Empowering the AFN community through inclusive disaster preparedness and recovery strategies.
The St. Louis Area Regional Response System (STARRS) is excited to announce an upcoming event that promises to be a cornerstone in advancing disaster preparedness, response, and recovery for the Access and Functional Needs (AFN) community. The St. Louis Regional Access & Functional Needs (AFN) Town Hall is set to bring together key stakeholders, service providers, and public safety organizations to address the region’s most pressing challenges and identify actionable solutions.
This interactive event is more than just a discussion—it’s a call to action. Attendees will have the opportunity to collaborate, share insights, and directly influence policies that shape emergency preparedness and response efforts across the St. Louis region. By integrating the voices and expertise of the AFN community and its advocates, the Town Hall aims to ensure that emergency strategies are inclusive and reflective of the needs of the whole community.
Event Details
Date: Monday, December 8, 2025
Time: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM Central Time
Location: University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy
(1 Pharmacy Place, St. Louis, MO 63110)
Format: In-person and Online (via MS Teams)
Note: In-person attendance is strongly encouraged for full participation. The online option is for viewing only and does not allow interaction with other attendees.
Who Should Attend?
The AFN Town Hall is designed for two primary audiences:
AFN Service Providers
Organizations that provide direct services, support, or advocacy to individuals and families within the AFN community. This includes disability service agencies, home health providers, advocacy groups, transportation providers, and more.
Public Safety and Civil Service Organizations
Entities with a direct role in integrating the needs of the AFN community into emergency preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. This includes city and county councils, emergency management teams, public health departments, healthcare systems, law enforcement, firefighting/EMS, transit authorities, and human services organizations.
Why Attend?
This Town Hall is a unique opportunity to:
Collaborate with regional partners to identify real-time solutions.
Share your expertise to shape inclusive emergency policies.
Ensure that the needs of the AFN community are fully integrated into disaster preparedness and recovery efforts.
Your voice and perspective are essential to creating a safer, more resilient St. Louis region for everyone.
How to Register
To attend, each participant must complete a registration form by November 30, 2025. You can register here: Registration Form.
Spread the Word
Help us maximize attendance and gather diverse perspectives by sharing this invitation with your networks. Whether you’re an AFN service provider or part of a public safety organization, your outreach can make a significant impact.
Questions?
For any inquiries about the event, please contact Andrew Bohnert at Andrew.Bohnert@hagertyconsulting.com.
This is your chance to be part of a transformative conversation that will shape the future of emergency preparedness in the St. Louis region. Together, we can ensure that the needs of the AFN community are not just acknowledged but prioritized in every stage of disaster planning and response. We look forward to seeing you there!
#AFNTownHall #EmergencyPreparedness #InclusivePolicies
