Community Resources
A preventive care visit is different from an office visit:
- The purpose of a preventive visit is to review your overall health, identify risks and find out how to stay healthy. Most insurance plans cover 100% of a preventive visit when you see a doctor in your plan network.
- The purpose of an office visit is to discuss or get treated for a specific health concern or condition. You may have to pay for the visit as part of your deductible, copay and/or coinsurance.
If you schedule a preventive care visit and ask about a specific health concern or condition, it may trigger an additional charge for an office visit.
If you want to know about costs, ask your insurance plan for an estimate of fees before you visit. You can call the number on the back of your member ID card and describe what you want to cover at your well visit. The table below shows what services are typically covered during a preventive visit.
By school age, children understand that death is an irreversible event. Yet even though youngsters recognize that death is something more than going to sleep for a long time, they still may have many unanswered questions that they may not verbalize: Where did grandmother go when she died? What is she feeling? Is she in pain? Why did she die? Can we ever see her again? Are you going to die too? Who will take care of me if you die?
Offer opportunities for your child to ask these questions. The more clearly and honestly you answer them, the better he will fare through the grieving process.
Children React Differently
The reactions of children to death are highly personal. One child might quietly and sadly express his grief. Another might become rambunctious and oppositional. Still another might become extremely anxious. Youngsters often take their cues from watching the reactions of other family members, particularly their parents. In some families, death is a taboo subject, and children sense that they should not talk about it; in others, death is discussed openly and children feel comfortable expressing their sadness.
What Might You Expect?
Death of a Grandparent
When a grandparent dies, children may not find it as devastating as the loss of a parent or a sibling. To them, their grandparent is an older person, and when people get old, they often die. However, if the grandparent has provided day-to-day companionship for the child, perhaps even living with the family or residing nearby, the death will be much harder.
Also, with the passing away of a grandparent, children often think, "Now that my daddy's daddy is dead, does that mean that my daddy is going to die next?" If you sense this kind of reaction, reassure your child that you and your spouse are healthy and will probably live for a long time.
Death of a Parent
Whenever a child loses a parent, the event is traumatic and alters the course of her development. You cannot protect the child from what has happened, but you can help her face the reality of it.
If you are a surviving parent, in addition to dealing with your own feelings of loss, you need to help your child through this experience. Expect reactions ranging from regression and anxiety to anger and depression.
Be honest and open about what has taken place. Provide your child with a lot of comforting, both verbal and nonverbal. Reassure her that you are not going to leave her, too, and that life will get back into a routine as soon as possible.
If the primary caretaker (usually the mother) has died, and the father must return to work, he should find someone to assume a caretaking, nurturing role for a while - perhaps a relative or a nanny. Even so, while these substitutes can assist with day-to-day functions, the surviving parent will still need to spend more time with and give more attention to his child to help her adjust to their new life.
Death of a Sibling
When a brother or a sister dies, children can find it just as difficult as losing a parent, sometimes even more so. In some ways a sibling is the person to whom a child is closest. They have been constant companions, sharing many life experiences. Perhaps they even shared a bedroom.
When a sibling dies, children may feel guilty, particularly since at some point nearly every youngster wishes that her sibling were dead. Or they may have survival guilt ("Why did he die and I didn't?"). They may even feel guilty because of the jealousy they experienced if their sibling was ill and got extra parental attention.
If one of your children dies, do not ignore the others during the grieving process. Even though you may be overwhelmed with your own sadness, your other children need a lot of attention, comforting and understanding. Mobilize other extended-family members and friends to help give your children support. Try to avoid putting the deceased child on a pedestal, or your other children may feel they can never be as perfect or as good in your eyes.
Do Not Shield Your Children from Death
Some adults believe that children should be shielded from death. They keep children away from funerals. They try not to cry in front of their youngsters. They may make up stories in an attempt to protect children from pain ("Grandma had to go away for a long time; we won't see her for a while"). They may avoid all discussions of the deceased.
Despite the good intentions of these actions, they don't work and are counterproductive. As with most topics, communicating with children about death should be honest and direct. Children need to grieve as much as adults do. They need to be able to share their feelings and talk about how they are going to miss the person who has died. By school age they have already been exposed to death, even if only indirectly, by watching television or hearing about it from friends. Death should not be covered up and hidden.
To help your child, you need to feel comfortable with your own grief reaction over the death of a loved one. It is appropriate for your child to see you cry when you feel sad; he will take comfort knowing that you are expressing your feelings so openly. This will make it easier for him to do the same.
Source: Caring for Your School-Age Child: Ages 5 to 12 (Copyright 2003 American Acadmey of Pediatrics)
Recommended Books
(We also recommend going to Amazon books and searching, since it can lead you to new discoveries and you can read reviews yourself.)
- The Next Place by Warren Hanson (4-8 yrs)
- The Invisible String (3+ years)
- I Miss You: A First Look at Death by Pat Thomas (4-8 yrs)
- Preparing Your Children For Goodbye: A Guidebook For Dying Parents (parents)
- Samantha Jane's Missing Smile: A Story About Coping With the Loss of a Parent (5 + years)
- Someone I Love Died (4-8 years)
- Tear Soup by Pat Schweibert (9-12 yrs)
- When Someone Very Special Dies: Children Can Learn to Cope with Grief (Drawing Out Feelings Series)When Someone Very Special Dies: Children Can Learn to Cope with Grief (Drawing Out Feelings Series) (6-12 yrs)
Online Resources
- When Kids and Teens Grieve: Remembering a Parent
- How to Talk to Children about Suicide Loss
- What Not to Say
- WATCH: “Grief: Helping Children Cope” With Andrea Warnick
- Eluna Network offers many resources as well as an online support group for teens
Local Resource
- Solace House: Solace House is a center for Grief and Healing that supports children, individuals and families who have been impacted by the death of a loved one, whether anticipated, or sudden and unexpected.
CONNECT
- Suicide Loss Grief Support Groups Teen & Adult are monthly peer-based grief support groups for teens and adults who have experienced the pain of losing someone to suicide death. Teens and adults discuss in separate groups. Whether you have lost a family member, friend, or coworker, and regardless of how much time has passed since their death by suicide, you are welcome to attend this group. Once registered, support group participants will receive a private, secure link to the online session.
- Suicide Bereavement for Teens (SB4T) meets on the second Tuesday of every month from 8pm-9pm EST via zoom. This is a FREE online group for anyone in the United States between the ages of 14-19 who has lost someone to suicide. Please contact Jessica Lincoln (571) 206-1778 SB4TLoudoun@gmail.com to learn more or register.
- Coping After Suicide Teens is for teen survivors of suicide loss. In this group, teens can connect with peers who really get it. Coping After Suicide Teen Groups meet on Zoom, so teens can participate wherever they are. And they’re small and private, to ensure a safe space for meaningful sharing. There is a fee for attending.
- Samaritans’ SafePlace meetings are open groups of caring people who have lost a loved one to suicide. SafePlace peer support groups for suicide loss survivors are facilitated by trained volunteers who have also lost a loved one to suicide. Meetings are free, ongoing, and drop-in. Please register here and they will send you a Zoom meeting invitation with details.
- Survivors of Suicide (SOS) Support Group provides support to people who have been affected by a suicide loss. Each adult group is facilitated by a suicide survivor/volunteer and a mental health professional. Please call 608-280-2435 if you are interested in attending.
- Camp Kita is a tuition-free summer bereavement camp for children and teens ages 8 – 17 who are survivors of a loved one’s suicide, located in Maine. Email info@campkita.com to learn more.
- The Dinner Party is a community of 21-45 year olds who have each experienced the loss of a parent, partner, child, sibling, other close family member, or close friend. They offer two different programs (Buddy System and Dinner Tables).
While we believe these resources provide respected information and help, we do not own, control or take responsibility for any of the links to outside content.
If you are not able to find what you're looking for, please ask!
Child Development & Learning Resources
Milestone Tracking and Tools to Maximize Your Child's Development
- Track your child's development with FREE online tools.
- Find developmental milestone information so you can keep track at home.
- Pathways offers resources for infant and child development.
- Zero to Three offers resources for infant and child development and parenting.
- The Imagination Library will ship a free book to your home monthly for your child(ren) from birth to 5 years if you live in Kansas (or other participating states). Sign up here!
Local Resources to Optimize Development
- Parents As Teachers works with parents to teach them how to teach their infants through 3 year olds.
- Infant and Toddler Services provides therapies for Kansas infants and toddlers through 3 years of age with delays in developmental skills, such as speech and language or gross motor skills.
- First Steps provides therapies for Missouri infants and toddlers through 3 years of age with developmental delays.
- Early childhood developmental screenings for 3-5 year olds are held through the local school districts.
- Shawnee Mission School District
- Olathe School District
- Blue Valley School District
- Others: click here
- Schools for students who learn differently
- Horizon Academy (horizon-academy.org) - specializes in students with dyslexia and other language-based learning disabilities
- Accelerated Schools of Overland Park (acceleratedschoolsop.org) - offers students in grades 4-12 individualized educational plans that can accommodate their changing needs
- Kansas State School for the Blind (kssb.net)
- The International Dyslexia Association of Kansas and Missouri (dyslexiaida.org)
- Student Transition Resources | Transition Resources and Coaching | Kansas City (trac-kc.org) TRAC-KC provides resources, guidance, and coaching to individuals with developmental disabilities in order to help them transition from high school to adulthood.
Online Resources:
- Period of Purple Crying http://purplecrying.info/
- All Babies Cry https://www.allbabiescry.com/
- Stuttering Foundation: A Nonprofit Organization Helping Those Who Stutter (stutteringhelp.org)
Daycare Resources
Childcare can be done in a person's home or in an established child care center. There are pros and cons to each, so consider your family's needs to start your search.
For assistance with childcare costs, see Child Care Subsidy - Economic & Employment Services (ks.gov).
ChildCare Aware has a searchable database to help locate childcare providers, check licensing of childcare providers and see inspection reports. Click on the state to find providers in Kansas and Missouri.
To help locate a childcare provider, learn how to find the best childcare, and more use this searchable database: Childcare.gov. Use their Tip Sheets to help find the best care for your child(ren).
Death & Dying Support
By school age, children understand that death is an irreversible event. Yet even though youngsters recognize that death is something more than going to sleep for a long time, they still may have many unanswered questions that they may not verbalize: Where did grandmother go when she died? What is she feeling? Is she in pain? Why did she die? Can we ever see her again? Are you going to die too? Who will take care of me if you die?
Offer opportunities for your child to ask these questions. The more clearly and honestly you answer them, the better he will fare through the grieving process.
Children React Differently
The reactions of children to death are highly personal. One child might quietly and sadly express his grief. Another might become rambunctious and oppositional. Still another might become extremely anxious. Youngsters often take their cues from watching the reactions of other family members, particularly their parents. In some families, death is a taboo subject, and children sense that they should not talk about it; in others, death is discussed openly and children feel comfortable expressing their sadness.
What Might You Expect?
Death of a Grandparent
When a grandparent dies, children may not find it as devastating as the loss of a parent or a sibling. To them, their grandparent is an older person, and when people get old, they often die. However, if the grandparent has provided day-to-day companionship for the child, perhaps even living with the family or residing nearby, the death will be much harder.
Also, with the passing away of a grandparent, children often think, "Now that my daddy's daddy is dead, does that mean that my daddy is going to die next?" If you sense this kind of reaction, reassure your child that you and your spouse are healthy and will probably live for a long time.
Death of a Parent
Whenever a child loses a parent, the event is traumatic and alters the course of her development. You cannot protect the child from what has happened, but you can help her face the reality of it.
If you are a surviving parent, in addition to dealing with your own feelings of loss, you need to help your child through this experience. Expect reactions ranging from regression and anxiety to anger and depression.
Be honest and open about what has taken place. Provide your child with a lot of comforting, both verbal and nonverbal. Reassure her that you are not going to leave her, too, and that life will get back into a routine as soon as possible.
If the primary caretaker (usually the mother) has died, and the father must return to work, he should find someone to assume a caretaking, nurturing role for a while - perhaps a relative or a nanny. Even so, while these substitutes can assist with day-to-day functions, the surviving parent will still need to spend more time with and give more attention to his child to help her adjust to their new life.
Death of a Sibling
When a brother or a sister dies, children can find it just as difficult as losing a parent, sometimes even more so. In some ways a sibling is the person to whom a child is closest. They have been constant companions, sharing many life experiences. Perhaps they even shared a bedroom.
When a sibling dies, children may feel guilty, particularly since at some point nearly every youngster wishes that her sibling were dead. Or they may have survival guilt ("Why did he die and I didn't?"). They may even feel guilty because of the jealousy they experienced if their sibling was ill and got extra parental attention.
If one of your children dies, do not ignore the others during the grieving process. Even though you may be overwhelmed with your own sadness, your other children need a lot of attention, comforting and understanding. Mobilize other extended-family members and friends to help give your children support. Try to avoid putting the deceased child on a pedestal, or your other children may feel they can never be as perfect or as good in your eyes.
Do Not Shield Your Children from Death
Some adults believe that children should be shielded from death. They keep children away from funerals. They try not to cry in front of their youngsters. They may make up stories in an attempt to protect children from pain ("Grandma had to go away for a long time; we won't see her for a while"). They may avoid all discussions of the deceased.
Despite the good intentions of these actions, they don't work and are counterproductive. As with most topics, communicating with children about death should be honest and direct. Children need to grieve as much as adults do. They need to be able to share their feelings and talk about how they are going to miss the person who has died. By school age they have already been exposed to death, even if only indirectly, by watching television or hearing about it from friends. Death should not be covered up and hidden.
To help your child, you need to feel comfortable with your own grief reaction over the death of a loved one. It is appropriate for your child to see you cry when you feel sad; he will take comfort knowing that you are expressing your feelings so openly. This will make it easier for him to do the same.
Source: Caring for Your School-Age Child: Ages 5 to 12 (Copyright 2003 American Acadmey of Pediatrics)
Recommended Books
(We also recommend going to Amazon books and searching, since it can lead you to new discoveries and you can read reviews yourself.)
- The Next Place by Warren Hanson (4-8 yrs)
- The Invisible String (3+ years)
- I Miss You: A First Look at Death by Pat Thomas (4-8 yrs)
- Preparing Your Children For Goodbye: A Guidebook For Dying Parents (parents)
- Samantha Jane's Missing Smile: A Story About Coping With the Loss of a Parent (5 + years)
- Someone I Love Died (4-8 years)
- Tear Soup by Pat Schweibert (9-12 yrs)
- When Someone Very Special Dies: Children Can Learn to Cope with Grief (Drawing Out Feelings Series)When Someone Very Special Dies: Children Can Learn to Cope with Grief (Drawing Out Feelings Series) (6-12 yrs)
Online Resources
- When Kids and Teens Grieve: Remembering a Parent
- How to Talk to Children about Suicide Loss
- What Not to Say
- WATCH: “Grief: Helping Children Cope” With Andrea Warnick
- Eluna Network offers many resources as well as an online support group for teens
Local Resource
- Solace House: Solace House is a center for Grief and Healing that supports children, individuals and families who have been impacted by the death of a loved one, whether anticipated, or sudden and unexpected.
CONNECT
- Suicide Loss Grief Support Groups Teen & Adult are monthly peer-based grief support groups for teens and adults who have experienced the pain of losing someone to suicide death. Teens and adults discuss in separate groups. Whether you have lost a family member, friend, or coworker, and regardless of how much time has passed since their death by suicide, you are welcome to attend this group. Once registered, support group participants will receive a private, secure link to the online session.
- Suicide Bereavement for Teens (SB4T) meets on the second Tuesday of every month from 8pm-9pm EST via zoom. This is a FREE online group for anyone in the United States between the ages of 14-19 who has lost someone to suicide. Please contact Jessica Lincoln (571) 206-1778 SB4TLoudoun@gmail.com to learn more or register.
- Coping After Suicide Teens is for teen survivors of suicide loss. In this group, teens can connect with peers who really get it. Coping After Suicide Teen Groups meet on Zoom, so teens can participate wherever they are. And they’re small and private, to ensure a safe space for meaningful sharing. There is a fee for attending.
- Samaritans’ SafePlace meetings are open groups of caring people who have lost a loved one to suicide. SafePlace peer support groups for suicide loss survivors are facilitated by trained volunteers who have also lost a loved one to suicide. Meetings are free, ongoing, and drop-in. Please register here and they will send you a Zoom meeting invitation with details.
- Survivors of Suicide (SOS) Support Group provides support to people who have been affected by a suicide loss. Each adult group is facilitated by a suicide survivor/volunteer and a mental health professional. Please call 608-280-2435 if you are interested in attending.
- Camp Kita is a tuition-free summer bereavement camp for children and teens ages 8 – 17 who are survivors of a loved one’s suicide, located in Maine. Email info@campkita.com to learn more.
- The Dinner Party is a community of 21-45 year olds who have each experienced the loss of a parent, partner, child, sibling, other close family member, or close friend. They offer two different programs (Buddy System and Dinner Tables).
Depression & Suicide Information
Find more resources on our Depression Page, but if you're in crisis, call 988.
988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
NAMI Family to Family
NAMI Family-to-Family is a free, 8-session educational program for family, significant others and friends of people with mental health conditions. It is a designated evidenced-based program. This means that research shows that the program significantly improves the coping and problem-solving abilities of the people closest to a person with a mental health condition. Everyone benefits from support when loved ones struggle.
CONNECT
- Suicide Loss Grief Support Groups Teen & Adult are monthly peer-based grief support groups for teens and adults who have experienced the pain of losing someone to suicide death. Teens and adults discuss in separate groups. Whether you have lost a family member, friend, or coworker, and regardless of how much time has passed since their death by suicide, you are welcome to attend this group. Once registered, support group participants will receive a private, secure link to the online session.
- Suicide Bereavement for Teens (SB4T) meets on the second Tuesday of every month from 8pm-9pm EST via zoom. This is a FREE online group for anyone in the United States between the ages of 14-19 who has lost someone to suicide. Please contact Jessica Lincoln (571) 206-1778 SB4TLoudoun@gmail.com to learn more or register.
- Coping After Suicide Teens is for teen survivors of suicide loss. In this group, teens can connect with peers who really get it. Coping After Suicide Teen Groups meet on Zoom, so teens can participate wherever they are. And they’re small and private, to ensure a safe space for meaningful sharing. There is a fee for attending.
- Samaritans’ SafePlace meetings are open groups of caring people who have lost a loved one to suicide. SafePlace peer support groups for suicide loss survivors are facilitated by trained volunteers who have also lost a loved one to suicide. Meetings are free, ongoing, and drop-in. Please register here and they will send you a Zoom meeting invitation with details.
- Survivors of Suicide (SOS) Support Group provides support to people who have been affected by a suicide loss. Each adult group is facilitated by a suicide survivor/volunteer and a mental health professional. Please call 608-280-2435 if you are interested in attending.
- Camp Kita is a tuition-free summer bereavement camp for children and teens ages 8 – 17 who are survivors of a loved one’s suicide, located in Maine. Email info@campkita.com to learn more.
- The Dinner Party is a community of 21-45 year olds who have each experienced the loss of a parent, partner, child, sibling, other close family member, or close friend. They offer two different programs (Buddy System and Dinner Tables).
Economic and Financial Help
Kansas Department for Children and Families offers information about child support, economic and financial support services, rehabilitation services, adoption and foster care.
United Way 211: Call 211 to connect to local agencies and resources (food, housing, utility assistance, tax preparation, transportation, mental health and substance use treatment, and more). It is free, confidential, and available 24/7/365. Learn more at 211.org.
SNAP provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of needy families so they can purchase healthy food and move towards self-sufficiency.
Women's Infant and Child (WIC) services information. If you live in JoCo KS: Apply for WIC | Johnson County Kansas (jocogov.org)
Food pantries: Community Food Pantries | Johnson County Kansas (jocogov.org)
Find Help is a search engine to help find food assistance, get help paying bills, and other free or reduced cost programs.
The Patient Access Network Foundation is an independent, national 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing underinsured patients with co-payment assistance through 21 disease-specific funds that give them access to the treatments they need. For more information please visit the Patient Access Network Foundation.
Medication discount cards and plans:
- GoodRx website and mobile app allows you to search by drug name for the lowest prices in local pharmacies. They have free coupons and a paid membership program that gives consumers access to even better healthcare savings, free prescription deliveries, and an exclusive discount card for medications.
- Needy Meds offers a drug discount card that provides a savings up to 80% on many medicines. The card is free and available to everyone. There is no registration and your entire family can use the same card.
- Optum Perks More than 64,000 pharmacies in the U.S. accept Optum Perks. Optum Perks helps you easily compare prices at pharmacies across the country, and offers discounts on almost every FDA-approved medication out there, even for those without insurance.
- SingleCare works directly with pharmacies to negotiate up to 80% off prescription prices. When you register for their Bonus Savings program, you earn money towards future prescriptions.
- ScriptSave WellRx offers discounts on prescriptions, including some pet medications, may be as high as 80%, but on average are in the 60% range. ScriptSave WellRx Grocery Guidance brings together leading-edge nutritional data science with AI-powered personalization to help you know which food products on your grocery store shelf are truly good for you.
- Blink Health Allows you to pick up your medication from one of the 35,000+ pharmacies in their network, but also offers free home delivery.
- RxSaver offers the Rx Advocacy Program for a monthly fee of $50 per month for people who have chronic medical conditions.
- Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drug Company cuts out the middlemen to offer hundreds of common generic medications at wholesale prices.
Reduced Cost Dental Care and Cosmetology Services
- The Dental Hygiene Clinic provides preventative dental care for a low cost. Services are provided by JCCC students under direct supervision.
- Students in the JCCC School of Cosmetology provide low cost hair, skin, and nail care.
Feeding & Nutrition
Find recommendations for healthy eating for people of all ages!
Learn about starting solid foods with your baby
Pediatric Partners Pinterest Feeding & Nutrition Board
Check out what we've pinned on our Feeding & Nutrition Board
Help after Traumatic Events and Trauma
The American Academy of Pediatrics parenting site has information about talking to kids about tragedies and other traumatic events: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/talking-to-children-about-tragedies-and-other-news-events.aspx
Hey Sigmund is an Australian psychologist with many resources for kids, parents and teens about anxiety. "How to Strengthen Children & Teens Against Anxiety After News of a World Trauma" breaks down how people process trauma and how to help. https://www.heysigmund.com/anxiety-in-children-after-world-trauma
Child Mind Institute has many resources for mental and behavioral health. Among these is a guide, Helping Children Cope After a Traumatic Event. The guide has tips for recovery and age-based recommendations. https://childmind.org/guide/helping-children-cope-after-a-traumatic-event/
Common Sense Media has age-based guides on how to talk to kids after trauma. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/articles/explaining-the-news-to-our-kids
Sesame Street has help for little ones: https://sesameworkshop.org/topics/violence
Children's Mercy has a page dedicated to helping kids after the Super Bowl Parade shooting. https://www.childrensmercy.org/health-and-safety-resources/helping-kids-parade-shootings/
Pediatric Partners -- don't forget that we have a mental health specialist to help our patients! Call if you need our help.
Learning & Behavioral Concerns
See our Services: ADHD and Other Learning & Behavioral Concerns pages
LGBTQ+ Resources
People who identify as LGBTQ+ are at risk of being bullied and abused, becoming depressed, and of suicide. Support from friends, family, and the community makes a huge difference!
Find our comprehensive list of resources here.
Therapists, Emergency Mental Health, & Alcohol & Drug Addiction Resources
Safety
Charlie's House is a fabulous local resource to learn to child proof your home!
Dr Stuppy's blog: Help! My Child Swallowed...
If your child swallowed something, you can always call Poison Control, but here are other tips.
Dr Stuppy's blog: Help! My Child Put Something Up Their Nose
Not everything stuck up the nose will need to be removed at the hospital. See what you can do at home.
- 24-hour Poison Control Center hotline: 1-800-222-1222
- The University of Kansas Hospital Poison Control Center serves the state of Kansas for poison exposures and drug information.
Learn about product recalls
Find a class near you - make sure it includes infants and children!
Safe Kids is a nonprofit organization working to help families and communities keep kids safe from injuries. (car seats, helmets, drownings, etc)
Find a Car Seat Inspection Near You
See also the following for more car safety information
- General safety information
- Car seat safety things to consider
- Local car seat inspection sites
- Overland Park
- Lenexa
- Olathe
Online and Media Safety Resources:
- Common Sense Media has parent and professional ratings for movies, games and apps as well as educational materials for parents to learn about online safety
- PediMom has articles from experts, parents, and youth about safety issues.
- Wait Until 8th The Wait Until 8th pledge empowers parents to rally together to delay giving children a smartphone until at least 8th grade. Learn why.
- Screenagers has a series of documentaries, a blog, a podcast and more to help you learn about screen use in kids and adolescents.
Smoking Cessation
General Information about Quitting
There are many resources on the CDC's website about how to quit as well as current statistics about cigarette, e-cigarette, and other forms of tobacco use.
Kansas City Recovery Programs for Teens and Young Adults
The FullCircle Program is a non-profit that offers staff-facilitated recovery support groups for teens (age 13-17) and young adults (age 18-25). They offer 12 step meetings, sober social activities, and parent support group meetings at no-cost to Overland Park / Kansas City families and at-risk youth.
Tobacco
Many people who use tobacco want to quit. The good news: free help is available! People who use phone coaching and quit medications are twice as likely to successfully quit.
Call 1 (800) QUIT-NOW or Text QUIT to 47848
Visit CEASE Tobacco: CEASE, the Clinical Effort Against Secondhand Smoke Exposure, is a program developed at Massachusetts General Hospital to effectively address family tobacco use.
For information on youth tobacco use and how to prevent it, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Kansas Resources
The Kansas Tobacco Quitline is a free, 24/7 resource available to Kansas residents to help them quit tobacco.
The Quitline provides help, such as counseling, a personalized Quit Plan and quitting support by phone and through online services. Individuals aged 18 and up who enroll over the phone may qualify for 4 weeks of free Nicotine Replacement Therapy. The Quitline can be reached by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or visiting https://kansas.quitlogix.org/en-US/
The Quitline program also has a program tailored specifically to Kansans aged 13-17. My Life, My Quit can provide free, confidential coaching sessions and provide developmentally appropriate education to teens who want to quit tobacco. Teens can enroll in the program by calling or texting 855-891-9989 or by visiting ks.mylifemyquit.org.
The Quitline has a Pregnancy and Post-Partum Quit Program with resources designed specifically to help pregnant moms quit. Mothers who enroll into the program over the phone can receive a $30 Mastercard gift card mailed to their home for each coaching call completed – up to 5 coaching calls during pregnancy and 4 coaching calls post-partum.
Missouri Resources
For help to quit using tobacco products, visit Resources for Youth (under age 18) or Tobacco Use Prevention and Control for general information.
Special Needs Resources
Families with Children with Special Needs
- Families Together, Inc. is a Kansas program that assists parents and their sons and daughters with disabilities and/or special health care needs. Their mission is to encourage, educate, and empower families to be effective advocates for their children. Families Together staff provide parents and transition age youth one-to-one assistance, training, resources and tools at no cost to families These services are available in English and Spanish.
- Missouri Parents Act (MPACT) is Missouri’s Parent Training and Information Center, funded in part by the U.S. Department of Education and the State of Missouri. Their mission is to empower families to advocate for themselves so that children with special educational needs can reach their full potential in education and life – through support, training, and education.
- Find help getting low cost or free evaluations for learning disorders on Understood.org.
- SOAR provides key resources for families of children with special needs, including respite care, camps, and an adult job training center.
- The Special Pediatric-to-Adult Need (SPAN) clinic is the Kansas City Metro’s only primary care program that provides comprehensive, patient-focused care for adults with a chronic condition that persists from childhood to adulthood. When your special needs young adult child is ready to transition care, we recommend you consider this clinic.
- The Whole Person offers a broad range of services to people with disabilities to increase their ability to perform day-to-day activities and reduce the need of support from family members, professional attendants or other care-giving services.
- Transition Resources and Coaching is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals transition from a high school environment to a successful, independent adult life.
- Advocacy in Motion seeks to transform lives and cultivate independence through education, advocacy and employment training for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in our community.
- Independence Inc.provides advocacy and independent skills training.
- Access Services at JCCC
Specific areas of need
- Autism Education & Resources | Autism Speaks
- National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS)
- Our Well Visit Page has Down Syndrome Guideline information.
- CHADD - Improving the lives of people affected by ADHD
- HOME | adhdkc | Kansas City CHADD Chapter
- Dyslexia Resources - The International Dyslexia Association of Kansas and Missouri (dyslexiaida.org)
- Home - Tourette Association of America
- Click here for resources on our Special Needs Pinterest page.
What to do if you suspect abuse?
If you suspect child abuse, it is important that you help protect the child by notifying the proper authorities. It is not your job to prove that the abuse is happening. Alerting the right people so they can investigate and ensure the safety of the child is important.
If you or someone you care about is in an abusive relationship, find resources here.
We are not child abuse experts
It is outside the scope of practice for our office to examine or interview children in cases of suspected abuse. Please do not schedule appointments for us to help identify signs of abuse. Do share the information with us to best take care of associated issues that may arise.
Mandatory Reporting
We are mandatory reporters, which means if we suspect abuse we must notify Child Protective Services, but we will not do the follow up interview or exam. That is best done with specially trained professionals. Because suspected abuse affects the physical and mental health of a child, please share any information you know about potential abuse with us, but not in front of the child.
What to do and what not to do
- If you suspect abuse, contact the proper authorities. It is there job to determine if there is abuse or not. You do not have to know for sure to make the report.
- Do not make false reports. It overwhelms the system and might keep a child in need from getting the protection they deserve.
- Do not discuss concerns around your child(ren). There are times that lawyers actually use discussions of abuse in front of the children (as in our office) against the best interest of the child. We encourage you to NOT discuss in detail concerns in front of the child in our office. Let us know your concerns when the child is not present, by a note in the exam room, a portal message, or with a phone call during office hours. After hours you should follow the advice below. You should still file a report with the proper agency even if you talk to us about your concerns.
- Tell your primary pediatrician what is happening. Telling us helps us take best care of your child when things might be related to the alleged abuse, such as anxiety, sleep problems, headaches, stomachaches, and other symptoms.
How to report suspected child abuse
If a child is immediately in danger, call 911.
If you suspect abuse or neglect, you should file a report with the Child Protective Services of Kansas or Child Protective Services of Missouri. You do not have to be certain that abuse is occurring. They will deem if an investigation is necessary. Sometimes that "odd" feeling you have can save a child if you take the right action. Anonymous reports are allowed.
Err on the side of over-reporting. If you have the thought, "Maybe …" — CALL! Not all calls to the hotline are determined to be abuse/neglect. At risk kids can receive services and assistance that can help families prevent abuse.
If a child is suffering from acute injuries, call 911 or take the child to a local Emergency Room, preferably one for children.
What you can do to help your child:
From AACAP's website:
Parental support is critical for a child's recovery after child abuse or violence. First, spend positive time with your child. Try to find a few minutes each day to do something your child enjoys, tell your child you love him or her, and show simple affection through actions (e.g., holding hands, hugs, smiles) as well as through words.
Second, assure your child that he or she was not to blame for what happened. This is especially important if changes occur in the family (for example, if a child abuser was a family member, the abuser had to leave the family, and people in your family "take sides" about whom to believe). In these situations your child may feel responsible for the difficult family circumstances.
Finally, understand your child's need for safety even if he or she sometimes misses the person who caused the violence or abuse. It is not uncommon for a child to still love or miss a family member who abused them or who was violent. Let your child know that the person had to leave because they were hurting someone in the home and this was not safe. Even young children understand that rules are needed to maintain safety. By explaining your family's safety rules (e.g., what you will do to keep everyone in your home safe) you will help to get back a sense of security and safety for your children.
Resources:
Children's Mercy Child Abuse and Neglect Department
The Division of Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN) cares for nearly 3,000 children each year by identifying, preventing and treating all forms of child abuse. They work with social workers and governmental agencies throughout Kansas and Missouri to develop appropriate state responses to child maltreatment.
Kansas Child Protection Services
If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, please telephone the Kansas Protection Report Center at 1-800-922-5330. Every call is taken seriously and every effort will be made to protect your identity. Telephone lines are staffed 24 hours a day. In the event of an emergency contact your local law enforcement or call 911.
Missouri Child Protection Services
- 1-800-392-3738
- Calling from out-of-state?: 573-751-3448
- TDD: 1-800-669-8689
The Children’s Division Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline (CA/NHU) is a toll-free telephone line which is answered seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
National Children's Alliance members in the Kansas City Metro
National Children’s Alliance (NCA) is the national association and accrediting body for Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs). Formed in 1988, NCA has been providing support, technical assistance, and quality assurance for CACs, while serving as a voice for abused children for more than 25 years. A children’s advocacy center is a child-friendly facility in which law enforcement, child protection, prosecution, mental health, medical and victim advocacy professionals work together to investigate abuse, help children heal from abuse, and hold offenders accountable.
Sunflower House is a Child Abuse Prevention Center. They interview children after a report of child abuse has been made. They work with the police and child protective service social workers to talk with children in our safe and child-centered location.
Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA) exists to improve the lives of those impacted by sexual assault and abuse, and to prevent sexual violence in our community.
Want to help abused and neglected children?
Become a CASA volunteer. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Children is a network of 949 community-based programs that recruit, train and support citizen-volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in courtrooms and communities. Volunteer advocates—empowered directly by the courts—offer judges the critical information they need to ensure that each child’s rights and needs are being attended to while in foster care.
Resources
