Everyone goes through tough times. In fact, 2 out of every 3 people have experienced serious childhood adversity like abuse, neglect, witnessing violence, or having a family member attempt or die by suicide.

KVC Health Systems is a family of nonprofit organizations working to strengthen families and stop this cycle of childhood adversity. To that end, we know there is power in people sharing their personal stories of overcoming traumatic and difficult experiences. If you have such a story, sharing it with the appropriate audience and with the support of a mental health professional can encourage someone else and change the world.

Do you believe every child deserves to be safe and connected to a strong family? Join us to receive a few inspiring stories each month and help end childhood adversity. Subscribe here! 

Storytelling’s power is why, each year, KVC Health Systems holds a Story Contest. We celebrate the inspiring ways children and adults have healed from serious challenges like child abuse, neglect, strained relationships, mental health needs, addiction, loneliness and hopelessness. Our nationwide team and supporters are grateful to have been a part of these stories.

We received over 100 entries to our 2020 Story Contest, making it our biggest contest ever. Since then, we’ve been sharing the stories online. The stories came from youth and families we’ve served, foster or adoptive families who support our mission, and KVC team members who provide in-home family support, behavioral health, foster care, adoption, children’s psychiatric hospital treatment or other vital services. The stories highlight the resilience of people we serve and the compassion and expertise of our team members.

The KVC Story Contest uses a team of judges to select the most emotionally compelling stories. The top winners received Amazon gift cards, several people won swag like tote bags and tumblers, and everyone who submitted a story got custom wallpaper to use on their smartphones.

Now is a great time to check out any of these stories you may have missed! Also, please enter our 2021 Story Contest taking place in May. You can win KVC swag and Amazon gift cards!

TOP WINNERS

Connection First: How a KVC Therapist Created a Safe Space for Healing from Child Abuse

Submitted by Catrina Brown, KVC Hospitals

Angry Student Transforms Into a Successful High Schooler With Help from a Caring Teacher

Submitted by Ryan Ratzlaff, KVC Niles

Case Manager Helps Mom Safely Reunify with Baby Girl

Submitted by Emily Cavender, KVC West Virginia

Teen in Foster Care with KVC Kansas Later Becomes a Foster Parent Herself

Submitted by Tandy Lindstrom, KVC Kansas

Finding the Missing Pieces: How a Young Boy Found His Forever Home

Submitted by Lisa Ahmann, KVC Nebraska

KVC’s Commitment to People Moves Me to Tears (See Pg. 17)

Submitted by Evalinda Coria, KVC Health Systems

ADDITIONAL WINNERS

Some stories will be shared later this year. Follow KVC on social media so you don’t miss them!

• Kroeger Truman, KVC West Virginia
• Carol Marnell, KVC Kansas: Surprising Coincidence Leads Couple to Adopt 3 Teen Siblings
• Cassidy Kearney, KVC Kansas: After Growing Up in a Family That Fostered and Adopted Children, Now I’m a Therapist to Foster Families
• Laurel Phillips, KVC Hospitals: Therapist at KVC Children’s Psychiatric Hospital Helps Girl Heal from Trauma
• Michele McKizia, KVC Nebraska
• Sarah Nixon, KVC Nebraska: Employee Fulfills Child in Foster Care’s Birthday Wish, Sparks Hope and Inspires Healing
• Gregory Franchett II, KVC Hospitals
• Eric Dugan, KVC West Virginia
• Annabelle Minturn, KVC Kansas
• April Robinett, KVC West Virginia
• Eric Groves, KVC Niles: My Dad Was Helped by KVC Niles as a Child, Now I’m a KVC Supporter
• Leslie C., KVC West Virginia
• Dalton Shump, KVC Kansas: I Was Adopted Through Foster Care, Now I Am a Foster Care Case Manager
• Jasmine Baker, KVC West Virginia

Submit Your Story & Win:

Do you have a story that shows how you made a positive difference in someone’s life through KVC, or how KVC made a positive difference in yours? By submitting your story, you’ll win an instant prize of custom wallpaper, get entered into weekly drawings for free swag, and be entered to win one of several Amazon gift cards. Entering takes as little as 5 minutes. Submit your story today at www.kvc.org/stories.

If you believe every child should be safe and connected to a strong family and a healthy community, join us! Explore KVC careers, learn more about helping a child or teen who has experienced abuse or neglect by becoming a foster or adoptive parent, or consider donating online today.