MoNetwork Group

Context & Opening MoNetwork, the Missouri Network for Opiate Reform and Recovery, is a peer‑led nonprofit based in St. Louis offering harm reduction services such as syringe access, free naloxone distribution, wound care, HIV/Hep C testing, peer support, outreach, and legislative advocacy MonetworkMonetworkGive STL Day. Founded in 2015, the organization combines grassroots outreach with policy efforts to combat stigma and support people with substance use disorders Give STL DayMonetwork.

Discussion Prompts

1. Core Themes & Mission

   • How do MoNetwork’s services (e.g. naloxone training/distribution, syringe programs, rapid testing) embody effective harm reduction?

   • In what ways does legislative advocacy complement direct services to reduce stigma and improve access to care?

2. Community & Peer Support

   • Peer support specialists and community outreach help build trust. How does having people with lived experience impact effectiveness?

   • Discuss how offering LGBTQIA+ services and tailored support groups fosters inclusivity.

3. Public Health & Structural Trends

   • Broader trends emphasize destigmatizing addiction and expanding community-based rehabilitation programs and social support systems

   • How can MoNetwork align with these trends to amplify societal awareness and recovery rates?

4. Sustainability & Scaling

   • What challenges and opportunities might MoNetwork face if expanding beyond St. Louis?

   • How might collaboration with government, telehealth initiatives, or partnerships support scale while preserving a peer-led model?

5. Reflective Action Steps

   • Suppose your city wanted to adopt a similar model. What components of MoNetwork would be vital: syringe access, rapid testing, naloxone availability, peer training, legislative advocacy, resource linkage?

   • How would you prioritize implementing these, and what potential barriers (legal, cultural, funding) must you navigate?