Success Stories

Comprehensive Mental Health Services, Inc (CMHS) recently received a grant for $81,594 from the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City (now the Heath Forward Foundation) to support the addition of a Suicide Prevention Liaison and Hospital Discharge Specialist to improve the quality of services, prevent further hospitalizations, as well as inform and engage target populations of under-insured and uninsured consumers.

The YMCA of Greater Kansas City was recently awarded a $125,000 grant from the Hall Family Foundation to support general operations for the James B. Nutter Sr. Community Center/Linwood YMCA (Linwood Y). Funding from the Hall Family Foundation will not only support programs, but also allow the Y resources to address the dynamic context of socio-economic, cultural, institutional, and policy levers that impact the ability to pursue well-being in this corridor of urban Kansas City. This will take time and adaptability by those doing the work and our philanthropic partners.

Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy (Girls Prep) was recently awarded a $1,057,089 grant from the Department of Education Charter School Developers Fund to Girls Prep will use grant funds to support three key goals. First, Girls Prep will adopt research-based, CCSS-aligned curricula to ensure the foundations of a guaranteed and viable curriculum are in place for all students. Second, Girls Prep will use those curricula to drive CCSS-aligned Content Knowledge (CK) and Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) for all Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy staff. Finally, staff will use their curriculum and developmental experiences to dramatically increase high-need students’ achievement in terms of growth and proficiency. This grant provides funding to address inequitable academic outcomes through professional development (PD) for instructional leaders and teachers.

Comprehensive Mental Health Services, Inc. (CMHS) recently received a grant for $475,000 from Jackson County COMBAT for their Substance-Use Disorder Treatment Grant. These grant funds will be utilized to promote abstinence and recovery by providing supervised residential substance use programs, outpatient day treatment, intensive outpatient services, and supported recovery services.  This grant request encompasses salaries of staff providing the following substance use services: 1) Bed-Nights/residential stay (supervised), 2) Day treatment, intensive outpatient and outpatient-supported recovery services, and 3) Community support assistance. Program supplies (medical, office, assessment, curriculum, and videos), travel, memberships, food, and urinalysis costs are also included.

Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy (Girls Prep) recently received a grant for $100,000 from the Sosland Foundation of Kansas City to provide general operating support. With the support of Sosland Foundation, Girls Prep will purchase the school building located at 5000 East 17th Street. Girls Prep will perform environmental remediation, roof repairs, building envelope repairs, foundation waterproofing, water service repairs, structural engineer assessment and ensuing repairs on retaining walls and masonry, upgrades to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards, painting, and a variety of smaller repairs and improvements to prepare the space as a caring, warm learning environment.

Comprehensive Mental Health Services, Inc. (CMHS) recently received a grant for $48,700 from the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City (now the Health Forward Foundation) Applicant Defined Grant to support the expansion of School Prevention services in Jackson County school districts. Funding will be used for staff salaries (adding one FTE prevention specialist), supplies (computer, art supplies), mileage, new curriculum for grades 3-5 (Botvin LifeSkills), and indirect costs.

Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy (Girls Prep) recently received a grant from the Hall Family Foundation for $100,000 to support their capital campaign. Funding from the Hall Family Foundation will help Girls Prep perform environmental remediation, roof repairs, building envelope repairs, foundation waterproofing, water service repairs, structural engineer assessment and ensuing repairs on retaining walls and masonry, upgrades to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards, painting, and a variety of smaller repairs and improvements to their middle school building.

The YMCA of Greater Kansas City recently received a grant for $57,888 from the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City (now the Health Forward Foundation), Mental Health Fund to deliver Head Start Trauma Smart services within the Head Start programs run by the YMCA. Funding will send key Head Start Leadership staff through the TS Academies to be able to serve as trainers and coaches for all Head Start staff in this model. Staff will be trained on reflective coaching, parent education, and the Trauma Smart (TS) model. This, along with ongoing consultation from Crittenton to support evaluation and fidelity, will provide the Y with greater organizational capacity, increasing access to trauma informed services, improving program capacity, and delivering improved quality of care.

reStart, Inc. recently received a grant for $55,000 from the COMBAT Prevention Renewal to support the key staffing positions within reStart’s Youth Anti-Violence and Substance Abuse Prevention Program. This programming includes secondary and indicated prevention activities and services delivered across the reStart Youth Network (RYN) including Street Outreach, Youth Emergency Shelter, Youth Transitional Living Program, and the Maternity Group Home.