Children's Connection
Meeting the needs of a unique population
Targeted to children of incarcerated parents
Children’s Connection has been in existence since 1999. It is the only program in the Greater Kansas City area whose sole purpose and vision is to provide programs and services to children in Jackson County with an incarcerated parent, in a holistic manner and empower them to become productive members of society. Our mission is "To inspire hope and strengthen children by providing programs and services that lessen the impact of the incarceration, and the prevention of intergenerational crime and incarceration.” The program operates Monday through Thursday, in an after-school setting (summer programming is also provided) for youth ages 5-18. The children are transported on vans from their respective school to the program site and home each evening.
Once on site at the 40 Acres and a Mule campus, the children participate in programs and services focused in five core areas:
Character and Leadership Development
Academic Enrichment
The Arts
Sports, Fitness and Recreation
Health and Life Skills.
The Children's Connection program is directed by Rev. Dr. Laurice A. Valentine. Rev. Dr. Valentine has an extensive background in theareas of youth and community development having served for over 25 years with several national and local nonprofit organizations. Prior to joining Children's Connection, she served as Director of Program Services with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City, and American Humanics, a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate and certify undergraduate students for careers in the nonprofit sector. She also served in various capacities with the YMCA of Greater Kansas from January of 1995 until May 2000. Rev. Valentine is also an associate pastor at St. James United Methodist church.