connectiveness.

 

Therefore, the WSJ author proclaims it should be no surprise that women tend to migrate towards fields that emphasize caring and communication…like nursing and teaching. Sadly, society has devalued those (AKA women’s work) professions. It is high time that market forces correct the pay in these “caring” professions. As noted, with AI threatening jobs with less human interaction maybe the correction is in the not too distant future for those working in spaces that require the human touch!

 

Source: https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/workplace/why-are-girls-less-likely-to-become-scientists-93307cd3?st=t7Akf6&reflink=article_gmail_share

 

 

Nurses in the Trenches

 

Need to know: Measles

 

More on Autism & Vax

 

Celiac & Your Brain

 

Swearing & Pain Tolerance

 

Black Ballon Day / Fentanyl / Chicago

 

More on China & Fentanyl

 

No booze…Cali-Sober

 

Global Youth’s Mental Crisis

 

Vets / Firearms / Suicide

 

Coronado Bridge & Suicide Netting

 

Improving EAPs & MH

 

Know your Therapist

 

Women / Workplace / Burnout

 

Women / Pay / Flexibility

 

Reducing Anxiety

 

Phone Setting & Anxiety

 

Longevity: Women v Men

 

France: Mass CHILD Sex Abuse Trial

 

China & Spousal Abuse

 

Food / Additives / Sickness

 

DST: What if we did not change clocks

 

DST & Sleep

 

Do Guardian Caps prevent Concussions?

 

Sport Concussions’ New Roadmap

 

Reflecting on Selma & Bloody Sunday

 

Judge / Trump / NLRB Firing (1)

 

Judge / Trump / NLRB Firing (2)

 

Reflection: 1985 Miner’s Strike

 

Is SWA losing its LUV?

 

AFT & Tesla

 

More on NY’s CO strike

 

NLRB & US Steel Industry

 

DHS & Union-busting

 

Trump’s tariffs & Construction

 

Trump’s tariffs / Fentanyl / Untrue Claims

 

DOGE: Deceit & Chaos

 

DOGE’s impact on VA & Pentagon

 

Musk / Vets /Psychological Warfare

 

Musk’s Anti-HR Playbook

 

Tax Cuts & Social Security’s future

 

Fed Judges & Bullying

 

Mexico / Guns / US Supreme Court (1)

 

Mexico / Guns / US Supreme Court (2)

 

Women / Careers / Growth Opportunities

 

Construction / Supporting Parents / Leave Policy

 

Nurses & Hostile Workplaces

 

US Dept of Ed & Disabled Students

 

Shop Class Revival

 

STL needs Immigrants

 

STEM: Girls v Boys

 

 

Upcoming webinars, etc.:

Construction Chart Book (3/20)

 

Updates: Construction & MH (3/25)

 

Construction & Resilience Training (3/21)

 

Free Resilience Training (4/17)

 

Tool Kit: Spiritual Practices

 

NOTE: The links provided above are for informational purposes only. None of these serve as a substitute for medical advice one should obtain from his/her own primary care physician and/or mental health professional. Please contact jgaal@moworks.org with related questions or comments.

March 10, 2025/by Dr. John Gaal
https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/iStock-697895326.jpg 779 1345 Dr. John Gaal https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/missouri-works-initiative-logo-new-1-300x222.png Dr. John Gaal2025-03-10 15:31:242025-03-10 15:31:24Wellness & Well-being Highlights March 10th
Work life balance
Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights March 3rd

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of March 3, 2025

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at how long waits, misinformation, access to the internet along with the chaos caused by the insurance industry have changed the doctor-patient relationship—to a couple of effective, yet short, “No Gym” workouts—to a great story exposing how religious institutions have left many retirees with seriously underfunded retirement accounts…no thanks to a legal provision that excludes these organizations from ERISA. This week I would like to take this opportunity to discuss the need to address the proverbial “elephant” in the room…and that is the notion of when you tell a lie long enough…it becomes the truth.

 

Having taken a number of ethics courses while in a variety of grad school programs, this aforementioned saying often became the focus of discussion. And, since my doctoral major was organizational leadership, building trust was another oft-mentioned topic…as well as issues like transparency, clear communications, modeling, etc. This brings me to the NYT articled mentioned below.1 Herein, this author shares a number of these “alternative facts” currently being professed by very influential people in Washington, DC. People who are in positions to sway vast swaths of public opinion…in the name of “aggressively reshaping” the US and, some suggest, the world. The problem is that these same people rarely cite specifics and, if and when, they do…those “facts” have been seriously distorted. Food for thought: There is a reason why when one testifies in a US court s/he must swear to tell the WHOLE truth.

 

Which leads me to the 2nd related article from the WP which cites Musk as saying something along the lines that DOGE has made mistakes but when we do, we immediately fix them.2 Sadly, when one takes a chainsaw to a project vs a scalpel, in the name of swift efficiency…because that is what Americans voted for, damages done are rarely “immediately” fixable. Case in point, cutting USAID workers and contractors without fully understanding their roles—here and abroad—in the efforts to fight Ebola in Africa. Once funds are frozen and/or contracts canceled, those impacted workers need to move on with their lives. Trying to restore what once was is not a simple matter of merely hitting the reset button on one’s PlayStation.

 

As a history buff, I enjoy studying the US Civil War, wherein, our military losses totaled, as follows:

* ~600k deaths

* ~500k wounded

* ~400k missing

Going forward, I, for one, pray that clearer heads begin to prevail because the lives impacted by carelessly scaling back global public initiatives today will dwarf those just cited.

 

Sources: [1] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/23/us/politics/trump-alternative-reality.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

[2] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/02/26/elon-musk-ebola-prevention-usaid-doge/

 

 

Have we lost TRUST in doctors?

 

Wall Street / Drug Misuse / Insider Trading

 

Fed Workers’ Mental Health

 

College Campus Crisis: MH

 

Schools / MH / Chatbots

 

Employers: MH’s Root Cause?

 

ACEs & Brain Development

 

Measles / Unvax Child’s Death / TX

 

What is HYGGE

 

Sleep Procrastination

 

Stress & Your Body

 

Aging: Bounce & Balance

 

Aging & Strong Bones

 

No Gym: 7-minute Low-impact Workout

 

No Gym: Getting Fit Fast

 

Tea: Health Benefits

 

Does “Red Light” therapy work?

 

Happy Hour Habits & Cancer

 

“Aging” pill for Dogs?

 

Update: Dockworkers’ vote

 

When Distorted Reality Drives Change

 

Update: Secty of Labor Nominee

 

NLRB: Still lacks a quorum

 

Options to Organizing?

 

Fed Unions fight back

 

DOGE: Crossing Ethical Lines

 

DOGE’s waste: Techies not using Tech?

 

Ebola: Musk is Misleading

 

CFPB under Fire

 

DOJ’s Purge

 

SSA’s Future?

 

AGC / Congress / Environmental Permits

 

Trump / OSHA / Heat Standard

 

Next (Cut) Target: 401(k)s?

 

STL City approves PW bill

 

Does RTO push cover Commuting Costs?

 

ERISA: How Churches are Failing Workers

 

Appealing a denied insurance claim

 

AI / Robots / REAL Jobs

 

AI / Homebuilding

 

AI & “Hallucinations”

 

Addiction Recovery “Farm”

 

Point Shaving: Byproduct of Sports Gambling

 

Skills vs Degrees

 

GW Carver: Tribute to a True Hero

 

Upcoming webinars, etc.:

Situational Awareness (3/12)

 

Suicide Prevention: QPR & Ag (3/20)

 

Cancer Prevention & Ag (4/10)

 

Substance & Suicide

 

Snowball: Alcohol Movie (short)

 

Africa / Faith / Suicide Prevention

 

CEEP: Campus Emotional Emergency Program

 

Team Resilience: Leading thru Change toolkit

NOTE: The links provided above are for informational purposes only. None of these serve as a substitute for medical advice one should obtain from his/her own primary care physician and/or mental health professional. Please contact jgaal@moworks.org with related questions or comments.

March 3, 2025/by Dr. John Gaal
https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/iStock-697895326.jpg 779 1345 Dr. John Gaal https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/missouri-works-initiative-logo-new-1-300x222.png Dr. John Gaal2025-03-03 17:16:282025-03-05 15:25:15Wellness & Well-being Highlights March 3rd
Work life balance
Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights February 24th

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of Feb 24, 2025

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at why Mexican drug cartels are now labeled as Terrorist organizations—to how cuts in Washington DC are hurting Vets and farmers—to how drones are being used to deliver medical “supplies” in emergency situations. This week I would like to take this opportunity to discuss the need to address Mental Health in our schools.

 

The 1st article that caught my eye this week involves a counseling program for students in the University of Missouri’s veterinary program.1 The author of the aforementioned article indicates that several veterinarian and medical school programs have experimented with embedding counseling services in their doctoral programs but not much data exist to suggest that doing this—known as an intervention—has a positive impact. Enter MU researchers…who designed a study that looked at over 400 vet students from 2016-24. Their findings suggest that “veterinary trainees who took advantage of embedded counseling services reported improvements in psychological distress…” (e.g., depression, anxiety, academic distress, eating concerns and substance use). In addition, they noted that “embedded counseling programs may enable veterinary students to manage their personal and academic challenges” (i.e., financial stress, chronic health issues and traumatic experiences).

 

Which leads me to the 2nd article that examines the need for ~100k Mental Health professionals in our nation’s K-12 schools…possibly a result of the COVID pandemic.2 When it comes to counselors, psychologists, social workers, and therapists, one expert interviewed posits “while demand is going up, supply is going down.” This author notes that one principal had an opening for a school psychologist posted for 1 year without a response. This led him to becoming creative. Wherein, he recruited a nearly-completed social worker student under an emergency license provision. With most traditional MH pathways requiring at least 6 years of schooling, more options must be examined. The recommended ratio for MH professional to students is 1:250. While some schools meet this criterion, most do not! As a matter of fact, the national average is 1:1157. To be sure, caution must be taken when approaching this dilemma. 1) MH issues cannot be left to ill-properly trained people. 2) Task-shifting may result in lessening the attractiveness of these professions…not to mention the salaries involved.

 

These matters impact all of us! How is your industry, company, organization, etc. addressing the MH needs of your workers? After all, some of those K-12 students in systems with 1:600 ratios eventually become your employees.

 

Sources: [1] https://showme.missouri.edu/2025/do-embedded-counseling-services-in-veterinary-education-work-a-new-study-says-yes/

[2] https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/08/31/mental-health-crisis-students-have-third-therapists-they-need/

 

 

Creating a supportive work environment

 

Schools & MH Staff Shortages

 

Myths about Weed

 

On Treating Fentanyl: Bupe

 

An “ice rink” to fight opioids crisis?

 

Mexican Cartels labeled as Terrorists

 

China / Mexico / Money Laundering

 

Divorce / China / Abuse

 

Microplastics & Your Brain

 

Narcissists & Social Pain

 

Veterinary Programs & Counseling

 

Recognizing & Treating PTSD

 

Plan Your Day Around Shifting Moods

 

Fatigue & Grieving

 

Sleep: Women vs Men

 

Travel & Assisted Dying

 

The Favorite Child

 

Doctors / MH / Licensing

 

Romans / Lead Coins / Lower IQ

 

Football tied to Another CTE Victim

 

NHL / Bobby Hull / CTE

 

Women in Construction

 

AL: The deadliest workplace in America

 

USA: Moving towards Autocracy

 

US-AID cuts impact US Farmers

 

Vets: Cuts hamper VA

 

Is US Govt’s word Good?

 

H2-B Visas: Wage vs Worker Shortage

 

Is GOP warming to Unions?

 

GOP: Pro-Union or Pro-Worker?

 

Pick to head US-DOL…a turncoat?

 

Labor Secretary Nominee & PRO Act…

 

Keeling nominated to head OSHA

 

NLRB retracts Biden-era enforcements

 

What’s next for Ed Dept?

 

DOGE & Wasteful Spending

 

How NOT to lead Org Change

 

Fed Employees Fighting Back

 

More on Trump & Fed Workers

 

KC & IRS employees

 

Musk & Deception

 

USA / Tesla / $400m Contract

 

Boeing / Whistleblower / Death

 

CA Court Workers Strike

 

Teamsters Strike & US Mail

 

NY Correction Officers Strike

 

NY Gov / National Guard / Strikes

 

German workers strike @ US bases

 

PA nurses Strike

 

More on CO ski workers strike

 

CO: Labor Peace Act

 

King Soopers strike ends

 

Lack of quality jobs or quality applicants?

 

List of firms cutting DEI

 

MO Gov removes DEI

 

“All-in” attitude / Success

 

Expert on Cursing

 

Maintaining Low Turnover

 

Parents / Tutors / Failure

 

Flunking a pre-hire test

 

Ministry: Release to Rent

 

MO & future of STL Police

 

Gen Z & Middle Management

 

Author funds Recovery

 

Drones / Hospitals / Organ Transplants

 

Update: World Cup & Sexual Assault

 

Planes & Overhead Bin Manners

 

Upcoming Webinars, etc.:

Qigong (2/24)

 

Black History Month: A-A & Labor (2/27)

 

Columbia Suicide Prevention Protocol

NOTE: The links provided above are for informational purposes only. None of these serve as a substitute for medical advice one should obtain from his/her own primary care physician and/or mental health professional. Please contact jgaal@moworks.org with related questions or comments.

February 24, 2025/by Missouri Works Initiative
https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/iStock-697895326.jpg 779 1345 Missouri Works Initiative https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/missouri-works-initiative-logo-new-1-300x222.png Missouri Works Initiative2025-02-24 15:35:542025-03-05 15:25:51Wellness & Well-being Highlights February 24th
Work life balance
Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights February 17th

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of Feb 17, 2025

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at how a doctor in Africa created a Peer Support model to address Mental Health issues—to a series of articles exploring the dangers of gambling…more specifically, sports betting—to how cuts in Washington, DC may negatively impact research…more specifically, cancer research. This week I would like to take this opportunity to touch on Missouri Senate Bill 74.1

 

While SB 74 mainly would bar cities and counties from imposing their own open carry restrictions, in my opinion, any attempt to lessen gun restrictions poses danger for those in crisis. Consider this: Over the past 20 years, Missouri has seen a ~60% increase in suicide deaths.2 This rate was greater than that of the US during this timeframe. Since gun-related suicides have made up over 50% of those deaths, we should take any and all precautions to keep our citizens safe from self-harm. As a matter of fact, “…in 2020, gun-related suicides surpassed poisoning and suffocation for the first time among women, and have continued to rise since then.”3 One way to move these numbers in the opposite direction is to limit the access to firearms. Awareness and education do NOT seem to be enough!

 

To this end, St. Louis University will be holding a seminar on this very topic on Friday (Feb 21).4  To be clear, this event does NOT solely focus on restricting access to firearms. Based on the CALM (Conversations on the Access to Lethal Means) training model, this SAFER training session will address how you and I can take actions to reduce the access to a multitude of lethal means…including but not limited to medications, sharp objects, bridge netting, etc. Come join us in becoming part of the solution vs remaining part of the problem!

 

Sources: [1]https://www.stlpr.org/government-politics-issues/2025-02-11/missouri-senators-consider-removing-several-firearm-restrictions

[2] https://usafacts.org/answers/how-many-people-die-by-suicide/state/missouri/

[3]https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/26/well/mind/suicide-guns-women.html

[4]https://billpay.slu.edu/C20197_ustores/web/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCTID=2471

 

Community Peer Support: The Friendship Bench

 

First Responders / Stress / Burnout

 

Addressing Chronic Illness @ Work

 

More on Workers & Chronic Illness

 

Older Workers & Financial Stress

 

Update on Grieving

 

Caseworkers & Burnout

 

Ozempic & Curbing Alcohol

 

How Gambling Impacts All of Us

 

Caution: Sports Betting

 

More on Betting Addiction

 

Super Bowl Betting

 

Caution: Black Market Weed

 

Tackling the Xylazine Epidemic

 

More on Menopause Benefits

 

MO & Abortion

 

Improving Hip Mobility

 

IBS Treatment & Your Brain

 

Marriage Counseling & Chores

 

Multilingual Kids & Functioning Skills

 

Canada / Tariffs / Safety

 

AGC / DOD / PLAs

 

NLRB / Trump / College Athletes

 

UT / Public Works / Collective Bargaining

 

PA Teachers’ Strike

 

N CA Healthcare Workers Picket

 

Vail Resort Lift Mechanics Strike

 

OR Nurses about to Strike

 

King Soopers Strike Continues

 

Retail Workers & Unions

 

More on Teamsters & Amazon

 

Top DOJ Resignations

 

Judge’s orders & HHS Websites

 

NIH funding & University research efforts

 

NIH funding & Cancer research

 

More on Cutting research funding

 

CDC loses 10% of Workforce

 

Trump / Discrimination / Congress

 

Trump / Ed Dept / Civil Rights

 

DOGE / Medicare / Medicaid

 

Are DOGE’s Claims Accurate?

 

Trump & Anti-bribery repeal

 

MO Universities & Research Status

 

Immigrants & Delaying Healthcare

 

CA / Homeless Camps / Crime

 

MO / Starbucks / Anti-DEI

 

Disney & DEI

 

An Egg Substitute

 

Girls & Flag Football

 

MO SB 74 & Firearm Restrictions

 

 

Upcoming webinars, etc.:

OSHA: Preventing Heat Illness (2/17)

 

SLU CEET: CALM Training (2/21)

 

Parenting Teens (2/25)

 

Substance Abuse & Mental Health (2/27)

 

Resilience Training (3/5)

 

FREE Diapers

 

NOTE: The links provided above are for informational purposes only. None of these serve as a substitute for medical advice one should obtain from his/her own primary care physician and/or mental health professional. Please contact jgaal@moworks.org with related questions or comments.

 

February 17, 2025/by Dr. John Gaal
https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/iStock-697895326.jpg 779 1345 Dr. John Gaal https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/missouri-works-initiative-logo-new-1-300x222.png Dr. John Gaal2025-02-17 15:00:002025-03-05 15:26:13Wellness & Well-being Highlights February 17th
Work life balance
Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights February 10th

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of Feb 10, 2025

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at the experiences of a handful of US Veterans who attended a psychedelic retreat for their PTSD—to which vice is more harmful: booze or weed—to which construction sectors may be winners or losers under the 2nd Trump administration. This week I would like to take this opportunity to examine Congressman Biggs’ (AZ) effort to repeal the Occupational Safety & Health Administration Act of 1970 calling to “nullify” it…thus, NOSHA.

 

While this may serve as a cute play on words, there is NOTHING cute about exposing workers to unsafe working conditions. Make no mistake, this law was actually established under a Republican administration. Then, as now, OSHA serves to protect workers (mainly) in the private sector. To suggest that this agency is part of so-called government bloat and/or is another example of government overreach, is nothing more than an attempt to deflect the real issue at hand: protecting workers vs corporate greed. Furthermore, it is a moot point to insinuate that states can do a better job of protecting their workers since nearly ½ of the states already have state-OSHA approved plans. Note: “The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 allows states to administer their own job safety and health programs, but they must meet the minimum federal requirements.” Simply put, if states seek to oversee job safety, they MUST do so in a manner that meets or exceeds the federal standard!

 

In closing, it never ceases to amaze me how elected officials claim to represent their constituents while ignoring historical facts. OSHA was created after a series of workplace disasters over 50 years ago. To this end, Congressman Biggs, how does ‘allowing the fox to guard the henhouse’ serve the needs of your state’s workers? As noted in the article linked below: “Without OSHA, many workers will be left vulnerable to unsafe conditions, and it will be the most vulnerable—low-income and minority workers—who will bear the brunt of dangerous rollbacks.”

 

Source: https://www.newsweek.com/republican-calls-scrap-workplace-safety-agency-2025932

 

USA: Wealthy & Unhappy

 

OH OD Deaths Declining

 

How Fentanyl Crosses US Borders

 

Trump / China / Opioids & Tariffs

 

China & Fentanyl

 

US Vets / PSTD / Psychedelic Retreat

 

Treatment & Relapsing

 

Addiction / Impact / Brain

 

Addiction & MH Pandemic

 

What is PT Sober?

 

Seniors & Hoarding

 

Is Aging a Disease?

 

MDMA & PTSD

 

More Harmful: Booze or Weed?

 

Illegal Cannabis & Consumers

 

Vaping Weed?

 

Dry January & Cannabis Drinks

 

MO / THC / Beverage Law?

 

Obesity Drugs & Compounding Pharmacies

 

More on Risky Online GLP-1s

 

FLU vs COVID?

 

Inhaling Microplastics

 

Spinal Stim Treatment

 

Vagus Nerve & Stim

 

Ozempic & Alzheimer’s

 

Construction / MH / App

 

Financial & Mental Health

 

Coping w/ Change

 

Steps for Surviving to Thriving

 

Wellness Perks in the Workplace

 

Parents & Burnout

 

ME / Bridges / Suicide Prevention

 

SD / Law / MH vs Guns

 

NFL / HoF / Possible CTE?

 

Update: Costco & Teamsters Strike

 

Strike @ Fort L Wood

 

Musk / German Policies / Tesla Workers

 

Amazon Leaves Quebec

 

Amazon / Whole Foods / NLRB

 

More on Whole Foods & NLRB

 

Academics / Exec Branch / Checks?

 

NLRB Firing + Trump = Lawsuit

 

FBI / Trump / Jan 6 Pardons

 

EO / Transgender / Sports

 

More on Trans-athlete Ban

 

Fed Employees / Trump / Deadline

 

US-AID / Trump / Facts

 

Cartels / Trump / Terrorism

 

More on Trump & Cartels

 

Trump & Ed Department

 

Musk / DOGE / Legal Boundaries?

 

JD Vance / Cardinal Dolan / Immigration

 

DEI / Chicago Casino / Financing

 

Construction Sectors & Trump (Winners)

 

Construction Sectors & Trump (Losers)

 

Construction Hiring Slows

 

From OSHA to NOSHA?

 

London / Construction / Declining Workforce

 

I-9 / Employers / Raids

 

MO & Min Wage Law?

 

MO / Social Services / Shaq

 

AI & Hiring

 

AI & Hallucinations

 

AI & Your Future Self

 

Career Catfishing & Office Ghosting

 

Making EAPs Effective

 

Goodwill / Prison / Training

 

401k in America

 

Update: AI Battle

 

NFL & DEI

 

High School NILs

 

Tuskegee Tribute

 

Upcoming webinars, etc.:

Sports Concussions (2/14)

 

Participative Ergonomics (2/26)

 

New Research on MH & Construction (3/25)

 

Painters & Exposure to Chemicals

 

College & Gen Z Students

 

STL Intl Institute’s Food Pantry

 

NOTE: The links provided above are for informational purposes only. None of these serve as a substitute for medical advice one should obtain from his/her own primary care physician and/or mental health professional. Please contact jgaal@moworks.org with related questions or comments.

February 10, 2025/by Missouri Works Initiative
https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/iStock-697895326.jpg 779 1345 Missouri Works Initiative https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/missouri-works-initiative-logo-new-1-300x222.png Missouri Works Initiative2025-02-10 18:53:192025-03-05 15:26:37Wellness & Well-being Highlights February 10th
Work life balance
Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights February 3rd

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of February 3rd, 2025

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at advice on how to create a more healthy and productive workplace—to news on a non-addictive alternative to opioid painkillers—to a new AI model from China that has seemingly upset the US applecart. This week I would like to take this opportunity to honor those who were victims of Nazi concentration camps, in particular, Auschwitz—as we celebrate their 75th anniversary of liberation.

The article linked below makes a case for us to compare and contrast what transpired ¾ of a century ago with recent current events. As such, one of the few remaining victims said the following:

“More and more we seem to be having trouble connecting our historical knowledge with our moral choices today.”

Meanwhile the author goes on to note, “Toxic political rhetoric and attacks directed at groups of peoples — using language to dehumanize them — that were once considered taboo have become common across the world’s democracies.”

Their concerns are my concerns. It seems as more and more of these Holocaust victims pass on, our memories fade. My father—like many of yours—enlisted to fight in WWII just after graduating high school. Overcoming an evil despot was more important to him than pursuing a MLB career. He paid a dear price and so did his family. The injuries he sustained in France would haunt him until his untimely death in 1974 at the age of 48.

In closing, please ponder the words of a 96-year-old Auschwitz survivor:

“I fear that over time, it will become easier to distort history. I cannot say it will never happen again, because when you look at some leaders of today, those dangerous ambitions, pride and sense of being better than others are still at play. Who knows where they can lead.” In a world where truth and facts are constantly challenged by false and deceptive narratives, one must take an active role in ensuring “NEVER AGAIN.”

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/25/world/europe/auschwitz-liberation-75th-anniversary.html?unlocked_article_code=1.sU4.yCLg.Xe23ZVUNYLsJ&smid=url-share

Auschwitz (75 Years)

 

Psychological Safety

 

4 Pillars: Healthy & Productive Workplace

 

7 Keys to Aging Well

 

Ear Muscle & Hearing Aids

 

Non-addictive option to Opioids?

 

Non-Opioid Painkiller

 

Sober Living Fraud & Deaths

 

Maine / Prison / Treating OUD

 

Socialization: Rx for Loneliness? (1) 

 

Socialization: Rx for Loneliness? (2)

 

More on Loneliness

 

Japanese Women / Prison / Loneliness

 

Older Parolees & Healthcare

 

Police & MH

 

Exercise & Depression

 

Prepping for Surgery 

 

Parents / Caregiving / MH

 

Caregiving’s MH Toll

 

Forever Chemicals & Polar Bears?

 

NFL’s Record Low: Concussions

 

Active Management: Sports Concussions

 

Canadian Rail Strike Averted

 

Canadian Rail Strike

 

ICE Arrests Cause “Mayhem”

 

Trump / Fed Workers / Contracts

 

Fed Workers & Fed Buyout?

 

Fed Workers / Buyout / No Deal

 

Trump / Plane Crash / DEI?

 

Trump / Congress / DBE

 

 Trump Pardons Jan 6 Rioters

 

Trump Halts Foreign Aid

 

Trump / Purging Health Info / Websites

 

Unlimited PTO?

 

Amazon & Quebec

 

DeepSeek Safety?

 

China / USA / AI Threat

 

War / Africa / Rape

 

K-12 Reading Scores

 

State Maps on Student Scores

 

More on Teens & Social Media

 

Legal: Transferring Data Between Countries

 

Planes & Snow-making

 

Upcoming webinars, etc.:

CALM Training (2/12)

 

Perinatal SUD

 

FREE Diapers

NOTE: The links provided above are for informational purposes only. None of these serve as a substitute for medical advice one should obtain from his/her own primary care physician and/or mental health professional. Please contact jgaal@moworks.org with related questions or comments.

February 3, 2025/by Missouri Works Initiative
https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/iStock-697895326.jpg 779 1345 Missouri Works Initiative https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/missouri-works-initiative-logo-new-1-300x222.png Missouri Works Initiative2025-02-03 15:54:182025-03-05 15:27:11Wellness & Well-being Highlights February 3rd
Work life balance
Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights January 27th

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of Jan 27, 2025

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at how the Sacklers get a second bite at the “opioids settlement” apple—to how sleep/diet/oral health impact one’s mental health—to the +/- of how K-12 school systems are utilizing technology in their classrooms. This week I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the national spotlight activities of the past week and how history tends to repeat itself.

 

Terms like oligarchy and gilded age have popped up in the press several times since the 2024 presidential election. A concentration of power and wealth in a few is something this nation dealt with in the late 1800s-early 1900s. Names like Morgan, Rockefeller, and Carnegie controlled entire industries. Thanks to the Sherman Anti-Trust Act their reign was brought under control for the benefit of the many vs the few! Well, this past Monday, our nation was exposed to a revival of this reign when billionaires like Musk, Bezos, and Zuck were strategically seated on stage at Trump’s inauguration.

 

It is too early to tell what influence that the mega-rich might have on our nation as a whole in this new era. After all, some of the aforementioned recently resided in the Biden camp. Nonetheless, in times of danger (i.e., 9/11), we were told: If you see something, say something! It would be naive to think that money does not influence politicians’ leanings. For if this was true, an entire group of people—lobbyists—may no longer be employed. As with most aspects in our lives, an issue like technology can be viewed as good or bad. Just think how nice it is to have a cell phone when one has a flat tire. However, that same wonderful device can be used for the sex trafficking of underage kids. To this end, over the next few months, it will be incumbent upon ALL of us to have open minds and watchful eyes…but more importantly, if you see something, say something!

 

Sources: https://www.npr.org/2025/01/22/nx-s1-5269779/oligarchy-is-being-used-more-to-describe-american-society-we-ask-one-professor-why

https://wapo.st/4hugwUe

 

Natural Disasters & MH

 

Peer Support: Teen Helping Teens

 

Surviving Cancer

 

Tea & Coffee / Head & Neck Cancer

 

AI / MH / Workplace

 

Sacklers / Opioids Settlement / Round 2 (1)

 

Sacklers / Opioids Settlement / Round 2 (2)

 

Supporting Workers in Addiction Recovery

 

Aging / Mental Health / Caregiving Strain

 

More on Vax

 

Home Pilates

 

Training After 40

 

More on BMI

 

More on Work-Life Balance

 

Want to Improve Your Posture?

 

Sleep Myths

 

Diet & Sleep

 

More on Vagus Nerve & MH

 

Oral Health & MH

 

What We Know About Chronic Pain

 

Stop Ruminating

 

Sober Sex?

 

Cows / Gallstones / Underworld

 

Biomarkers & Concussions

 

NFL / CTE / Hall of Fame

 

Trump Appoints New NLRB Chair

 

Trumps Targets Fed Workers

 

Trump & WHO

 

Court Strikes Down PLA

 

Whole Foods Union?

 

Update: Costco & Teamsters

 

AFT on Trump

 

STL AFT & Accreditation

 

Therapists / Strike / LA

 

Jordan / Garment Workers / Wages

 

2025 Labor Relations: Predictions

 

Fixing America’s Job Culture

 

Trump & DEI

 

Immigration / Trump / Construction Worker Shortage

 

MN Construction / EEOC / Settlement

 

Ironworker / Crane / Suit

 

President(s) & Abuse of Power?

 

Birthright & Ignoring the Constitution

 

Bishop Budde Confronts Trump

 

America’s Oligarchy

 

America’s 2nd Gilded Age

 

Cartels & Terrorism (1)

 

Cartels & Terrorism (2)

 

Bikes / Schools/ Absenteeism

 

Tech in the Classroom: Good or Bad?

 

Tech / Teens / Schools

 

Canada / Housing Shortage / Resolve

 

Upcoming webinars, etc.:

Painters / Chemicals / Exposure Risks (1/28)

 

MHFA Training

 

Resilience Training (2/11)

 

CALM Training (2/12)

 

Zoonoses (2/19)

 

PAID Survey: College Students & Mental Health

 

Diverse & Resilient Workforce: SUD Treatment

 

MH & Community Engagement

 

 

 

NOTE: The links provided above are for informational purposes only. None of these serve as a substitute for medical advice one should obtain from his/her own primary care physician and/or mental health professional. Please contact johngaal@moaflcio.org with related questions or comments.

 

January 27, 2025/by Missouri Works Initiative
https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/iStock-697895326.jpg 779 1345 Missouri Works Initiative https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/missouri-works-initiative-logo-new-1-300x222.png Missouri Works Initiative2025-01-27 16:40:472025-01-27 16:40:47Wellness & Well-being Highlights January 27th
Work life balance
Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights January 20th

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of Jan 20, 2025

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at how OSHA will soon be requiring better fitting PPE—to tips on improving your sleep and taking naps—to how Costco has taken a stand against purging DEI. This week I would like to take this opportunity to tip my hat to a longtime friend and colleague, Sal Valadez. Sal has worked for LiUNA at the regional level for several years now. Most importantly, he has been a champion for minorities in the construction workforce and the communities where we live and serve. To this end, he was instrumental in the design, development, and implementation of the document linked below.

 

For the past decade+, Sal’s voice at a number of tables across our region ensured that minorities—of ALL stripes—were not left behind. As such, a few years back, he took the lead with ECORN-MO (Ethnic Communities Opioid Response Network – Missouri) and tackled a project that would make certain that ALL people have access to information regarding opioid use disorder at the neighborhood levels. On more than one occasion, I personally observed Sal in action speaking to a variety of concerned citizens, workers, business owners, etc. Whether it was a Muslim Cleric, Construction Contractor, or a University Researcher, he found ways to connect and reassure those people he would include their voice.

 

To say that Sal is a unicorn would be an understatement. Make no mistake, his upbringing molded his views of the world where kindness and a big heart made others feel at ease being around him. This was key in the connections he cultivated. I recently heard that Sal may soon be retiring. This, my friends, will leave a void…just about the time we started to make some positive headway concerning diversity, equity, and inclusion in an economic sector that has historically been dominated by white males.

 

To Sal: best wishes in your next chapter!

 

To you: Who out there will fill Sal’s shoes?

 

Source: https://attcnetwork.org/prevention-of-opioid-use-education-materials/

 

 

MHA: Take a Mental Health Test

 

Gen Z / Holistic Health / Employers

 

Managing Serious Health Care in America

 

COVID @ 5: What’s Next?

 

Emotion Therapy

 

PTSD Myths

 

OSHA & Proper PPE

 

Construction MH: Know Your People

 

Industries Supporting MH

 

Employers / MH / Burnout

 

Your Mouth & MH

 

Kids’ MH Chatbot

 

Non-addictive Painkiller?

 

OUD & Multi-Language Resources

 

Update: Sacklers Opioids Settlement

 

Scams / Addiction / Death

 

Alcohol Misuse / Recovery / Naltrexone

 

More on Alcohol & Cancer

 

Biden & Cutting Nicotine

 

20-Minute Core Workout

 

Processed Meats & Dementia

 

2x Dementia by 2060

 

Red Dye #3

 

How Drug Companies Hurt Patients

 

What about Low Dose Aspirin?

 

Improving Your Sleep in 2025

 

Tips on Napping

 

Deaths Outpace Births

 

Gray Divorces Increase

 

Learn to Swim

 

Meatpacking / 3rd Parties / Child Labor

 

OSHA Penalties & Inflation

 

Costco / Teamsters / Picket

 

Teamsters / Sysco / Strike

 

S Africa / Illegal Mining / Disaster

 

PBGC & Multiemployer Funds

 

Quiet Quitting & Boundaries

 

Workers’ Pay & Falling Behind

 

Biden Commutes Drug Offenders

 

Costco & DEI

 

McDonalds / Diversity / Scholarship

 

US Supreme Court & TikTok

 

MBAs w/o Jobs

 

Balance of Power Shifts to Bosses

 

More on College Athletes as Employees

 

More on College Athletes Unionizing

 

Schools / Kids / Bikes / Absenteeism

 

More on Student Debt Relief

 

Firefighting Pilots

 

New Travel Requirements

 

 

 

Upcoming webinars, etc.:

MO Ask/Listen/Refer Suicide Prevention Training

 

Food is Medicine (1/21)

 

Embracing the Unknown (1/28)

 

Black Men’s Brain Health Conference (2/4-5)

 

Sports Concussion Seminar (2/14)

 

Natural Disasters & Older Adults (4/2)

 

 

NOTE: The links provided above are for informational purposes only. None of these serve as a substitute for medical advice one should obtain from his/her own primary care physician and/or mental health professional. Please contact johngaal@moaflcio.org with related questions or comments.

 

January 20, 2025/by Missouri Works Initiative
https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/iStock-697895326.jpg 779 1345 Missouri Works Initiative https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/missouri-works-initiative-logo-new-1-300x222.png Missouri Works Initiative2025-01-20 16:37:392025-01-20 16:37:39Wellness & Well-being Highlights January 20th
Work life balance
Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights January 13th

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of Jan 13th, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at a couple of outgoing messages regarding building stronger connections and communities from the US Surgeon General—to a couple of tips for keeping to your 2025 exercise-related resolutions—to why learning American Sign Language has the potential to make us better communicators. This week I would like to take this opportunity to review recent comments made by former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich about Trump’s upcoming second term (Full disclosure: I served under Reich in the first term of the Clinton Administration on the NAALC (US National Advisory Committee on the labor side agreement to the NAFTA)).

 

In his essay, we are asked to protect these 4 major pillars of resistance:

  1. Universities

Watch for attempts to discredit regional accreditation bodies

  1. Non-profits

Watch for misleading information linking activism to terrorism

  1. The Media

Watch for attempts to intimidate outlets with “sanewashing” untruths

  1. Organized Labor

Watch for increased opposition to organizing the unorganized.

 

I encourage each of you to read Reich’s work linked below. And, “remember: We only lose if we stop fighting.” Thank you!

 

Source: https://robertreich.substack.com/p/how-trump-is-seeking-to-destroy-the?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=ely0o&triedRedirect=true

 

 

US Surgeon General / Holidays / Loneliness

 

US Surgeon General on Stronger Communities

 

Social Isolation Assessment

 

Dark Side of Military

 

Fire / Smoke / Air Quality

 

More on Forever Chemicals

 

Is Addiction a Disease?

 

Cancer & Intimacy

 

More on Norovirus

 

Roman Empire / Lead Coins / IQ

 

Meat v Vegan

 

Mindful Eating

 

Meditation & Awareness

 

Exercise: 7-minute Workout

 

Exercise in 2025

 

More on Ultra-processed Foods

 

US Medical Debt

 

Obesity / K-12 / BMI

 

Female Athletes & Concussions

 

Women / Soccer / Injuries

 

Another NFLer found w/ CTE

 

NFL / HOF / CTE

 

What does the US Secretary of Labor do?

 

Dockworkers Avert Strike (1)

 

Dockworkers Avert Strike (2)

 

Ski Patrol Strike (1)

 

Ski Patrol Strike (2)

 

Bangladesh / Factories / Poverty Wages

 

Reich on Trump’s Agenda

 

US Prisons: Understaffed & Overpopulated

 

Update: US Secretary of Education

 

Deportations & Schools

 

Tests Scores: Girls Falling Behind

 

Home Health Care Workers’ Wages

 

~20% Thriving @ Work?

 

Job Hunting: Tough Times

 

Are Retirees Outliving their Money?

 

Coverup: Credit Suisse & Nazis

 

More on Nazi Collaborators

 

US Supreme Court / Ethics / Round 2 for SA

 

Mentoring Matters

 

Why ASL?

 

 

Upcoming webinars, etc.:

OSHA: Health Hazard Awareness (1/14)

 

Mental Health & Community Engagement (1/16)

 

Workforce & SUD Treatment (1/21)

 

HPV Vax & Ag (1/28)

 

AFSP 2024 Annual Report

January 13, 2025/by Braxton Payne
https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/iStock-697895326.jpg 779 1345 Braxton Payne https://moworksinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/missouri-works-initiative-logo-new-1-300x222.png Braxton Payne2025-01-13 22:43:262025-01-13 22:43:26Wellness & Well-being Highlights January 13th
Page 2 of 20‹1234›»

Categories

  • Building Union Diversity Program
  • Dislocated Worker Program
  • In the News
  • Missouri Apprentice Ready Program
  • News
  • Partner Spotlight
  • Success Stories
  • Uncategorized
  • Worker Wellness News

Archives

Call Us

573.536.2237

Follow Us

Missouri Works Initiative logo

Inspired to help us put Missouri to work? Contribute today!

Donate
© 2024 All rights reserved. | 1 Day Website by Bizzy Bizzy
Scroll to top

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

OKLearn more

Cookie and Privacy Settings



How we use cookies

We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

Essential Website Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.

We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.

We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.

Google Analytics Cookies

These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience.

If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here:

Other external services

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Google reCaptcha Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

Other cookies

The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them:

Privacy Policy

You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.

Terms and Conditions
Accept settingsHide notification only