AdHoc Group Against Crime provides life-saving support to victims of violence and their families in Jackson County, Missouri. Through crisis case management, trauma-informed counseling, advocacy, and community education, AdHoc responds to both the immediate and long-term needs of individuals impacted by violence. As a trusted community resource, AdHoc is at the forefront of efforts to heal trauma, prevent future violence, and promote justice for all.

Comprehensive Crisis Response

At the heart of AdHoc’s mission is a commitment to wraparound services for those affected by violent crime. Family Support Specialists, Community Intervention Specialists, and licensed Therapists work directly with victims and their families to provide Crisis Case Management. This includes:

•    Navigating the criminal justice system

•    Relocation assistance

•    Legal advocacy

•    Mental health support

•    Connection to community resources

All counseling services are trauma- and grief-informed and offered at no cost. Sessions are facilitated by licensed therapists and, when needed, through referrals by AdHoc’s Director of Prevention and Intervention to contracted mental health professionals. These supports ensure that no family is left to face the aftermath of violence alone.

Education & Empowerment

AdHoc also offers education-based interventions designed to break cycles of violence and strengthen individuals' capacity to thrive. At its community-based location, AdHoc hosts:

• Healthy Relationship Classes

• Workforce Preparedness Programs

• Youth and adult-focused prevention education

These group classes create safe spaces to build skills, restore hope, and provide a positive path forward for individuals and families.

Violence In Jackson County: A Public Health Crisis

Jackson County and Kansas City have experienced persistently high levels of violence. In 2023, Kansas City recorded its highest-ever number of homicides—182—making it an outlier in the U.S., where violent crime generally declined. This ongoing crisis disproportionately affects Black communities. Although Black residents comprise just over a quarter of Kansas City’s population, they represented 65% of homicide victims and 55% of suspects in 2023.

Youth are especially at risk. In the same year, nearly one-third of homicide victims were 24 or younger, a noticeable increase from prior years. Most violence stems from interpersonal conflict—data shows that a majority of known homicide cases began with an argument.

The Toll Of Trauma

The emotional and psychological impact of violence is profound and far-reaching. A growing body of research shows that survivors of violence often suffer from long-term trauma, depression, and anxiety—especially when support services are unavailable. According to Everytown for Gun Safety, trauma doesn’t end when the violence stops. Communities like those in Jackson County experience:

• Retriggered trauma from repeated exposure to violence

• Anticipatory trauma, or the constant fear of future violence

• Community trauma, which includes historical, structural, and interpersonal violence that affects entire neighborhoods

Gun violence also has significant mental health implications. Nearly one-third of survivors report that their greatest unmet need is access to trauma-informed counseling. AdHoc’s mental health services directly address this gap, helping families heal and preventing further cycles of violence.

Co-Victims Of Homicide: The Invisible Sufferers

When a loved one is killed, surviving family members—known as co-victims—are often left grappling with devastating grief, financial loss, and long-lasting emotional trauma. National studies have found that at least 23% of homicide co-victims continue to experience prolonged grief two years after the loss. Many also suffer from depression, substance use, and PTSD.

Co-victims face additional challenges, including:

• Funeral and burial expenses

• Loss of household income

• Social stigma or isolation

• Long and emotionally taxing justice processes

AdHoc provides these families with critical support—from counseling and crisis management to ongoing emotional care—so that they can process their grief, rebuild their lives, and seek justice with dignity.

Preventing Tomorrow’s Violence Today

Studies show that victims of violence who do not receive help are more likely to become offenders themselves. The trauma of victimization—when left unaddressed—can lead to negative coping behaviors, substance abuse, and even retaliatory violence. AdHoc’s services, including counseling, education, and advocacy, are proven to interrupt these cycles.

By equipping individuals with tools to manage their trauma, navigate systems, and access resources, AdHoc helps to prevent future harm and build safer communities.

A Trusted Community Partner

AdHoc Group Against Crime is not just a service provider—it is a lifeline. Staff respond quickly to victims, families, and witnesses, ensuring access to the support they need at the most critical times. AdHoc also assists with victim compensation claims, court accompaniment, and referrals to community-based services.

When victims have access to healing, justice can proceed. When families feel supported, hope is restored.

In a region deeply impacted by violence, AdHoc Group Against Crime provides the structure, compassion, and expertise to help people survive, heal, and move forward. With a trauma-informed and community-driven approach, AdHoc stands with victims—not only in the aftermath of violence, but in the fight to prevent it.

Locations

Click on the window icon (upper right corner) of the map below to expand. List of all program locations is included with expanded view of map. Locations are also listed on this page below the map.