March 2025 Update

After school care, shelter for the homeless, disaster recovery, job training, health care, disease research, food for low-income Americans. These are just a few of the social supports that abruptly stopped when federal grants were halted by Executive Order. Healthy Start, our flagship program at Nurture KC, was not immune to the freeze as it is a federally-funded program. While a federal court has temporarily protected this funding by blocking the freeze, it is clear that the safety net is extremely vulnerable going forward. I’m sure there were many nonprofits who experienced hardship in sustaining services for the short period in which the freeze was in effect. For all of us, the attempted reversal in honoring contracts creates mistrust and inertia as we weigh mission delivery against an unreliable funding commitment. 


Nonprofits have partnered with the federal government for decades to deliver needed services to all Americans. This partnership is part of the social contract that is so intrinsic to our culture that we have taken it for granted, not realizing the broad impact on the everyday lives of Americans. Every congressional district in the country has at least one nonprofit, according to Urban Institute. Government funding accounts for 33% of all revenue going to nonprofits each year. At Nurture KC, this funding goes to reduce infant and maternal mortality in Kansas City, improving the lives of families. In these polarizing times, we must still appeal to the collective good and reject policies that will be detrimental to so many of us and our neighbors. If these supports and the culture that cultivated them disappear, it will be extremely difficult to bring back.


Tracy Russell

Chief Executive Officer, Nurture KC

FIMR 20th Anniversary Report

Nurture KC is excited to share the 20th Anniversary Report on Kansas City’s Fetal Infant Mortality Review (FIMR). For two decades, FIMR has worked to understand and address the factors behind fetal and infant deaths—driving real change to improve birth outcomes and reduce racial disparities.


From expanding safe sleep initiatives in hospitals to strengthening prenatal care and bereavement support, FIMR’s work has made a lasting impact.


Read the FIMR 20th Anniversary Report.

Nurture KC Baby Shower

Nurture KC is hosting a Community Baby Shower on April 19. This event supports expecting and new moms up to one year postpartum, offering a day of games, food, and gifts.


Families can connect, learn, and celebrate while receiving valuable resources for their parenting journey.


Registration is required to attend: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KJSV856

Consortium Corner

The Nurture KC Community Consortium is a partnership of community members, Healthy Start program participants and other stakeholders in Kansas and Missouri who work to integrate health and social service systems and address social determinants of health to decrease disparities in infant mortality and poor perinatal health outcomes. It is how we support our community and program participants.


Through a community needs assessment, the Consortium has prioritized housing as a key focus. Their goal is to ensure everyone in the Kansas City metro has access to safe, affordable, and healthy housing by addressing root causes of instability, supporting affordable housing initiatives, advocating for policy change, connecting families to resources, and providing educational tools.


The Consortium recently was called to take action in opposition to HB 595 and Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding cuts. HB 595 would remove local control over renter protections and limit the ability of Missouri cities and towns to respond to housing challenges in their communities, specifically those renters using Housing Choice Vouchers, limiting efforts to ensure stable and affordable housing options. HUD is a critical agency for housing, community development, and homelessness services. If proposed cuts go through, the consequences will be catastrophic for the families that we serve.


For more information on the Community Consortium, click here.


If you would like to join the Community Consortium, please contact our Community Engagement Director, Ahkeya Howard. Email: ahoward@nurturekc.org T: (816) 381-2528.

2024 Annual Report

Our 2024 Annual Report is here. We’re proud to share the progress, impact, and stories that shaped this year at Nurture KC — from advancing health equity to supporting families through Healthy Start and beyond.


Thank you to our community, partners, and supporters for being part of this work!


Read the full report: 2024 Annual Report

We're Hiring! Administrative Assistant

We’re looking for an Administrative Assistant to help drive our mission of improving the health and well-being of Kansas City families. If you’re organized, detail-oriented, and passionate about making a difference, we’d love to connect with you!



Key responsibilities include office management and staff support, membership and database management, and accounting support.


Learn more: https://indeedhi.re/41L3Lzj


Please send resume, cover letter and salary requirements to info@nurturekc.org.

Membership News


Individual Membership Renewals:

Cheryl Herzog Arneill

Shelley Mayse

Connor Stangler


Organization Membership Renewals:

Advent Health Shawnee Mission - Benefactor Level

Infant Loss Resources - Donor Level

Project Eagle - Donor Level

Join or renew your Membership today!

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NURTURE KC

300 East 39th Street, Suite 4K

Kansas City, MO 64111

www.nurturekc.org

info@nurturekc.org

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