At KVC, we are focused on honoring individuality while working collaboratively in diverse and inclusive groups to ensure healthy childhoods and healthy communities throughout the communities we serve.

KVC’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging is grounded in the diverse representation of the children, adults and families we serve. We believe our clients will become even more diverse (race, religion, socio-economic status, gender identity, country of origin, ability status, etc.) as the overall population continues to increase its diverse makeup. The changing demographics of our country impacts organizations in the human welfare service area and dictates the need to make diversity and inclusion a priority.

KVC embraces innovation and has been at the forefront of identifying and embracing a holistic approach to family health. To successfully provide the best quality of services, we must have the innovative thinking that exists when diverse groups of employees are tasked with developing the best way to provide quality services. At the heart of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) is innovation; therefore, our DEIB efforts will ensure we are valuing individuals diverse dimensions, while allowing those individuals to work, create, express and increase KVC’s value to the communities in which it operates.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion + Belonging

As a child and family serving organization, KVC commits to treating every person with compassion and respect. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or military status.

We recognize the profound impact racism and other biases have on the health and wellbeing of children, families and communities. We commit to creating a positive, supportive culture where all are welcome and to providing the highest quality services to all children, adults and families.

By embracing an empathetic, pro-people, anti-racist, inclusive approach, we put our whole hearts into achieving our vision: a world in which every person is safe and connected to a strong family and a healthy community.

Recent DEIB-Inspired Initiatives & Successes

KVC Health Systems is one of over 2,200 signatories of CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion, the largest CEO-driven business commitment to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. Read more here: KVC Health Systems and Subsidiary Leaders Sign CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion Pledge.

Our involvement in CEO Action is helping us cultivate a workplace where diverse perspectives and experiences are welcomed and respected, and where our people feel encouraged to discuss diversity, equity and inclusion. Together, we are making good on the inherent promise that all of our people should be able to bring their best selves to work and unleash their full potential.

Some of our recent efforts to deepen diversity, equity and inclusion within our existing culture, programs and services include:

• Addressing racial disparities in the foster care and child welfare system (learn more)
• Actively recruiting diverse professionals to become KVC employees (learn more)
• Participating in diverse groups like the Asian American Chamber of Commerce and Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce
• Educating communities about the mental health needs of LGBTQIA+ individuals and sharing resources (learn more)
• Planning actions increase diversity in leadership to reflect the communities we serve
• Converting restrooms to be gender neutral
• Developing an inclusive LGBTQIA+ language guide to help team members
• Training all KVC team members on diversity, equity and inclusion
• Publicly stating our DEIB commitment on our front doors and lobbies
• Asking clients and supporters how well we treat individuals and respect diversity on surveys
• Got an idea? We’d love to hear it. Email us at info@kvc.org.

Meet KVC’s DEI+B Leader

Dr. Aby Washington Tabron

Dr. Abyssinia Washington Tabron is KVC Health Systems’ Vice President of Clinical Engagement and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion + Belonging.

Expanding diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging is an expression of our KVC values and critical to our work as social workers, therapists, and other helping professionals. KVC’s DEIB commitment also comes from our vision of the positive, inclusive culture we want for every employee and the compassionate, high-quality services we want to provide to every child, young person, and adult. KVC has made some important first steps in expanding DEIB, but we’ve only begun to scratch the surface of the rich creativity, innovation and value that come from celebrating each person’s individuality.

Dr. Aby is a clinical psychologist and has expertise in treating children and adolescents who have been victims of trauma. In her four years with KVC, Dr. Aby has helped child welfare agencies across the U.S. improve outcomes by learning to use the Safe & ConnectedTM practice model. Dr. Aby has served as a professor at the George Washington University’s Forensic Psychology program, an expert witness on child trauma and abuse in courts, and clinical director at a child advocacy center. She was a consultant with the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Youth Opportunities Initiative. In private practice, Dr. Washington has provided mental health care for children, adolescents, and young adults with severe trauma histories. Dr. Washington earned a doctorate in clinical psychology from the George Washington University, a master’s of education in counseling psychology from Howard University, and a bachelor’s in psychology from Spelman College.

Join the KVC Team

We’re looking for highly caring, highly skilled professionals from a diverse range of backgrounds. We have open positions in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Kentucky and West Virginia to help provide services including in-home family support, behavioral healthcare, foster care, adoption and children’s mental health hospitals. KVC is an equal opportunity employer. Learn more at www.kvc.org/careers.