The Ministers Justice Coalition Brings Vital Signs and SaferCare Texas Together to Combat Fentanyl Crisis in Fort Worth.

The Ministers Justice Coalition Brings Vital Signs and SaferCare Texas Together to Combat Fentanyl Crisis in Fort Worth. 

Fort Worth, TX – Pastor Kyev Tatum, President of the Ministers Justice Coalition of Texas and Pastor of New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church, is leading a multi-faceted effort to address the growing fentanyl crisis in Fort Worth’s inner-city communities. Through collaboration with the Victoria’s Voice Foundation and SaferCare Texas, the Coalition is bringing together two powerful initiatives—Vital Signs and SaferCare Texas—to provide vital resources for families and frontline workers, and to actively prevent fentanyl overdose deaths.

Vital Signs, created by David and Jackie Siegel of the Victoria’s Voice Foundation, was born from their personal tragedy after losing their daughter Victoria to a drug overdose in 2015. In their pursuit to understand how this could happen, they discovered critical signs of risk and substance abuse in youth—signs they either missed or underestimated in Victoria. The Vital Signs program is designed to equip parents and caregivers with the tools and information necessary to recognize and address these signs early. It includes resources for:

• Recognizing the early signs of risk and drug use

• Providing life skills and coping mechanisms

• Offering solutions for at-risk youth

• Sharing conversation tips and starters for effective parent-child dialogue

• Including reflection questions, worksheets, and family follow-up activities

• Recommending resources and support for families

Additionally, the Ministers Justice Coalition has partnered with SaferCare Texas, a department of the University of North Texas Health Science Center, to address opioid overdose prevention. SaferCare Texas received a $310,339 grant from the City of Fort Worth to provide opioid intervention education, focusing on the use of Narcan (Naloxone) to combat opioid overdoses, including those caused by fentanyl.

Both programs are working together under the leadership of Pastor Tatum, who has also teamed up with the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Department, local churches, barbershops, and community leaders to support outreach efforts and to distribute Narcan at participating barbershops and beauty shops throughout the area. This collaborative effort is part of the Ministers Justice Coalition’s ongoing Faith Over Fentanyl Crusade, launched in 2023 to educate Black churches and communities about the dangers of fentanyl and to provide the tools necessary to reduce overdose deaths. The Sheriff’s Department has also generously provided free Narcan to the Ministers Justice Coalition to aid in their life-saving work.

Despite these efforts, the Ministers Justice Coalition is operating without a budget and is actively seeking sponsors and grants to sustain and expand the Faith Over Fentanyl Crusade. The Coalition is committed to continuing its work in the 76104 ZIP code, where systemic issues like violence, low life expectancy, and high infant mortality rates contribute to the growing drug epidemic.

Pastor Kyev Tatum is focused on addressing these challenges by providing resources like Narcan and community education to help residents fight back against the fentanyl crisis.

“All I get to do is share our story with the rest of the world,” says Tatum. “I’m gonna keep sharing our story in hopes that someone will give us some relief.”

For more information about the Vital Signs program, SaferCare Texas, or the Faith Over Fentanyl Crusade, or to get involved in addressing the fentanyl crisis and support the efforts of the Ministers Justice Coalition, please contact the Ministers Justice Coalition at 817-966-7625. Zelle donations to: newmtrosembc@gmail.com