2023 was a year of growth, innovation, and impact for the Children’s Services Fund of Jackson County. We started the year with three ambitious goals: to increase our funding for children’s mental, emotional, and behavioral well-being, to expand our team to support our vision and mission, and to move to a new location that would enhance our accessibility and functionality. We are proud to say that we achieved all three goals and more. Our 2023 Impact Report is now available to the community. Here, we are excited to share some highlights and celebrate the progress we’ve made together with our partners and community.
Children Served
In 2023, we funded seven of our 10 service areas to promote the mental, emotional and behavioral health and well-being of children 19 years old and younger. Through these service areas, we were able to impact 52,120 children in Jackson County. That’s 52,120 children who received the support they needed to overcome challenges, build resilience, and thrive. That’s 52,120 children who benefited from the expertise and compassion of our partner organizations. That’s 52,120 children who have a brighter future ahead of them.
Partners and Programs
We are proud to have partnered with 77 organizations that provide vital services to children and families in Jackson County. These organizations are doing important, innovative work in homes, schools, and communities. They are not only delivering high-quality programs, but also collaborating with us and each other to align resources, share best practices, and improve outcomes.
In 2023, we awarded $18.9 million in Core Funding to 99 programs across seven service areas. We also awarded $264,698 to two strategic initiatives that address emerging needs and gaps in the community. These awards are based on a rigorous and transparent process that ensures the best use of taxpayer dollars and the greatest impact for children.
In addition to Core Funding, we prioritized the capacity and sustainability of our partner organizations. 2023 marked the inaugural round of our Capacity Building funding, where we empowered organizations to enhance their performance by developing and fortifying their skills, systems, and infrastructure. Through these awards, we allocated $3.6 million over three years to 35 deserving organizations, furthering our commitment to their growth and effectiveness.
Team Growth and Location Change
As we reflect on 2023, we also want to acknowledge the growth and changes that happened within our own organization. We added four new staff members to our team, bringing our total to 9. We are grateful for the talent, diversity, and dedication of our team and board, who work tirelessly to fulfill our vision and mission.
We began 2023 longing for a little more space and with a vision to create space for our partners—space to meet, train, and connect. We relocated to 2345 Grand Blvd, Suite 1450, in Kansas City. Our new space isn’t just more accessible, spacious, and functional for our staff and visitors; here, our hopes for the CSF Community Room also became a reality! The CSF Community Room can accommodate up to 58 people for meetings, training, and events. Since the grand opening of our new space back in March, we’ve already hosted several partners and stakeholders in our new home and look forward to strengthening connections and collaborations here in this space.
We hope our 2023 impact has inspired and encouraged you. There’s so much more behind the numbers: Your support and tax dollars are making a difference for Jackson County kids! If you want to learn more about our work, our partners, and our impact, please visit our website, follow us on social media, or sign up for our newsletter.
