The Whole Person, Inc. was recently awarded a $1,874 grant from ArtsKC to support the Expressions Art Show.  Expressions is a visual arts exhibition that allows people with disabilities to exhibit their art which is hosted by The Whole Person and held during the First Friday art walk each May. The Whole Person will use the grant money to help as many artists as they can to prepare their work for the professional showing. Kansas City has a rich and vibrant arts community; however, too often people with disabilities do not take part because of physical, financial, or attitudinal barriers. This project helps TWP accomplish its mission by: 1) Advocating for people with disabilities by showing their artwork in a professional gallery at what is known by the community as a high quality art event. Artists have the opportunity to sell art for their own profit, encouraging independence. 2) Encouraging change in the community by providing an open event for the community to see the art of those with disabilities, thus improving their perception of the abilities of those with disabilities.

Comprehensive Mental Health Services (CMHS) was recently awarded a $475,000 grant from the Jackson County COMBAT Treatment Fund to support services at the George Norman Recovery Center including psycho-education groups, individual and group counseling, medication management, case management, outpatient programming, day treatment, housing and job resources.

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Johnson and Wyandotte Counties recently received a grant for $37,575 from the Kansas Victims of Crime Act (KS VOCA) to support the hiring of another Program Coordinator to supervise Volunteers serving child abuse victims. The new Program Coordinator will focus entirely on cases serving children who have been primary victims of maltreatment, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, and failure to properly provide for life-threatening medical conditions, as well as children who have been secondary victims of domestic violence so severe that Family Courts have determined the child to be in danger.

Baptist Trinity Lutheran Legacy Foundation recently received a grant for $5,000 from the Wyandotte Health Foundation to support the Kansas City Medicine Cabinet (KCMC), an emergency assistance center. KCMC facilitates access for low-income individuals to crisis-related health care assistance. KCMC utilizes a voucher system to provide short-term emergency medical assistance in five specific areas: dental emergencies, diabetic supplies, durable medical goods (including hearing aids), prescriptions and vision care. The program partners with existing emergency assistance social service agencies to provide intake, screen for eligibility and previous usage, and distribute vouchers. Clients can redeem vouchers for needed medical services at participating vendors. With this approach, KCMC can facilitate access to healthcare services in a standardized and comprehensive manner and have an immediate impact on the healthcare of medically under-served individuals.

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Johnson and Wyandotte Counties was recently awarded a $25,000 grant from the John W. and Effie E. Speas Memorial Trust to support the general operations of the organization. CASA will use these funds to help support staff members who train and supervise volunteer advocates, as well as to help cover organizational administrative costs. CASA’s program staff members coordinate the activities of nearly 200 volunteers, pairing volunteers with children in need of a compassionate adult, and guiding those volunteers as they help children navigate the family court system.

Comprehensive Mental Health Services (CMHS) recently received a grant for $7185 from the Missouri Department of Transportation to help provide transportation services. Comprehensive Mental Health Services (CMHS) provides transportation services to mentally ill, elderly, and dually diagnosed (a mental illness/disorder and a chemical addiction) clients in Kansas City, Missouri and Eastern Jackson County.

Girl Scouts of Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri recently received a grant for $5,000 from the St. Joseph South Side Progressive Association to expand Girl Scouts membership and adult volunteer participation in Title One schools in St. Joseph, Missouri. In this project, girls at five St. Joseph schools will be offered membership waivers for entering Girl Scouts. Girls will also receive subsidies for troop fees, uniforms, books and other learning materials. Funds will also support a full-time volunteer coordinator (Manager, Volunteer Training and Support) to guide and support adult volunteers in order to grow the volunteer base in the community. As Girl Scout troops form at the schools, the initiative’s goal will be to increase membership each year, as well as to retain current scouts.