About Us

Alliance for Healthy Communities

Alliance for Healthy Communities (AHC) is a grant funded, grass roots coalition that has taken up the challenge of identifying and changing community conditions that enable alcohol and drug abuse, as well as mental health and suicide risks, among area youth. AHC serves the communities within the footprint of the Parkway C-2 School District by providing a platform for building partnerships and collaboration between individuals and organizations from across our region. Through the work of AHC partners, targets for change are identified and actions undertaken that, sustained over time, will reduce the rates of youth substance abuse and the resulting harm.

Our Mission

Engage the community to reduce youth substance misuse and risks for suicide by raising awareness and changing community norms.

Our Vision

A community empowered to make positive choices through knowledge, skills and resources.

Our Partners

News & Events

Learn More About the Alliance for Healthy Communities Executive Board

Ken McManus M.Ed., L.P.C., C.R.P.S., - AHC Director

Ken McManus M.Ed., L.P.C., C.R.P.S.,
AHC Director

Ken McManus is the director of Alliance for Healthy Communities. He has completed the three-week coalition academy provided by the National Coalition Institute (NCI) and has been leading community anti-drug coalitions for 10 years. Additionally, Ken has been practicing as a mental health counselor for nearly 40 years, specializing in children, teens and families.

Jim Meyer - AHC Board Chair

Kim Dressel, LCSW, CSAC II - AHC Treasurer

Kim Dressel, LCSW, CSAC II – AHC Treasurer

My name is Kim Dressel and I work at Wren Hollow Elementary School in the Parkway School District as a school counselor. In addition to supporting the social and emotional needs of students and families in our school, I have a passion for promoting safe and drug free lifestyle within students of all ages. I have past work experience as a young adult substance about counselor, social worker and therapist in private practice.

Daryl Madi

Jaimee Hall MA, LPC, CRADC, MARS

Jaimee Hall, MA, LPC, CRADC, MARS

Jaimee Hall is a licensed therapist, certified alcohol and drug counselor, and holds a credential as a medication assisted recovery specialist through the state of Missouri. She has spent the past 10 years working in the mental health field, with the majority of that time working with clients with substance use disorders. Jaimee is currently the clinical supervisor of Preferred Family Healthcare’s adolescent outpatient treatment program in west St. Louis County. Jaimee works to provide services to youth that are actively struggling with substance use disorders, and early intervention services to youth that may be at risk of developing substance use disorders later in life. Jaimee joined the Alliance for Healthy Communities coalition in 2017, reflecting her commitment to adolescent substance use prevention, and became a member of AHC’s executive board board in August of 2018. Jaimee is also involved with other local non-profits, including the Heroin Education and Awareness League (HEAL) and Healing Action.

Julie Knost

Julie Knost
AHC Youth Leadership and Social Media Coordinator

Julie Knost is a lifelong educator. She started her career as a middle school science teacher and spent several years in a Biology classroom. She transitioned to working with students in alternative education programs and implementing character leadership programs . She is SAPST certified (Substance Abuse Prevention Skills) and is a founding member of the south St. Louis County prevention coalition StepUp. Julie’s desire to help youth struggling with substance use disorders lead her career to AHC in 2018 as a youth program director and board member.

Landon Robert

Landon Robert
Community Strategist, NCADA

Landon Robert is a community strategist at NCADA in St. Louis and is a certified prevention specialist through the Missouri Credentialing Board. He has a bachelor’s degree in Health Promotion from Southeast Missouri State University. Landon provides technical support to community coalitions in St. Louis County, Jefferson County and Lincoln County, and also facilitates opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution trainings for community groups.

Det. Melody Quinn

Melody Quinn
Opioid Prevention Initiative Detective, St. Louis County Police

Melody Quinn is the Opioid Prevention Initiative Detective of the St. Louis County Police Department Bureau of Drug Enforcement. She has worked in law enforcement for almost 13 years. Melody has her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, and her Master’s Degree in Business. Her passion is to help bring prevention and education to the minority and immigrant communities in the greater St. Louis region that have limited resources. She is the first Detective in Missouri to be educated on and able to distribute Naloxone education and medication to the public. Her efforts in prevention and education encompass St. Louis County, St. Louis City, and Jefferson County where she actively participates in a number of drug prevention coalitions including St. Louis CRUSH, Step Up of St. Louis, Jefferson County Drug Prevention Coalition, and, of course, is now on the board of AHC.