T-R PHOTO BY LANA BRADSTREAM YSS of Marshall County Director of Community Engagement David Hicks announces that MPACT representatives will be presenters at the annual National Co-responder Conference in Atlanta in June. The news was shared during the annual YSS update at the Marshalltown Public Library on Wednesday.

Word of MPACT (the Marshalltown Police and Community Team) has gotten around, and people and organizations have taken notice. MPACT representatives were invited to serve as presenters at the National Co-responder Conference in Atlanta in June.

YSS of Marshall County Director of Community Engagement David Hicks, who runs MPACT along with Marshalltown Police Chief Mike Tupper, announced their invitation to the conference on Wednesday during the annual YSS update gathering, “The Celebration of Friends.”

“You’ve got co-responders from L.A., Dallas, New York, Houston, Chicago and Marshalltown,” he said to laughter from the crowd. “We are just thrilled our program has operated that well that we are seen nationally as subject matter experts, especially in rural America. I am looking forward to that presentation in June in Atlanta.”

Organizers of the conference are expecting more than 1,000 attendees at the annual event, which has sold out during the last five years.

While the Wednesday update was ongoing, Hicks said the program advocates were unable to make it as they were more likely responding to a call.

“MPACT has been very busy (during a) very tragic week here in Marshalltown,” he said. “MPACT has been involved in a couple circumstances that were very challenging.”

Hicks said there might be a funding opportunity for the program. He and Tupper have been sounding the alarm that funding for the program was going to run out at the end of 2025.

“It would be a real blessing to keep this program going,” Hicks said.

During the last year, YSS has also experienced growth and opportunity in other areas such as medication management and the aftercare program which works with youth, Hicks said.

He thanked the YSS staff and stressed the work the nonprofit is able to do is the result of the people working there.

“I don’t think you will find a more resilient, hard working, optimistic, dependable, funny, creative group of people,” Hicks said. “This center operates at a high level because of them.”

Held at the Marshalltown Public Library, roughly 45 people attended the update, enjoyed some refreshments and listened to YSS staff honor clients and partners.

——

Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.