Kansas City Mom Collective is featuring an organization each month that supports Kansas City families. We hope to introduce you to a new organization and provide ways you can support their mission. To nominate an organization to be featured here, email us.
Whole Parent Foundation‘s mission is to provide inclusive and accessible mental health support and community for pregnant persons, partners, caregivers and their support systems to enrich the health and well-being of our Kansas City community.
The Story of Whole Parent Foundation
In 2021, a group of parents going through their transition into parenthood came together to begin laying the groundwork for an organization to fill the gaps in mental health care for parents in the community. They believed that every parent and caregiver, regardless of race, nationality, sexual orientation, gender, age, or ability, deserved accessible, culturally humble, compassionate mental health care. After a couple of years of strategic planning, Whole Parent Foundation’s programming began in May 2023, offering services unlike anywhere in Kansas City with its consistency, inclusivity and wraparound care.
How Whole Parent Foundation Helps
Whole Parent Foundation provides care to the community through its two free programs: its parent support groups and its free therapy program. The parent support group meets virtually every week and in person once a month. At the monthly in-person meet-ups, attendees are provided free childcare, a meal, and leave with a package of diapers in their child’s size courtesy of Happy Bottoms. Parents are encouraged to bring their partners, older children, and friends. The building of this strong community, both within the group and within individual families, strengthens relationships, decreases intergenerational trauma, builds healthy attachment systems, and fortifies local economies.
Through their free therapy program, Whole Parent Foundation has created networks of aligned local therapists, trained to treat the struggles that come up in the transition to parenthood. This network of providers will provide five free, culturally appropriate, trauma-informed sessions at no cost to selected participants.
Participants in these programs have shared the results of the support they were provided by
Whole Parent Foundation. One parent said, “Whole Parent Foundation has validated all the good, bad, and sometimes ugly feelings I experienced as a parent. Parenting is not easy, and WPF provides a safe environment for support. I also appreciate that it is free and accessible to everyone.” While another stated, “As a participant of the group sessions, having the space to hear and learn about others’ experiences and perspectives has aided in improving my mental health.”
Parental Mental Health Awareness Month
After years of work, Whole Parent Foundation was able to have the recognition granted by Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas to proclaim May as Parental Mental Health Awareness Month in Kansas City and the first in the country. The proclamation shines light on the importance of mental health, the advocacy of support for parents of all kinds and the call to the destigmatization of mental health needs.
Ways to Support Whole Parent Foundation
Spread The Word
Do you have a place where you can post their flyers for their support group? Whether it’s on a bulletin board, in a business or an online group, you can share their flyers to let others know of the parent support groups and free therapy program.
Volunteer
Parents can volunteer to lead support groups. All groups are peer-led and training is provided. In addition, volunteer positions are available to support the childcare staff, providing childcare during the sessions. All volunteers with children must consent to a background check and receive training on mandated reporting. Volunteers with the childcare staff are welcome to bring their children with them.
Give The Gift Of Therapy
A one-time or monthly donation through the Whole Parent Foundation donation site helps to accomplish their goal of establishing free therapy programs for all of their participants.
Whole Parent Foundation can be found on Facebook and Instagram.
