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ArtsTech Violence Prevention
ArtsTech’s Integrated Arts and Tech Violence Prevention Program uses the power of creativity, culture, and connection to prevent violence and substance abuse among youth in Kansas City’s most affected neighborhoods. Combining evidence-based practices with structured art, technology, mentoring, and wraparound support, this program engages young people where they are—emotionally, culturally, and developmentally—and gives them the tools to envision and build a safer, healthier future. Drawing from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report "Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences: Leveraging the Best Available Evidence (2019)," ArtsTech takes a six-pronged, strength-based approach to youth development, particularly for young people living in high-risk zip codes and neighborhoods identified as violence "hotspots."
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Comprehensive Mental Health PUSH
The PUSH diversion program aims to provide prevention and early intervention to students facing suspension, enhancing their resilience to substance use and violence. It partners with schools to offer alternatives to out-of-school time, addressing underlying issues through programs like Youth Court. Despite strides in trauma-informed practices, there's still a need for early interventions to prevent repeat behaviors. Out-of-school suspensions increase dropout risks and societal costs, highlighting the program's goal to assess and support at-risk youth, aiming to improve academic outcomes and community well-being.
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Eastern Jackson County Youth Court
The Eastern Jackson County Youth Court (EJCYC) offers a vital intervention program addressing juvenile delinquency through a peer-led, restorative justice model. Located within the Blue Springs School District building, EJCYC serves youth ages 7 to 18 who have exhibited risky behaviors such as violence, drug use, and status offenses including truancy and curfew violations. The court meets monthly for adjudication hearings overseen by a Municipal Court Judge, where trained youth volunteers (ages 13-18) participate alongside adult mentors to hold their peers accountable in a supportive environment. EJCYC is nationally recognized as a promising juvenile prevention program by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and is one of Missouri’s longest-running peer courts. This model emphasizes positive peer pressure, leadership development, and accountability through restorative sanctions.
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FosterAdopt Community Connections Youth Project
Community Connections Youth Thrive (CCYT) is a comprehensive program offered by FosterAdopt Connect, designed to meet the complex needs of youth aging out of the foster care system in Jackson County, Missouri. Building on the former Community Connections Youth Project, CCYT provides consistent adult guidance through dedicated specialists who help youth access vital resources including stable housing, education, and employment opportunities. CCYT goes beyond traditional support by offering practical services such as driving lessons to increase mobility and independence, as well as legal assistance to help youth understand and protect their rights. This holistic approach equips young adults with the tools and knowledge necessary to navigate the challenges of transitioning to adulthood successfully. In Jackson County, approximately 684 youth aged out of foster care in 2022 without permanent placements, facing significant barriers to independence.
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Full Employment Council Career SOS
The Kansas City Workforce Development Board, in partnership with the Full Employment Council (FEC), is committed to strengthening job training, employment and support services through the innovative Career Systems of Support (Career SOS) initiative. This comprehensive program leverages collaboration, technology and targeted training to help individuals overcome barriers and build sustainable careers in high-demand fields. A central feature of Career SOS is the SOS Partnership Portal, an exclusive online referral platform that streamlines connections between COMBAT-funded agencies and FEC services. This portal enables partner agencies to refer job-ready individuals who meet specific criteria for career training and employment support. Importantly, the portal also allows referrals of individuals within the client’s broader social network, expanding the reach of workforce services.
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Hope Faith Homeless Assistance
Hope Faith provides critical support to people experiencing homelessness, focusing on case management, diversion assistance, violence victim support and drug use prevention. Their dedicated Diversion and Prevention Team works with individuals to address immediate needs and guide them toward stability and safety. The organization is adding a new staff member to manage the Guest Experience Team and support case managers. This addition strengthens the ability to enroll participants in programs, track progress and respond to needs. National research highlights the elevated risks of violence faced by people experiencing homelessness. Nearly half of men (49%) and women (48%) surveyed reported experiencing violence. Certain groups, including older adults and those homeless for longer than two years, face particularly high risks. Women experiencing homelessness are more likely to suffer violence, including rape, often at the hands of known perpetrators, with continued trauma afterward.
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Independence Youth Court Peer Diversion
The Independence Youth Court (IYC) serves as a vital community intervention program located in the City of Independence municipal building. Its office and courtroom provide a central hub where juvenile clients, families, and volunteers come together to address risky behaviors through a peer-driven, restorative justice model. At the Independence Youth Court office, juveniles and their parents attend intake meetings to begin the process of diversion and rehabilitation. Families can conveniently drop off or pick up court-required documents such as community service forms, counseling or treatment verifications, and educational projects. The actual court hearings and adjudications are held in the Independence Municipal Courtroom, with bi-monthly evening sessions directed by dedicated student volunteers alongside adult mentors, all supervised by the Municipal Court Judge.
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Ivanhoe Safety & Resilience Initiative
Ivanhoe is committed to creating a safer, thriving neighborhood by partnering with community-based organizations, small businesses, and local stakeholders to provide vital resources and support. Serving the Ivanhoe community and its neighboring areas, Ivanhoe addresses critical gaps in social and city-wide services to promote social cohesion, foster healthy lifestyles, and improve key social determinants of health—especially those factors that contribute to violence. At the heart of Ivanhoe’s efforts is the “Healing While We Grow” program, a comprehensive violence prevention initiative focused on tackling the root causes of violence in the community. These root causes, often called social determinants of health, include physical and mental health challenges, food insecurity, lack of educational opportunities, and social isolation. By addressing these underlying issues, Ivanhoe seeks to reduce risk factors that lead to criminal and violent behavior among youth and adults.
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Kansas City Youth Court
The Kansas City Youth Court (KCYC) is a pioneering diversion program that offers at-risk youth a positive and constructive alternative to traditional juvenile justice proceedings. The program focuses on addressing disruptive behaviors while promoting accountability, personal growth, and better decision-making. KCYC works closely with local agencies to receive referrals for youth exhibiting troubling behavior but who may not require formal court prosecution. These referrals are carefully reviewed, and cases are prepared for Youth Court hearings, which take place 2 to 3 times monthly. During these sessions, youth are given an opportunity to resolve their issues by completing meaningful sanctions such as community service hours, writing reflective essays or creating educational videos, and attending classes that relate specifically to their offense. This approach allows young people to take responsibility in a supportive environment, emphasizing rehabilitation rather than punishment.
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Morningstar Case Management & Treatment
The Kansas City Municipal Court, supported by Morning Star Development, is more than a place for legal adjudication—it is a platform for community healing and empowerment. By addressing the social factors that often lead to legal challenges, this program helps individuals regain stability and build a foundation for a more positive future, ultimately benefiting the entire Kansas City community. Morning Star Development’s work centers on providing access to a broad range of services tailored to meet the specific needs of those involved in the court system. These services include assistance with housing for individuals experiencing homelessness, employment resources for those facing job instability, mediation for landlord-tenant disputes, treatment programs for substance use disorders, and support for survivors and perpetrators of domestic violence. By addressing these underlying issues, the program helps reduce recidivism and promotes long-term stability.
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Synergy Services Offender Intervention
Since 2015, Synergy Services has been operating its Domestic Violence Offender Intervention Program (DVOIP), certified by Missouri Probation and Parole. DVOIP offers education and treatment to individuals who have committed domestic violence offenses, helping them understand the impact of their actions and guiding them toward positive, nonviolent behaviors. The program has seen significant growth. In 2023, DVOIP served 448 domestic violence offenders and 21 children—a 71% increase from the 320 individuals served in FY 2021. This growth reflects the program’s expanding role in the community and increasing referrals, including a rise in participants coming through the 16th Circuit Court's Diversion Specialty Court, which works to reduce domestic violence-related homicides. DVOIP is currently working with 42 clients through that system. The goal of DVOIP is to break the cycle of violence by helping participants confront and change harmful attitudes and behaviors.
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Violence Prevention Programs