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| COMBAT-Supported Substance Abuse Prevention Programs |
Some programs may have more than one area of focus that includes a Violence Prevention category because they have overlapping services.
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Amethyst Place Preventing Multi-Generational Substance Use
Amethyst Place is a safe haven where mothers recovering from substance use can rebuild their lives and families. Through a holistic model that includes supportive housing, therapeutic care, and empowerment programs, Amethyst Place helps families break free from cycles of poverty, trauma, and addiction. At its core, the program offers not only stability—but hope, healing, and long-term transformation. At the center of Amethyst Place is the Supportive Housing Program, which provides 37 fully furnished apartments in a vibrant, close-knit community. Families are given a stable home for as long as they need, along with access to basic essentials like food, clothing, and household items. In 2023, Amethyst Place supported 163 women and children in reclaiming their lives through the safety and security of stable housing. Kansas City faces a severe housing shortage, with more than 64,000 units of affordable housing needed for low-income renters.
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ArtsTech Prevention
ArtsTech has secured funding to upgrade and expand our technology offerings. Youth pod casting, 3-D printing, CAD, Graphic Design using industry standard software, and other new in-demand studio experiences will be available to engage at-risk youth. In addition, ArtsTech is exploring ways to use the gallery space for youth development, anti-violence and healthy lifestyles training, as well as events to support the larger community, including COMBAT-funded agencies and youth throughout Jackson County. ArtsTech is proposing a multipronged approach to reducing-eliminating violence and substance abuse among our most troubled, at-risk youth. Using the evidence-based techniques identified by the CDC, ArtsTech seeks to prevent violence and accompanying substance abuse by providing strength-based strategies of youth development.
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Artists Helping The Homeless: BE THE CHANGE
The BE THE CHANGE (BTC) Program fills critical gaps in the local safety net to prevent substance use relapse and to address substance use disorder and co-existing conditions among individuals who are experiencing homelessness. While AHH assists all segments of the homeless population across the metro, the COMBAT-funded activities target homeless individuals in Jackson County who have substance use disorders. Many of them are referred by hospitals, social detox, residential services, jails, and other agencies. The BTC's Discharge Planning service meets people where they are, literally and figuratively. The process starts with a needs assessment. AHH assists in developing and executing discharge plans, including transporting people to placements and assuring admission with a warm hand-off. Follow-up support and assistance is available when needed.
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Black Archives: Art Resolution Tactics For Success
The Black Archives of Mid-America in Kansas City has long been a beacon for preserving and celebrating African American history, culture and community contributions. The Archives empowers residents with a deeper understanding of the Black experience in the Midwest and beyond. As part of its growing commitment to community wellness, the organization also offers culturally informed programs designed to address urgent social challenges. One of the most critical of these is the recent rise in youth violence. Between 2019 and 2023, Kansas City experienced a 58% increase in homicides involving children and teens ages 0 to 17. In response to this urgent crisis, the Black Archives developed Art Resolution Tactics for Success, a youth-focused initiative aimed at reducing violence by teaching non-violent conflict resolution through art, expression, and technology. The program is designed to meet young people where they are, giving them the tools and support to choose peace over violence.
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Calvary Community Teen Safe Spaces & Outreach
Kansas City faces significant challenges related to violence, impacting its youth. The urban core experiences high levels of violence and homicides, which contribute to serious health disparities and reduce life expectancy. This ongoing violence creates an environment of trauma, limiting safe spaces for youth to socialize and grow, and posing a critical public health and equity issue. The Calvary Community Outreach Network (CCON) has developed a comprehensive Teen Safe Spaces and Outreach Program designed to provide safe, supportive environments for at-risk youth. The program partners with local churches to establish Safe Spaces during non-school hours. These spaces offer mental health interventions, socio-emotional learning opportunities, and positive peer engagement in neighborhoods that otherwise have limited resources. The program aims to reduce youth exposure to violence, improve mental wellness, and empower teens with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate challenges.
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City of Independence Prevention
Independence School District and Independence Health and Animal Services collaborate on substance use prevention. ISD hosts a billboard contest for students, promoting awareness through winning designs displayed in Independence. IHAS engages with community events, launching prevention campaigns in schools and participating in wider initiatives like "Talk. They Hear You." The program addresses rising opioid overdoses, particularly affecting youth, and mental health challenges contributing to increased youth suicide rates in Independence.
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Community Assistance Council
Since 1976, the Community Assistance Council (CAC) has been a vital resource for low-income families in South Kansas City, providing essential services that promote health, stability, and self-sufficiency. Serving approximately 80,000 residents in the Hickman Mills, Center, and Kansas City portions of the Grandview School Districts, CAC offers emergency rent and utility assistance to prevent homelessness, food distribution to combat food insecurity, diapers and hygiene products, and “next steps” case management designed to help families overcome challenges and build stronger futures. CAC operates in a part of the metro area marked by significant economic and social challenges. Many neighborhoods within its service area display classic signs of urban distress. The population served by CAC is predominantly low-income and underserved.
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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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DeLaSalle Education Center Block37
The Block37 program at DeLaSalle Education Center offers high school students a unique opportunity to gain hands-on internship experience, develop critical skills, and build meaningful relationships in a safe and supportive environment. Serving students from grades nine through twelve, and select eighth graders during the spring session, Block37 focuses on social-emotional growth, career readiness, and academic success through structured internships, mentorship, and comprehensive support. DeLaSalle students often face considerable adversity, including poverty, community violence, trauma, houselessness, and systemic racism. Approximately 75% of Block37 participants have struggled in traditional academic settings, placing them at risk of not completing high school. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced lunch, and many experience high levels of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which can contribute to long-term health, mental health, and behavioral challenges.
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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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Emmanuel Family & Child Develpment Center
Emmanuel’s Out-of-School and full-day summer program serves 194 children from kindergarten through eighth grade, offering a comprehensive approach to support academic, social, and emotional development. The program provides trauma-informed activities, counseling services, enrichment in STEM and the arts, and community field trips—all designed to create a safe, nurturing environment that promotes positive outcomes for children facing significant challenges. Many children attending Emmanuel’s program come from neighborhoods with high rates of crime, poverty, substance abuse, and generational trauma. The program’s service area, ZIP code 64130, has been notably referred to as the “Murder Factory,” reflecting its elevated exposure to violence and toxic stress. Research shows that two out of three children entering Emmanuel’s programs have experienced three or more traumatic events by age five, significantly impacting their mental health and academic progress.
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First Call's Safe & Healthy Schools
Unlike traditional programs, First Call’s approach incorporates trauma-informed curricula such as Caring for Kids and Adolescent Relapse Prevention. These programs provide safe, supportive spaces for children and teens to process their experiences and build resilience. By addressing the root causes and emotional challenges behind substance use, these initiatives help youth develop healthy coping mechanisms and foster supportive relationships. Each year, First Call’s Prevention Team reaches nearly 3,000 students across Jackson County, delivering interventions designed to mitigate complex social, familial, and environmental risk factors. Their work is critical to ensuring that substance use statistics do not determine the futures of local young people. By continuing to engage youth with culturally sensitive, trauma-informed education and support, First Call aims to reduce substance use, prevent relapse, and promote healthier, more hopeful pathways for adolescents in Jackson County.
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Footprints Prevention
Footprints offers a comprehensive Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) designed to support individuals struggling with substance use disorders (SUD) and co-occurring mental health conditions. The program combines structured classes, therapy groups, and personalized care to foster lasting recovery. Key services include recovery coaching, relapse counseling, case management, drug testing, and participation in 12-step meetings such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Cocaine Anonymous. Participants also engage in group and individual therapy, peer support, and receive referrals to additional community resources as needed. Mental illness affects one in five adults nationwide, with rates significantly higher among incarcerated populations, where nearly 37% experience diagnosable mental health conditions. Trauma is common, with 75% of incarcerated adults reporting a history of trauma and over half experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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Girl Scouts Outreach Program
Over 27% of the girls served by Girl Scouts of Northeast Kansas & Northwest Missouri (GSKSMO) live in low or moderately low-income households. As the number of girls living in poverty continues to rise, GSKSMO has adapted its programs to address barriers that prevent many girls and their families from fully participating in Girl Scouts. Through a range of supports—from financial assistance for membership dues and supplies to troop leadership by trained staff, volunteers, and teachers—GSKSMO strives to make Girl Scouts accessible and impactful for all girls, especially those from underserved communities. Girl Scouts provides exactly a safe, nurturing and structured environment where girls can connect with peers who share similar experiences and feelings. This sense of belonging and peer support is essential to helping girls manage emotional challenges and grow stronger mentally and socially.
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Guadalupe Centers Life Skills Prevention Program
The Guadalupe Center, Inc. (GCI) offers a comprehensive Life Skills Program designed to support adolescents as they navigate the transition to adulthood. Central to this program are two evidence-based curricula: Lions Quest Skills for Adolescence and Pathways to Resilience. Together, these programs provide young people with essential social, emotional, and personal skills that help them overcome adversity, make healthy choices, and build stronger connections within their communities. This evidence-based curriculum helps students understand risk factors while promoting protective behaviors that support positive development. Complementing this, Pathways to Resilience focuses on strengthening the ability of teens and young adults to "bounce back" from challenges—known as resilience. This curriculum guides youth in developing coping strategies that are practical and relevant to their everyday lives, empowering them to face difficult situations with confidence and hope.
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Healing House Aftercare Program
The Community Outreach Center (COC), operated by Healing House, Inc., is a vital resource open seven days a week for individuals seeking recovery support services in Jackson County. Recognizing the complex challenges faced by those affected by substance use disorders, the COC offers a comprehensive range of programs designed to support individuals and their families on the journey to recovery. Services include education classes, 12-step meetings, peer support groups such as Smart Recovery, domestic violence groups, provision of hygiene products, some transportation assistance, employment help, and limited legal support. Substance use disorders and addiction affect millions of Americans across all walks of life, and Jackson County is no exception. According to data from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, overdose deaths in Missouri surged alarmingly in recent years, with overdose deaths increasing by 49% in 2021 alone.
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Heart of America Council BSA Be Prepared
Kansas City faces one of the highest rates of violent crime in the nation. According to Neighborhood Scout, residents face a 1 in 16 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. For the city’s children, these statistics are more than numbers—they represent the everyday reality of walking to school, playing outside, or navigating peer pressure in an increasingly digital world. In response, this community-based initiative is grounded in a simple but powerful belief: our children deserve better. The program brings together youth, families and key institutional partners to promote crime prevention, drug education, digital safety, and abuse awareness—equipping young people with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to lead safer, healthier lives. The mission of this program is to educate, empower, and protect youth in Kansas City by addressing critical safety issues through early prevention and family engagement.
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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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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 Friends of Alvin Ailey
Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey’s AileyCamp and AileyCamp The Group stand as vibrant examples of how arts education can drive positive change. By combining dance, social-emotional learning, mental health support, and violence prevention, these programs provide youth with the skills and confidence needed to navigate the challenges of adolescence and beyond. Through creativity, connection, and empowerment, KCFAA helps youth transform adversity into opportunity—building stronger individuals and communities for generations to come. AileyCamp is a signature summer program held at Paseo Academy for Fine and Performing Arts. Designed for under-resourced youth ages 11 to 14, AileyCamp offers a unique blend of dance instruction and positive youth development that nurtures creativity while building essential life skills. Since its founding in 1989, AileyCamp has become a nationally recognized model for arts-based empowerment, serving youth in multiple cities across the country.
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KC Municipal Court Truancy Intervention
The Truancy Intervention Program works closely with the Kansas City Municipal Court to provide case management and outreach services to children and families involved in Truancy Court. Directed by the presiding judge, this program aims to identify and address the root causes of truancy among children ages 7 to 17, helping them overcome barriers to regular school attendance. Ultimately, the goal is to improve both school attendance and academic performance through coordinated support and community referrals. Each year, approximately 300 students appear in Kansas City’s Truancy Court due to challenges attending school consistently. While truancy is often seen as a disciplinary issue, the program recognizes that underlying factors frequently contribute to these attendance problems. These can include bullying, exposure to gang activity, difficult family situations, mental health concerns, and substance use.
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Reconciliation Services REVEAL
Reconciliation Services (RS) delivers comprehensive, strength-building assistance through its REVEAL Social and Mental Health Services Program. This program offers a wide range of vital services aimed at individuals and families affected by poverty, trauma, violence, and behavioral and mental health challenges in Jackson County, Missouri’s most disinvested urban neighborhoods. RS’s holistic approach includes ID-document assistance, comprehensive housing support and counseling, intensive case management, evidence-based trauma therapy, medical and dental supplies through Access KC, food assistance via Thelma’s Kitchen, trauma-informed workforce development, and economic mobility initiatives. These services are designed to foster resilience, promote healing, and support long-term stability for vulnerable populations. RS serves clients across the metropolitan area but prioritizes neighborhoods east of Troost—areas with the highest concentrations of poverty, violence, and trauma.
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reStart Prevention
reStart, Inc. provides vital services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless. Operating from its main shelter at 918 9th Street, reStart serves a diverse population, including individuals, families and unaccompanied youth. The organization’s programs span emergency shelter, youth network services, street outreach, transitional housing. Central to reStart’s mission is the Substance Use Prevention Program, which delivers prevention activities across various programs to support clients of all ages. Homelessness is a deeply destabilizing experience that affects the health, safety, and well-being of adults, youth, and children. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), homelessness nationwide has been rising steadily since 2017, with a 6% overall increase. In 2023. Kansas City alone counts more than 2,200 individuals without shelter each night, and public schools report over 1,200 youth without stable housing.
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Sisters In Christ Dahomey Training Center
The Dahomey Training Center is a substance abuse prevention and anti-violence program based on the protective factor of workforce development in mitigating the occurrence of substance abuse and criminal activity among at-risk populations. Its programs and services are designed for at-risk women. This includes women from families suffering from generational addiction; women with personal histories of substance abuse; women involved or associated with criminal activity and lifestyles; and formerly incarcerated women facing massive challenges as they transition from correctional facilities to re-entering society.
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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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Twelfth Street Heritage Development Corporation
The Twelfth Street Heritage Development Corporation is leading the way in providing essential support for individuals recently released from prison, as well as those at risk of incarceration. Through its Re-Entry Prevention Program, the organization offers a comprehensive suite of services designed to help participants reintegrate into society with dignity, stability, and purpose. This initiative recognizes that successful re-entry is about more than securing a job—it’s about transforming lives, building resilience, and creating safer, more vibrant communities. The program is rooted in a holistic approach, addressing emotional, financial, behavioral, and health-related needs alongside employment support. At its core, Twelfth Street’s mission is to reduce recidivism and violence by empowering individuals with tools, opportunities, and community connections that lead to long-term success.
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Urban Ranger Corps
The Urban Renaissance Center (URC) is committed to supporting young men as they navigate the complex path from adolescence to adulthood. Grounded in research and driven by compassion, the URC Youth Empowerment Program offers support to boys beginning in 6th grade and continuing through high school. The goal is to foster academic achievement, emotional resilience, healthy relationship, and community engagement. For many young men of color, the journey to adulthood is filled with unique challenges. Growing up in under-resourced neighborhoods, attending schools that lack adequate support, and enduring racial bias in academic and legal systems can have lasting effects on a young man’s potential. The URC Youth Empowerment Program was developed to provide a counterbalance to the negative influences and systemic barriers facing young men in the urban core. URC focuses on early intervention, mentorship, emotional support, academic enrichment and real-world preparation.
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WeCode KC
WeCode KC is addressing a critical challenge: the persistent lack of diversity in the technology sector. Despite rapid growth in the tech industry, opportunities for Black and Brown individuals remain limited due to longstanding economic and educational disparities. WeCode KC is working to change that narrative—empowering youth from underserved communities with the tools, training, and support they need to thrive in high-demand technology careers. WeCode KC was founded with direct input from the communities it serves. Community surveys and assessments conducted by the organization revealed that 70% of participants come from households earning below the poverty line. WeCode KC exists to bridge the opportunity gap by providing youth from Black and Brown communities with free or low-cost access to high-quality, hands-on technology education. By removing financial and systemic barriers, WeCode KC is helping to diversify Kansas City’s tech workforce while lifting families out of poverty.
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2025 Totals |
66 Programs*
$5,347,276*
86,191 People
To Be Served*
* Combined totals for Substance Abuse and Prevention programs but doesn't include Law Enforcement School-Based Initiatives.
Success Stories |
Agencies receiving COMBAT funding can submit their "success stories" using the this form.