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| COMBAT-Supported Victim Support Services |
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AdHoc Crisis Support For Victims
The purpose of AdHoc's comprehensive, COMBAT-funded Crisis Support for Victims of Crime program is to reduce the impact of trauma associated with violent crime in Jackson County neighborhoods—and the potential for further violence. These services correspond to the COMBAT Violence Prevention focus area. We seek to reduce the impact of violence and reduce the potential for retaliation or further harm by focusing on psycho-social healing using two main, existing prevention services: 1) Crisis Case Management and 2) Counseling with licensed therapists. Program clients are individuals and families living in high crime, economically-distressed neighborhoods. They have lost a loved one due to homicide, were victims of gun violence or other types of assault, were witnesses to violence.
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Artists Helping The Homeless: BE THE CHANGE
At the heart of Amethyst House Healing’s (AHH) recovery model is a simple but powerful idea: meet people where they are—both physically and emotionally—and walk alongside them as they rebuild their lives. The BE THE CHANGE Program accomplishes this mission through a two-stage residential model that offers shelter, recovery support and long-term stability for individuals who are unhoused and living with substance use disorders. Too often, services for unhoused individuals are fragmented. Detox programs discharge patients with no follow-up care. Treatment centers are full or come with long waitlists. Agencies operate in silos. The BE THE CHANGE model eliminates that burden. By embedding its staff in the facilities of hospitals, jails, shelters, and treatment providers, AHH connects services into a seamless pipeline. Staff do not wait for referrals—they go where the need is. This coordination has proven to improve outcomes, reduce recidivism, and increase program completion.
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Child Protection Center
The mission of the Child Protection Center (CPC) is to build a healthier community by leading the response to the prevention, identification and treatment of child abuse and violence. The CPC accomplishes its mission by providing forensic interviews, family advocacy and mental health services to children 3 to 17 living in Jackson County, who are victims of sexual or physical abuse, or who have witnessed violent crimes. CPC also conducts interviews with the children's non-offending caregivers. The CPC ensures children who are victims of child abuse or witness to violent crimes are properly identified, that their statements are made through forensic interviews, and that they are ensured access to all necessary mental health treatments and social supports as soon as possible.
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Community LINC Programs For Homeless & At-Risk Families
CLINC offers comprehensive housing and supportive services aimed at increasing access to safe, affordable housing and critical resources for low-income households experiencing homelessness or at risk of losing their homes. The program provides connections to housing—both on-site and throughout the community—emergency assistance with rent and utilities, prevention and diversion services, case management, and ongoing supportive services designed to promote long-term stability. Affordable housing is increasingly out of reach for many Kansas City residents. Recent data highlights a rapidly rising rental market: Missouri experienced the highest rent increase nationwide, with median rents jumping more than 13% between January 2023 and January 2024. Within the Kansas City metro area, rents rose 7.4%, pushing the median monthly rent to $1,644—a figure unaffordable for many low- and middle-income households.
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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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Hope House Prevention Project
Hope House’s Co-Responding Advocate program partners directly with the Independence Police Department (IPD) to provide immediate, compassionate support to survivors of domestic violence. The program embeds a trained Advocate alongside police officers as they respond to domestic violence calls, ensuring that survivors receive crisis intervention, resource referrals, and ongoing assistance in a timely manner. Survivors of domestic violence often face complex and dangerous challenges that require more than just immediate safety. They need comprehensive support that addresses not only their physical safety but also their emotional well-being, legal rights, housing stability, and long-term recovery. Research shows there is a critical “window of opportunity” shortly after a violent incident when survivors may be most receptive to receiving help. Hope House’s Co-Responding Advocate program seizes this moment, offering immediate crisis intervention and connections to vital resources.
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Jackson County CASA
Jackson County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) is dedicated to ensuring children who have experienced abuse or neglect have a strong, compassionate voice in Family Court. CASA’s mission centers on two critical goals: first, to secure safe and permanent homes for these vulnerable children, and second, to advocate for their access to medical, educational and therapeutic resources throughout their time under court jurisdiction. Currently serving about 50% of all children in care, Jackson County CASA is committed to expanding its reach to serve 100% of children in court custody. This scaling up reflects a vital response to the increasing number of children affected by abuse, neglect, and parental substance use in Jackson County. In 2023 alone, Family Court served over 2,000 children facing these challenges, with more than half of those cases involving parents struggling with substance use disorders. Each child supported by CASA benefits from a personalized team of advocates.
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Kansas City Mothers In Charge
KC Mothers in Charge (KC MIC) envisions a Kansas City community where every family feels empowered, supported, and safe. The organization’s mission centers on reducing violent crime through comprehensive prevention, education and intervention efforts while providing guidance and support to families affected by violence. Ending cycles of violence requires acknowledging the historical and systemic causes that have shaped Kansas City’s neighborhoods. KC Mothers in Charge champions a future where economic investment, educational opportunities, and social support are accessible to all residents—regardless of geography or race. Their comprehensive approach addresses the complex social determinants of violence, from poverty and disinvestment to mistrust and lack of resources. Through prevention, education, intervention, and family support, KC MIC is committed to building a safer city where all families can thrive.
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Newhouse Bilingual Hotline & Support
Newhouse is an 88-bed emergency shelter facility offering safe housing and critical supportive services to domestic violence victims and their children. Within the heart of our shelter is the Hotline room, staffed by trained and experienced Hotline Advocates, who responded to over 9,500 calls last year. COMBAT provides vital funding to support client-centered, trauma-informed and culturally-sensitive emergency services for domestic violence victims in our community. Funds support enhancing the local 24/7 Domestic Violence Hotline and hiring experienced Hotline Advocates who provide immediate crisis intervention, lethality assessment, and trauma counseling for both Hotline callers and victims who arrive at our shelter.
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True Light Family: Women's Safe Shelter
True Light Ministries provides a lifeline for women experiencing homelessness. Through its women-only day shelter and emergency overnight shelter, True Light offers safety, dignity and the essential services needed to support women on their path to stability. Unlike many shelters that require a diagnosis of substance use disorder or serve both men and women, True Light is designed specifically to meet the unique needs of women—regardless of their addiction status—who are often overlooked by traditional housing programs. Women experiencing homelessness face a heightened risk of violence, trauma and exploitation. Many have already endured domestic violence, and for some, fleeing abuse is the very reason they became homeless. True Light responds to these realities with a trauma-informed, barrier-free model that prioritizes safety, respect, and support.
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University Health Project RISE
The Responsive Individualized Support and Early Intervention (RISE) Program at University Health Truman Medical Center (UHTMC) offers compassionate, trauma-informed care for survivors of nonfatal gunshot injuries. Located in the heart of the UMKC Health Sciences District, RISE serves individuals and families in Jackson County who have been deeply impacted by community violence. The RISE clinical team focuses on connecting survivors to mental health care within 24 to 48 hours of their arrival at the hospital, recognizing that this early window is critical for trauma intervention. In addition to offering immediate psychological support during a time of immense vulnerability, the program provides ongoing, personalized mental health care in the weeks and months following discharge. Gun violence leaves deep wounds—physical, emotional, and psychological. The RISE Program exists to ensure survivors and their families are not left to heal alone.
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Violence Prevention Programs