A Year of Building Connection: Reimagining Health Through Connected Care

When Charley’s two daughters were living outside her care, she was determined to bring them home.

With help from KVC, including parenting education, emotional support and connections to community resources, Charley built on her strengths and developed the skills and confidence to create a safe, nurturing home.

Her hard work paid off when her family was safely reunited.

Charley’s story is one of many featured in KVC Health Systems’ 2026 Impact Report, A Year of Building Connection.

This year, KVC positively impacted 75,423 people through medical and behavioral healthcare, child welfare, family support and education.

Behind that number are children who found safety, parents who brought their families back together, people who received mental health treatment and students who reached milestones they once thought were out of reach.

And thanks to supporters like you, KVC is reaching more people with the care and connections they need.

What Did Your Support Make Possible This Year?

Across Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska and West Virginia, KVC works to strengthen families, prevent child abuse and neglect, promote mental wellness and help children succeed in school.

Here are a few accomplishments from our 2026 Impact Report:

• We strengthen families. KVC supported 19,806 families across all programs, helped safely prevent 5,407 children from entering foster care and reunited 774 children with 442 families. Learn about our foster care prevention and family support services.
• We prevent child abuse and neglect. KVC supported 5,330 children in foster families and helped 377 children find permanent homes through adoption.
• We help children and adults achieve mental wellness. More than 9,300 people received mental health services through KVC’s in-home family support and behavioral health programs, while Camber Mental Health served 12,327 children and adults.
• We empower children to learn, grow and thrive. KVC Academies served 654 students at eight K–12 therapeutic school locations across Missouri.

These numbers represent thousands of moments when someone received help, found hope or took an important step forward.

A Family’s Love That Lasted Beyond Foster Care

When 11-year-old G-Man entered foster care, a KVC-supported foster family welcomed him into their home with open arms. As their bond grew, his foster family helped him reconnect with his siblings and an aunt who could provide a safe, permanent home.

Saying goodbye wasn’t easy. But his foster family knew that helping G-Man stay connected to his relatives was what mattered most.

Today, G-Man lives with his aunt and remains close to his foster family. Instead of losing one family to join another, he gained an even bigger circle of people who love and support him.

His story shows that foster care is about more than providing a safe place to stay. It’s about building lasting relationships and helping children stay connected to the people who matter most.

You’ll find more stories like Charley’s and G-Man’s throughout the report, along with the people, partnerships and programs behind KVC’s work.

Building More Ways for Children and Families to Get Care

KVC is also investing in new services, partnerships and spaces to help more people access the care they need.

In St. Louis, Mo., St. Louis Children’s and KVC Health Systems and are preparing to open a new 77-bed children’s mental health hospital and renovated intensive outpatient treatment center in Webster Groves. Scheduled to open in December 2026, the facilities will expand access to mental health treatment for children and teens ages 6 to 18. Learn more about St. Louis Children’s and KVC Health Systems Youth Mental Health Care.

In Kansas City, Kan., we’re transforming Camber Mental Health’s flagship campus to create safer, more therapeutic spaces and expand specialized care for children with complex mental health needs. Learn about Camber’s Roots of Resilience capital campaign.

KVC is also advancing research, improving training for helping professionals and using technology to reduce administrative work so care teams can spend more time with the children, adults and families they serve.

As KVC Health Systems President and CEO Jason Hooper shares in the report:

“When we see a need, we find a way to be there.”

With continued community support, KVC can reach more people and connect them with the care they need.

Thank You for Being Part of Our Impact

None of this happens without the people who believe in our mission. Your generosity, volunteer service, advocacy and partnerships help children find hope, families stay together and people get the mental health care they need.

Through fundraising and community partnerships, the KVC Foundation helps support essential programs and services across the KVC Health Systems family of nonprofits.

We’re also committed to putting resources where they matter most. In fiscal year 2026, 89% of KVC’s operational expenses supported client care and program administration.

Our 2026 Impact Report shares more about the people we served, the progress we made, our financial stewardship and the work ahead. We hope you’ll explore what your support helped make possible this year.

Help More Children and Families Get the Care They Need

Every day, children and families turn to KVC for help. Your support helps us provide essential services, expand access to care and be there when people need us most.