Mission Updates :: August 2026

Save the Date: Halloween 2026

It's back! After an eight-year hiatus, CAPACares is thrilled to bring back Black and Orange: Rock Out at Rock Island, a spooktacular Halloween fundraiser packed with fun for a great purpose.

Enjoy live music, a DJ, and dancing all night long. Show off your creativity in our costume contest, bid on our silent and live auctions, and try your luck at the liquor pull. Stop by the temporary tattoo station and grab a treat at our trick-or-treat candy bar.

All proceeds support CAPACares' free counseling, education, and family support services for our community.

Saturday, October 31 | 7:00 p.m. | The Rock Island Bridge

1799 American Royal Dr, Kansas City, MO 64108

More details to come. Mark your calendars and start planning your costume!

Back-to-School Coping Skills

Summer is ending, and school will start soon for most kids and teens. A new school year can bring new worries. Kids will have new classrooms, new teachers, and new rules to learn, plus a new routine to get used to. Because of this, you might notice more big feelings around this time, like your child trying to avoid school or asking to leave.

To help with these feelings, you can make a back-to-school coping skills box with your child. Coping skills are simple tools that help calm our bodies and minds when we feel stressed, like taking deep breaths, counting down from 10, or using a fidget toy. The goal of a coping skills box is to give kids tools they can use at school to help them feel calm before or during a hard moment.

How to make a coping skills box:

1. Gather items that might help your child. Pick things that are quiet, so they don't distract the class. Good choices include a squishy fidget toy, a textured sticker, a small stress ball, a cotton ball with a drop of calming essential oil, kinetic sand or play dough, or mints.
2. Put the items in a small box, like a pencil box.
3. Add a picture chart of feelings and a list of coping skills (or use one of our free printables linked below!). Include "outside the box" ideas, like breathing exercises or getting a drink of water.
4. Practice using the box together before school starts. This helps your child feel ready to use it in class.

Rose Schmitt - CAPACares School-Based Therapist

Click the image to download a free printable!

Happy 15th CAPAversary, Kristina!

On August 1, our President and CEO Dr. Kristina Jones celebrated 15 years with CAPACares. What a milestone!

As a leader, Kristina does more than guide our team. She helps shape our culture and builds systems that support healing at every level.

"Professionally, I've developed a much deeper understanding of nonprofit leadership, finance, strategy, and organizational culture," Kristina shared. "Personally, I've learned that leadership isn't about having all the answers. It's about creating environments where people feel seen, valued, challenged, and supported enough to do their best work."

She added that this belief shapes how she leads every day: with transparency, humility, hope, and trust in what people and communities can become.

We are so lucky to have you, Kristina. Thank you for your wisdom, leadership, and warmth. Happy CAPAversary!

Become a Mission Partner or Event Sponsor

Creating a future that's safe for all children and supportive of all families is our goal. You can help!

Your partnership helps ensure that kids and families right here in KC have access to the care, support, and connection they deserve.

If you or your organization are interested in partnering with us, we’d love to start that conversation. You can email Forrest Saucier, our VP of Fundraising and Philanthropy, at fsaucier@capacares.org to learn more.

Ryan and Kady Martin