We recently held a nationwide story contest to gather real snapshots of how KVC is achieving its mission of enriching and enhancing the lives of children and families. KVC is a nonprofit organization that touches tens of thousands of people’s lives each year through in-home family support, reunification services, foster care, adoption, behavioral healthcare and psychiatric hospitals.

Nearly 70 stories were submitted from employees, clients and families. There was representation from each state where KVC has a presence. Here are some of the winning stories:

Top Stories about Keeping Families Safely Together
· Ex-Marine Dad and Stigmatized Mom Learn Parenting Skills (Aaron Jones, KVC Kansas)
· Mom and Mexican-American Teen with Autism Rebuild Their Relationship (Eric Wilkinson, KVC Kentucky)

Top Stories about Foster Care & Adoption
· Matthew Street Sign is a “Sign” to Adopt Boy with Cerebral Palsy (Megan Edmonds, KVC Kansas)
· Foster Parents Support and Encourage Birth Mother Working to Reunify With Son (Jason Bequette, KVC Nebraska)

Top Stories about Hospital Services
· Self-Harming Teen Finds Healing at KVC Prairie Ridge Hospital (James Roberson, KVC Hospitals)
· KVC Prairie Ridge Staff Refuse to Give Up on Struggling Teen (Annmarie Arensberg, KVC Hospitals)

Top Story of an Employee Going Above & Beyond
· Helping a 14-year-old Gang Member Expecting His First Son (A tribute to KVC Nebraska employee Erin Curran submitted by Jamie Chiburis)

Top Story from a Non-Employee
· Couple Celebrates “O Fish Al” Adoption of Young Boy (Paul Neun, foster/adoptive parent with KVC Nebraska)

Honorable Mentions
· Brett Easley, KVC Health Systems – Family expands through adoption of 8 children
· Debora Wells, KVC West Virginia – Family with six children
· Erin Stucky, KVC Health Systems – Email from young woman formerly in foster care
· Tyler Jenkins, KVC Kansas – Foster care
· Marsha Messer, KVC West Virginia – Foster care and adoption of Baby K
· James Roberson, KVC Hospitals – Charlie’s story
· Fred Watts, KVC Hospitals – Cortez’s story
· Michelle Acevedo/Fred Watts, KVC Hospitals – Diandre’s story
· Lena Woods, KVC Kansas – Helping mother keep custody of her child
· Ciara Stancer, Youth formerly served by KVC West Virginia – “On being a foster child”
· Cynthia Frisbie, Foster parent with KVC Kansas – First time fostering

KVC Team with the Highest Rate of Participation:
KVC West Virginia

Submit Your Story

Have a story to share? KVC will hold another story contest this summer and we need to hear from you! Learn more and submit your story now.