Mission Updates :: April 2025

:: Game-On, Grown-Ups!

Get Ready to Play Like a Kid!

It’s almost time to lace up those sneakers and bring your A-game! Grab your coworkers and friends for a throwback field day packed with friendly competition and good times. Teams of five will go head-to-head in 10 classic games—think tug-of-war, relay races, and more.

You’ll also enjoy team photos, swag bags, lunch, and plenty of laughs along the way. We’ve got fun awards up for grabs too: funniest team name, best dressed, most spirit, you name it.

Don’t miss this chance to make memories and support the important work we do at CAPA! Spots are still open, so get your team registered today!

:: Staff Celebrations

Congratulations Amanda!

We're excited to share that Amanda Enriquez has been promoted to Clinical Supervisor at CAPA! A Kansas City native, Amanda grew up in a bilingual family and earned her BA in Sociology from UMKC in 2016, followed by her Master of Social Work (MSW) from KU in 2017.

During her MSW program, Amanda interned at CAPA, beginning what would become a meaningful and lasting connection with our organization. Before returning to CAPA in December 2019, Amanda spent two and a half years supervising a crisis triage program in Kansas City.

We can't wait to walk alongside Amanda in this new role on her CAPA journey. Please join us in celebrating Amanda’s well-deserved promotion!

:: April Recap

Looking Back at Child Abuse Prevention Month

We had a great time last month, raising money and and awareness about CAPA and the important work we do during Child Abuse Prevention Month! From playing HamBINGO at Hamburger Mary’s KC to hanging out at Chicken N Pickle for Give Back Night, it was awesome to see so many people show up to support kids and families. Together, we raised more than $2,000 to help keep our programs going.

We were excited to be named April’s Community Minute Spotlight. A big thanks to our board member Danny Murphy for the nomination and to Community Lending of America for helping share our story. It really does take a village, and we’re glad you’re part of ours.

Finally, we took time to recognize the inaugural National Home Visiting Week and the important work of our home visitors Ellie and Alena, who help parents feel supported and stay connected with their kids, even during tough times.

:: Celebrating 50 Years of Impact

Traveling Through CAPA's Timeline

1975 to Today

For 50 years, CAPA has partnered with other organizations to protect children and strengthen families, and one of our longest-standing relationships is with Comprehensive Mental Health Services (formerly Northeast Jackson County Mental Health Center - NEJCMHC).

Comprehensive Mental Health Services (CMHS) has been a pillar of support in Eastern Jackson County for more than five decades, offering trauma-informed behavioral health and substance use services to children, families, and adults across ten locations in the region. Their commitment to progressive, individualized care has helped countless individuals heal and thrive.

The connection between CMHS and CAPA goes back to our very beginning. Representatives from NEJCMHC were present at the very first CAPA meeting in 1975. Just a few years later, in April 1979, the partnership was formalized through a financial agreement that included $200 in monthly support, office space, and operational backing. Later that year, CAPA moved into NEJCMHC’s Englewood office, laying the foundation for decades of collaboration in service to our community.

Today, we continue to be inspired by CMHS’s mission and honored by the history we share. Together, we've grown stronger, building a safer, healthier future for children and families in our community.

:: 2025 Sponsors & Mission Partners

Leading the Way to a Safer Community

You can join Speaks Chapels, Blue Cross Blue Shield Kansas City, Comprehensive Mental Health Services, Lead Bank, Edward Jones Advisor - Danielle Trabon, JE Dunn Construction, Burmeister Gilmore LLP, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, and Simmons Bank as a sponsor in 2025! Mission and event sponsorship opportunities ranging from $500 to $10,000 are available. The 2025 Sponsorship Opportunities Packet is available below.

Your investment doesn't just fuel CAPA’s vital work, it also highlights your organization’s commitment to strengthening our community. To learn more, please contact Amanda Jackson, VP of Development, at ajackson@capacares.org or 816-252-8388 x 313.

:: Funder Feature

Children's Services Fund

The Children’s Services Fund (CSF) of Jackson County helps make sure kids and teens in our community get the mental health support they need to grow and thrive. CSF was created in 2016 after Jackson County voters approved a small sales tax to support children’s services. Since then, CSF has given more than $185 million to nearly 200 programs that help kids and families through counseling, crisis support, prevention programs, and more.

CSF works with local organizations to support kids and build strong partnerships. Thanks to CSF, more children in Jackson County have access to the care and support they need to live healthy, happy lives.