At KVC Health Systems, a family of nonprofits serving children and families, we always start with connection. Healing begins when we have positive relationships in our lives — people who see us, look out for us, and want the best for us. And at KVC, we get to be part of inspiring, life-changing connection stories every day. Whether that’s a story of a foster care caseworker noticing and meeting a child’s needs, a family reconnecting after difficult times, or a community coming together for a shared cause, life is really all about positive relationships with other people.

While some of us have had a harder road to walk, many of us have inspiring stories of transformation and healing we could share with others. These are personal stories of finding inner strength, overcoming traumatic and difficult experiences, and relying on the people and connections who supported us along the way. If you have such a story, sharing it with others or with a mental health professional can help you feel freer and lighter, encourage others, and can even change the world by sparking hope.

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 strained family 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 many entries to our 2024 Story Contest. Since then, we’ve been sharing the stories online. These 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 therapy and support, mental health treatment, foster care, adoption, inpatient children’s mental health treatment and other life-changing services. The stories highlight the resilience of the 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 2025 Story Contest- taking place now through August 8. You can win KVC swag and Amazon gift cards!

TOP WINNERS

Expanding Hearts and Home: The Easley Family’s Story of Adoption and Parenthood

Submitted by Brett Easley

From Overwhelmed to Empowered: A Family’s Journey with Support Services in Kentucky

Submitted by Lauren Warfield

How Compassionate Advocacy in Foster Care Reunited a Family

Submitted by Trish Hubbell

From Client to Advocate: How One Person’s Mental Health Journey Inspired Their Path to Social Work

Submitted by Phillip Caldwell, Camber

Client Becomes Proud KVC Employee

Submitted by Kim Hill, KVC Missouri 

ADDITIONAL WINNERS

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

• 5 Real-Life Success Stories of Youth and Families Reunifying After Foster Care — Breonia Gregory, David Harston and Sarah Duran, KVC Kansas
• Mother struggling with addiction graduates from rehab and receives support from KVC and is able to reunify with her children. “KVC was an answer to my prayers.” — Heather Henson, KVC Kentucky
• Foster/Adoptive mom experiences joy, helps children when her family welcomes four siblings into their home — Jessica Flynn, KVC Kansas
• Mom struggling with alcoholism, poverty, and stress gets help to become sober, starting to get visits with child again — Mikayla Goff, KVC Kentucky
• Teen in foster care gets to go to elite Pre-Law Camp at Stanford University — Lisa Ahmann, KVC Nebraska
• KVC team member shares that she gets to live her dream of helping children as a case manager — April Scott, KVC Missouri

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 during our upcoming Story Contest (now through August 8), you’ll win an instant prize of custom wallpaper and be entered to win one of several Amazon gift cards. Entering takes as little as 5 minutes. Submit your story 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.