Community Resources

Here is a lengthy list of resources to help your family feel the warmth of community support, including specialized services for parents, youths, and everyone else. Although we have gathered these resources here, unfortunately we can offer no guarantees to their ability to meet each family's individual needs. We offer these as a starting point for your own information in hopes that they can help you feel welcomed as you are.

*Each title takes you directly to the relevant section.

Mental Health
Resources

National Mental Health Resources

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Kansas City Area Mental Health Resources

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Parenting Resources

National Parenting Resources

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Kansas City Area Parenting Resources

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Community Centers

Kansas City, Missouri Community Centers

Brush Creek Community Center: Offers an extensive list of classes and special events as well as access to a computer lab, concessions, fitness center, Little Free Library, and wifi.
Garrison Community Center: Offers an extensive list of classes and special events as well as access to a basketball court, concessions, fitness center, gymnasium, kitchen, Little Free Library, meeting rooms, and wifi.
Gregg/Klice Community Center: Offers an extensive list of classes and special events as well as access to aquatics, concessions, fitness center, Little Free Library, and wifi.
Hillcrest Community Center: Offers an extensive list of classes and special events as well as access to concessions, fitness center, kitchen, gymnasium, Little Free Library, meeting rooms, and wifi.
Kansas City North Community Center: Offers an extensive list of classes and special events as well as access to concessions, fitness center, a library-to-go program, Little Free Library, meeting rooms, tennis court, and wifi.
Line Creek Community Center: Offers an extensive list of classes and special events as well as access to concessions, fitness center, Little Free Library, meeting rooms, wifi, and a zero depth pool.
Marlborough Community Center: Offers an extensive list of classes and special events as well as access to concessions, fitness center, library-to-go program, Little Free Library, meeting rooms, and wifi.
Southeast Community Center: Offers an extensive list of classes and special events as well as access to aquatics, concessions, fitness center, gymnasium, Little Free Library, meeting rooms, and wifi.
Tony Aguirre Community Center: Offers an extensive list of classes and special events as well as access to aquatics, concessions, fitness center, kitchen, and wifi.
Westport Roanoke Community Center: Offers an extensive list of classes and special events as well as access to a computer lab, concessions, fitness center, gymnasium, kitchen, Little Free Library, meeting rooms, and wifi.

Kansas City, Kansas Community Centers

Armourdale Community Center: Offers a gymnasium, meeting rooms, and kitchen.
Beatrice L. Lee Community Center: Offers a basketball court, kitchen, playground, and meeting rooms.
Joe E. Amayo Argentine Community Center: Offers a small community room, gymnasium, and fitness center.

Overland Park, Kansas Community Centers

Matt Ross Community Center: Offers classes and special events as well as a fitness center, indoor pool, gymnasium, and rental spaces.
Tomahawk Ridge Community Center: Offers classes and special events as well as a fitness center, gymnasium, game room, and rental spaces.

Lenexa, Kansas Community Centers

Lenexa Rec Center: Offers a classes and special events as well as a fitness center, indoor pool, an indoor walking/jogging trail, two gymnasiums, and meeting / rental space.
Lenexa Community Center Event Space: Offers a meeting / rental space along with a gymnasium.

Lee's Summit, Missouri Community Centers

Harris Park Community Center: Offers classes, meeting and rental space, and child and adult league sports. During the summer, this facility's gymnasium and other facilities are closed because they host a summer camp program. This facility is also next to Summit Waves and Harris Park (commonly called the castle park because it has a castle design).
Longview Community Center: Offers classes and special events as well as indoor aquatics, gymnasium, fitness centers, a walking track, and meeting / rental spaces. There are also seasonal bike rentals available.
Gamber Community Center: Offers a small fitness area, an outdoor fitness walking track with exercise machines, billiards room, ping pong tables, gaming area, and a gazebo area. There are multiple rooms for rental and meeting opportunities.
J. Thomas Lovell Jr. Community Center at Legacy Park: Offers classes and special events as well as a fitness center, gymnasium, indoor pool, meeting / rental space, and a walking track. There are also seasonal canoe and stand up paddle board rentals available for reservation.

Independence, Missouri Community Centers

Roger T. Sermon Community Center: Offers classes and special events as well as a fitness center, lobby, theatre, gymnasium, and other meeting spaces.
Truman Memorial Building: Offers meeting and special event rental space as well as an auditorium / gymnasium and catering kitchen. There are also some community groups that meet at this facility.

Food + Toiletries Pantries

Food Pantries: National

Feeding America: Offers a national list of food pantries through their food bank locator. They also offer information and policy information.
- Locator map
Food Pantries: Offers a listing service of food pantries available by state.

Food Pantries: Kansas City Area

Harvesters Community Food Network: Offers many food distribution sites throughout Missouri and Kansas, with a food locator map with information on the various food pantries, drive-thru pick-up sites, and kitchens they partner with. They also partner with various locations to offer their Meals for Kids program.
- Locator map
- Meals for Kids
Feeding Missouri: Offers information about the coalition of the six Missouri Food Banks that work to help with hunger throughout the state. They also offer information about hunger in both Missouri and nationally.
Second Harvest Community Food Bank: Offers information and pantry locator for the area surrounding St. Joseph, including on the Kansas side.
Kansas Food Bank: Offers information about the food pantries available within the state of Kansas that is outside of the Kansas City area.
Nourish KC: Offers programs around hunger, including the Kansas City Community Kitchen which provides meals at no cost Monday through Friday at 750 Paseo Boulevard in Kansas City, Missouri.
- Community Kitchen Program

Diaper Bank

National Diaper Bank Network: Offers information about families who need diapers and includes a locator map of partner organizations by state.
- Member Site Locator
Happy Bottoms: Offers diapers to families in need throughout the Kansas City metro area. There are multiple locations for distribution by county.
- How to Get Diapers

Domestic Violence Resources

Domestic Violence Resources: National

National Domestic Violence Support Hotline: Call 1-800-799-7233 for help or text START to 88788. They also offer a directory to local services, information on creating a safe exit plan, and resources for helping others in domestic violence situations.
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence: Offers information and advocacy for survivors of domestic violence. They have resources on creating a safe exit plan, financial education, and education for the people around someone who is being abused.
Domestic Violence Resource Network through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Offers resources for survivors of domestic violence and organizations helping them, including links to culturally responsive organizations.
National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Mental Health: Offers resources to understand how domestic violence and mental health are connected.
National Resource Center on Domestic Violence: Offers links and resources for domestic violence survivors and organizations working with them.
The NW Network: Offers services to LGBTQIA+ survivors of abuse, including domestic violence. While this organization is based in the Pacific Northwest, it offers referrals and services nationally.
Online MSW Programs: Although this is a site intended for social work students, it also offers a lot of resources for understanding domestic violence.

Domestic Violence Resources: Kansas City Area

Hope House: Offers a shelter for domestic violence survivors as well as legal assistance, children's advocacy, and therapy to help all people recover from domestic violence. They also offer online advice for making a safe exit plan.
Rose Brooks: Offers a shelter for domestic violence survivors as well as therapy programs for adults and children, and legal and police advocacy support. They also offer a shelter program for pets as well as safe exit plans that include consideration of family pets.
Synergy Services: Offers resources to survivors of domestic violence, including a Safe Place program for youth, emergency shelter and temporary housing, counseling services, and a recovery program to help build resiliency and employment skills.
Newhouse: Offers emergency shelter, healing resources, court advocacy, substance abuse recovery, and more.
Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (MOCADSV): Offers links to emergency providers as well as educational resources around the issues of domestic and sexual violence.
Safehome Kansas: Offers services and emergency shelter for people experiencing domestic violence. They also include a hotline, counseling, legal assistance, and safe exit planning tips.
Kansas City Anti-Violence Project (KCAVP): Offers resources and advocacy for LGBTQ domestic violence or sexual assault survivors. In addition to advocacy and counseling services, KCAVP also offers documentation services for anti-LGBTQIA+ violence without requiring people reporting to them to also report to law enforcement.
Mattie Rhodes Center: Offers family support services to children, individuals, and families with a special emphasis on culturally responsive environments. These services include domestic violence support as well.
Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA): Offers services to people dealing with sexual assault, including children and adults.
Hope Haven of Cass County: Offers emergency shelter, court advocacy, and outreach to domestic violence survivors. They also include on-site pet housing.

Employment Services

Employment Agencies

Missouri Job Center / Full Employment Council: Offers career skills training, job placement services, and employer services. There is also a dedicated section on providing employment and job training to people ages 16 - 24. Multiple locations are available on the Missouri side of the Kansas City metro area.
Workforce Partnership with Kansas Works: Offers career skills training and resources to both employees and employers, including networking, résumé assistance, skill assessments, interviewing skills, and educational training. This service serves the Kansas counties of Johnson, Leavenworth, and Wyandotte.
Kansas Works: Offers all Kansas jobseekers and employers access to employment services, including networking, résumé assistance, skill assessments, interviewing skills, and educational training. There are also career counselors who can help with applying to federally funded opportunities.

Legal Assistance

Low Cost and Free Legal Services

Legal Aid of Western Missouri: Offers free civil legal assistance to people who cannot afford it. Types of cases they handle include: domestic violence protection, guardianships, public benefits, consumer law, economic development, immigration, mental healthcare access, and migrant farmworkers project. They have several offices, including two in Kansas City, Warrensburg, St. Joseph, and Joplin.
Missouri Legal Services: Offers many general legal assistance resources for the entire state of Missouri. The website also serves as a resource for finding direct legal assistance from all four of the legal aid associations that serve regions of Missouri.
Missouri Courts Information on Pro Bono Programs: Offers a general overview of where to find help. Other links on the website provide access to court forms, information about legal cases, and other relevant court-related information.
Kansas Legal Services: Offers legal aid for civil court matters for the entire state of Kansas. They also provide information for people seeking quick, low cost legal advice through a hotline where lawyers answer questions for $2 per minute. They also provide an extensive list of legal forms that may be needed along with a free chat to assist (though they do not provide legal advice on the live chat).
Kansas Courts Information on Legal Help: Offers an overview of the ways to find a low cost lawyer. In addition to the information about finding legal aid, there are links to pending court cases, legal opinions and cases, and other relevant items. Under the public tab, there is also a list of how to find eviction resources, obtain marriage licenses, file protection orders, etc.
The Legal Aid Clinic at KU Law: Offers legal assistance provided by students under a practicing attorney. Although they do not take all types of cases, they may provide legal assistance for: (1) criminal cases for juveniles charged in Douglas County District Court, (2) criminal cases for adults charged with crimes and municipal violations in Lawrence Municipal Court, (3) civil cases to individuals seeking gender marker changes through the Douglas County District Court, and (4) civil cases that focus on school discipline, mental health, race and educational equity, and other emerging matters.

Rent + Utility Assistance

Emergency Assistance

Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance (direct link to program): Offers Kansas residents who need additional money for their rent to apply for rent, utility, and internet assistance.
Kansas Housing: Offers additional information to people struggling with housing costs to find assistance. There are links to programs based on personal status, such as renters, homeowners, unhoused people.
Kansas City, Kansas Housing Authority: Offers information on how to apply for their assistance as well as a list of other organizations that provide emergency assistance as well. There is a mix of both secular and religious organizations listed.
United Way of Greater Kansas City: Offers financial assistance for renters as well as links to additional resources for assistance based on location.
City Government of Kansas City, Missouri Assistance: Offers a list of organizations and their contact details that provide additional relief of rent and utility costs.
Missouri State Assistance for Housing Relief (SAFHR) Program for Renters: Offers rental assistance for eligible Missouri residents.
Missouri State Assistance for Housing Relief (SAFHR) Program for Homeowners: Offers assistance for Missouri residents who are struggling to afford their mortgage.
Hillcrest Hope: Offers two programs to help with housing costs, a transitional housing program and an eviction prevention program. Although this is a religious organization, their services are open to anyone who is eligible.
Missouri Department of Social Services: Offers assistance with a variety of needs, including rent and utility needs, temporary cash benefits, and employment assistance.

Transitional Housing + Homelessness Resources

Homelessness Resources: National

National Coalition for the Homeless: Offers a national overview of resources and information about homelessness, including policy actions and educational resources. They also have an online directory of resources for people who need help with homelessness, including people who are at risk of becoming homeless.
National Alliance to End Homelessness: Offers a national overview of homelessness.
National Homelessness Law Center: Offers legal information to protect the rights of homeless people at the national level as well as providing links to resources for individuals.
Sleep Advisor's Guide to Sleeping While Homeless: Offers sleeping tips as well as a list of possible shelters by state. This site also offers general sleep advice for people who are not experiencing homelessness as well.

Transitional Housing and Homelessness: Kansas City Area

reStart: Offers resources for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless. They operate an emergency shelter for adults and families without requiring any kind of religious affiliation or family structure. Other programs include prevention efforts, transitional housing, and special events. They also have a special emphasis on serving youth.
KC Redemption: Offers several programs to help with recovery and transitional housing for formerly incarcerated individuals, including diversion, court-ordered services, and employment assistance.
Community Linc: Offers services for people, including individuals and families, who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. They also offer wrap-around services to assist their participants rebuild their lives.
Hillcrest Platte County: Offers assistance to help families and individuals who are experiencing homelessness or at risk. This is a Christian organization, but they serve people of all faiths.
Hillcrest Transitional Housing: Offers transitional housing program for adult, families, and youths.
River of Refuge: Offers transitional housing for families to help them become more self-sufficient.
Starfish Transitional Housing: Offers transitional housing services for women who are trying to maintain sobriety.
Sheffield Place: Offers services to homeless women and their children, including residential services, clinical services for both adults and children, aftercare services for children whose families have transitioned into stable housing, and permanent housing where families can stay as long as they would like while paying rent and receiving supportive services.
Amethyst Place: Offers transitional housing and other wrap-around services for women and their children. Although this site requires a referral from a partner agency, it's worth looking into as a site for resources and a potential referral, if your family qualifies.
Kansas City Stepping Stone: Offers transitional housing for people 16 - 21.
Mother's Refuge: Offers pregnant women assistance with housing and other services.

Health + Substance Use Resources

Community Health Centers

Samuel U. Rogers Health Center in Kansas City, Missouri: Offers affordable health care, including medical services for adults and children, women's health (including pre- and post-natal care), dental care, behavioral health (counseling), and telehealth. This is a community health center that also offers connections and referrals to other agencies.
KC Care Health Center in Kansas City, Missouri: Offers affordable primary care for children and adults, dental care, behavioral health care, women's health care, and more. They also provide gender-affirming care, including hormone replacement therapy, primary care, legal paperwork resources, and referrals.
Vibrant Health in Kansas City, Kansas: Offers affordable health care, including primary care for children and adults, women's health, dental care, behavioral, and telehealth.

Substance Use Resources: National

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) through the US Department of Health and Human Services: Offers links to resources and educational material to people needing substance abuse and/or mental health services.
SMART Recovery: Offers services to help people address substance and activity addictions or other harmful habits. These services include mutual support programs with meetings and self-empowerment tools to maintain self-directed change.
Detox Local: Offers links to local detox providers by state and information on withdrawal and recovery. There are also resources for specific populations and harm reduction.
Help.org's Guide to Low-Cost Rehab: Offers a resource list by state for rehab.
Start Your Recovery: Offers resources for substance use, including links to local facilities by state and information for family members. There are also resources for making a recovery plan.

Substance Use Resources: Kansas City Area

Midwest Recovery Center: Offers in-patient, transitional, and aftercare services for people dealing with substance abuse. They also offer services for family members.
First Call KC: Offers recovery services for individuals and families dealing with substance use.
Mattie Rhodes Center: Offers substance abuse in a culturally responsive environment.
ReDiscover Mental Health: Offers both residential and outpatient services for substance use as well as other mental health care services.
Sunflower Recovery Center: Offers in-patient, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient services for people dealing with substance use.
Guadalupe Centers: Offers outpatient services for substance abuse in both English and Spanish. There are also many other resources for people in the Latino community through the Guadalupe Centers.
Heartland Regional Alcohol and Drug Assessment Center: Offers assessments and referrals to treatment centers.
Tri-County Mental Health Services: Offers outpatient services to people dealing with substance abuse along with other mental health services.

LGBTQIA+ Resources

National Resources

Human Rights Campaign (HRC): Offers resources for LGBTQIA+ liberation, including tools for inclusion and equality.
GLAAD: Offers resources for LGBTQIA+ in increasing safety and visibility.
PFLAG: Offers resources for family members to better understand LGBTQIA+ issues.
The Trevor Project: Offers resources for LGBTQIA+ youth, especially in the areas of mental health and suicide prevention.
GLSEN: Offers resources for educators, students, and others to make education more inclusive.
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): Offers a wide range of resources of civil rights, including members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
National Center for Transgender Equality: Offers a wide range of resources to help the trans community.
Transgender Law Center: A trans-led organization that advocates for the rights and liberation of trans people.
Immigration Equality: Offers resources to help LGBTQIA+ immigrants.
SAGE / Advocacy and Services for LGBTQ+ Elders: Offers resources for elderly people as well as visibility campaigns and education around inclusion.
Gender Diversity: Offers education and resources around gender diversity to increase the understanding of the wide spectrum of genders.
Trans Lifeline: Led by trans people to offer trans peer support in a safe environment.
Forge: Offers resources and advocacy for transgender people.

Kansas City Area Resources

Kansas City Center for Inclusion: Offers a community space and resource hub for the Kansas City area, including free meeting spaces, special events, support, and other local resources.
Kansas City Anti-Violence Project (KCAVP): Offers advocacy and support around domestic violence, sexual abuse, and hate-based violence for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Equality Kansas: Offers advocacy and education around LGBTQIA+ issues.
Promo: Missouri's statewide education and advocacy group for LGBTQIA+ issues.
The Transgender Institute: Offers specialized support for transgender people in the Kansas City area.
Transformations KC: Offers support and education for transgender people.
KC Care Health Center: Offers gender-affirming primary care, hormone replacement therapy, and other health services.

Youth Services

National Youth Services

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Kansas City Area Youth Services

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Veterans Resources

National Veterans Resources

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Kansas City Area Veterans Resources

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