“Yes, we may be speaking to the choir,” said Dr. Kelly Hurst, a leader of the Massey Commission, to the March 2 quarterly meeting of Kenniebrew-McNeese Community Forum. “But remember, the choir needs rehearsal.” The “choir” here was doctors, hospital workers, social service providers, city officials and staffers and other community members who care about doing a better job of making Springfield healthier. Among the topics discussed by panelists and in breakout sessions during the two-hour forum were homelessness, substance use and mental health. I was in the mental health breakout, where there was general agreement that the referendum to create a “708” Community Mental Health Board must be approved in the March 17 election. That would provide more funding for mental health services, but it won’t be a panacea. The Massey Commission has offered a blueprint for closing gaps in mental health care. The homelessness group recommended not only “intentional referrals,” but also faster follow-through. Housing for people just released from incarceration was brought up as a problem area. A common theme, for all the topics discussed, was there are good people doing good work, but many needing help still don’t know where to turn. Helping agencies need to collaborate, increase outreach and provide more information about available resources. – Fletcher Farrar, editor
This article appears in March 5-11, 2026.
