Who We Are

About the Children’s Services Fund

The Children’s Services Fund (CSF) of Jackson County operates under the Revised Statutes of Missouri (RSMo) 67.1775 and 210.861, which authorize local communities to establish a community children’s services fund supporting ten designated service areas. In 2016, Jackson County voters approved the creation of the CSF and dedicated a portion of local sales tax to support these services. In 2022, voters reaffirmed their support by reauthorizing the fund and increasing the allocation to one-quarter cent of the county sales tax.

Quick Facts

CSF stewards tax dollars to organizations that support the mental health and social-emotional well-being of children and youth (0-19).
CSF is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors appointed by the Jackson County legislature, and conducts all business in an open manner consistent with the Missouri Sunshine Law.
Since our voter approval in 2016, the CSF has awarded over $217 million in support of programs and services at over 130 local partner organizations.

Core Values

CSF is guided by the values of transparency, collaboration, continuous learning, equity and opportunity.

Transparency

We practice stewardship by embracing transparency in our decision making to create trust and accountability in the deployment of our financial resources.

Collaboration

We foster collaboration by leveraging expertise within the community and encouraging diverse perspectives in pursuit of common goals.

Continuous Learning

We utilize continuous learning to increase knowledge and understanding to ensure maximum impact for the youth of Jackson County.

Equity

We champion equity by celebrating differences, valuing lived experiences, and allocating resources for all children to thrive.

Opportunity

We create opportunity through accessible pathways, empowering partners and individuals to guide their own growth and success.

Our Strategic Imperatives

Our work is driven by four strategic imperatives, anchored in “Investing in Children. Strengthening Community.”

Invest in Children

Invest in the mental health and social-emotional well-being of children in Jackson County and serve as a champion for children and their families.

Strengthen Partners

Invest in, collaborate with and convene partners and other organizations to align community resources with the needs of Jackson County children.

Honor Community

Demonstrate the impact of CSF by defining and measuring results and share those results with the Jackson County community.

Optimize Organization

Ensure a diverse and innovative culture through operations and governance focused on responsiveness and organizational efficiencies and effectiveness.

CSF Core Funding Service Areas

Per state statute, we provide funding in support of the following 10 service areas that promote mental health and the social-emotional well-being of Jackson County children and youth.

Counseling and Assessment

Supportive services promote the wellbeing of children and families with psychological evaluations, mental health screenings, therapy, and therapeutic case management.

Crisis Intervention

Short-term acute mental health services that stabilize the child, reduce crisis intensity, connect the family with resources, and help return the child to a pre-crisis state.

Family Support Interventions

Home and community-based services that provide integrated support for children and their caregivers, both together and through child-focused approaches that build protective factors, enhance stability, and support the well-being of the whole family.

Outpatient Psychiatric Treatment

Children receive comprehensive psychiatric services from evaluation and diagnosis to treatment and medication management.

Outpatient Substance Use Treatment

Children and families receive outpatient substance use services, including education, early interventions, counseling, treatment, recovery plans, and aftercare support.

Prevention

Services to help children learn coping strategies, strengthen relationships with positive adults and their wider communities, and build life-long social-emotional and personal safety skills.

Respite Care

Provides temporary care for children to offer relief to caregivers, proactively or during periods of crisis or stress, thereby preserving the family unit.

Supports for Teen Parents

Young parents develop positive parenting skills, receive counseling and behavioral health supports, and receive resources and referrals.

Temporary Shelter

Children experiencing abuse, neglect, houselessness, or other housing barriers can live in a safe, stable environment for up to 30 days with supportive services.

Transitional Living

Provides safe living arrangements, counseling, and essential support to help older youth and families with children transition to stable housing.

Our Community Impact Framework

Community Impact Framework

We make funding decisions based on key areas of impact and specific activities and outcomes. This framework is designed to support programs focused on prevention, resilience, and community, as well as supporting new opportunities that strengthen organizations supporting resilient and thriving children and youth.

Take a closer look at what guides our funding decisions.

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