At KVC, people matter. Whether a family needs in-home counseling to make it through life’s challenges, a teenager needs compassionate psychiatric treatment, or a child needs a temporary foster family or a forever family through adoption, we exist to serve children and families because people matter.

During the recent rebranding of KVC Health Systems, Inc. and its subsidiaries, we adopted “people matter” as our tagline. While KVC offers a broad and diverse continuum of services, this concept is simple enough to convey why we exist:

WHO do we help? Children and families, especially those in crisis.
WHAT do we do? Provide services that enrich and enhance the lives of children and families.
WHY do we help? Because people matter.

In addition to this new concept, KVC has adopted a way of communicating which introduces the person first and the descriptor or condition second in order to emphasize that our clients are people first. It also indicates what a person has, not what a person is. We always strive to communicate with respect and compassion about and towards the people we serve. Some examples of “people-first language” are:

• “Children in foster care,” not “foster children”
• “Kids with special needs,” not “special ed kids”
• “He has schizophrenia,” not “he’s schizophrenic”

“People matter” isn’t just about what KVC does; it’s what all of us can do. Join us in taking action to show people that they matter!

Here are 5 ways you can join the “People Matter” movement:

1. Find forever homes for children

More than 102,000 U.S. children in foster care are waiting to be adopted. These children cannot be safely reunited with their birth families due to abuse, neglect or other challenges. People from all types of backgrounds can adopt children from foster care. On average, it takes approximately a year to adopt a child from the U.S. foster care system, and most adoptions have minimal costs associated with them that are often reimbursable. Learn more.

2. Reduce the stigma associated with mental illness

There is a huge need for prevention, early diagnosis and treatment for children and adolescents living with a serious mental illness. By educating the public about mental illness, we can change judgment into encouragement for people to get treatment. Words can also have an impact on those with mental illness, so practice using “people-first language.” Instead of using phrases like, “he/she is mentally ill,” choose “is affected by” or “has mental health challenges.”

3. Raise awareness regarding the effects of trauma

Traumatic experiences, such as abuse or neglect, can alter a child’s physical, emotional, cognitive and social development, in turn, impacting their family, community, and us all. We need to support children and youth by providing opportunities for them to find their way through depression, anxiety, trauma, feelings of violence and other interpersonal struggles. Learn more about how our children’s psychiatric hospitals do this.

4. Support children and families in need

Perhaps not everyone is called to make the life-changing decision to become a foster or adoptive parent, but there are other ways to help a child or family in need. You can offer your support by assembling welcome boxes, mentoring an older youth, providing respite care, or donating! You can even sponsor or attend an upcoming KVC event.

5. Increase access to care

Many people do not know where to turn for help, especially when it comes to mental health support. Become educated on the mental health resources available in your community, and advocate for increased access to care. KVC offers outpatient behavioral healthcare, in-home family therapy, children’s psychiatric and more. Read more about our services.

Together, we can make a difference in the lives of thousands of children and families across the country and around the globe. Because people matter.