Missouri KidsFirst

House Bill 557 has been Truly Agreed and Finally Passed! Missouri KidsFirst is grateful for the resounding support by #moleg to protect children from abuse in unlicensed residential facilities. Special thanks to our champions Rudy Veit, Keri Ingle and Sen Bill White. This issue had gone unaddressed in our state for decades and it took courage and commitment by our legislature to get it over the finish line. #moleg

Missouri KidsFirst’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Jessica Seitz has stepped in as the Interim Executive Director of the agency, effective May 5, 2021. Jessica has been the Director of Public Policy for three and a half years and is wrapping up her fourth legislative session with our agency. Please join us in welcoming Jessica into this new role. We are confident she will continue to support Missouri KidsFirst’s leadership of the network of Missouri Child Advocacy Centers, the SAFE-CARE Network and Prevent Child Abuse Missouri during this transition.

Are you ready to join a courageous community of advocates leading child sexual abuse prevention efforts in their communities? Become a Stewards of Children Authorized Facilitator! Find out more at https://conta.cc/3h389Tn

THANK YOU! For joining Missouri KidsFirst this month for Child Abuse Prevention month to help create positive childhood experiences. You and your community are essential to creating better tomorrows for all children! #Essential4Kids #GrowingBetterTogether #CAPM

Our Victim & Family Advocate, Ashlay Berry, decorated 5 points park with our prevention pinwheels. While Child Abuse Prevention Month is coming to a close, we k...now our responsibilty to protect kids never stops. As a parent, neighbor, teacher, or friend, each of us has a part to play in preventing child abuse. #Essential4Kids #ChildAbusePreventionMonth See more

Learn more about forensic interviews conducted at Child Advocacy Centers. This important process creates a safe space for children to tell their stories. #Essential4Kids https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4TiPe9Gsc8

When child abuse is suspected, the next steps are complex and need professionals to collaborate. Medical professionals, law enforcement, mental health, prosecution, child protective services, victim advocacy, and others work together through Child Advocacy Centers to put children first in this process. Learn more about the important role of CACs at nationalchildrensalliance.org/cac-model/ #Essential4Kids

After a nationwide search, Missouri KidsFirst is very proud to introduce David Chayer as our new Executive Director. David has over 21 years of nonprofit leadership and management experience. He previously served the American Red Cross for over 14 years in multiple senior leadership positions across the country, including El Paso, Texas, Dallas, Texas, Tallahassee, FL, Washington, D.C, and Corpus Christi, TX. David began his Red Cross career as the State Director of Govern...ment and External Relations in Illinois. In addition to his experience with the Red Cross, he also served as the Executive Director for The ALS Association Texas Chapter where he led statewide efforts to help ALS families and their caregivers in their battle against Lou Gehrig’s disease, increase awareness of ALS, raising money for programs and critical research, strengthening federal and state advocacy efforts, and overseeing the ALS’ signature Walk to Defeat ALS events throughout Texas. Recently, he served as the Executive Director for the Center Against Sexual and Family Violence in El Paso, Texas. Before joining the nonprofit world, David worked for six years in state and local government in Illinois, including positions with the City of Carbondale, Office of the Lt. Governor, and the Illinois General Assembly. In 2000, David was elected to the Divernon Village Board in his first-ever campaign for public office. He has also served as an Adjunct Instructor at Blackburn College where he taught State and Local Government. Chayer also served as a volunteer firefighter, and, for five years, served as the Head Cross Country Coach at Auburn Junior and Senior High School in Illinois. Originally from St. Anne, Illinois, David holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Blackburn College and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He and his wife Zyanya and daughter Zyanya Dorothy live in Columbia, MO. Check our December Newsletter for a year-end update and looking forward to 2021: https://conta.cc/2KE2gy4

It's up to you to solve the looming #Crisis4Victims. Congress is considering whether to #FixVOCA, and that decision is coming soon. Up to $200m in critical fund...ing for CACs and the kids we serve is at stake. Don't wait. Call your senators and your representative TODAY and ask them to support the VOCA fix in consideration as a part of the Omnibus Spending Bill, and share to your networks!

Missouri KidsFirst is proud to represent all regions of the state, including our home office area in the CoMo area. We are a nonprofit organization and donations help us achieve our mission. Please consider a donation today through CoMoGives or through our website. https://comogives.com/

TAKE ACTION: Ask your elected officials to support the inclusion of the "VOCA Fix" in any spending package this year. The sustainability of the Crime Victims Fund is critical, losing funding from the Victims of Crime Act would mean Missouri Child Advocacy Centers would have to discontinue many of our critical services to the communities we serve. We are asking for the VOCA Fix to be passed by the end of the year. Learn more in the article posted below. Find your elected officials here: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials

"While this isn’t the first time this bill has been filed, it grew this year to include employees with children who are victims of abuse. Missouri KidsFirst, an advocacy group that seeks to protect children from abuse and neglect, applauded the expansion. This bill would be 'another tool to help families who are in crisis,' Missouri KidsFirst Director of Public Policy Jessica Seitz said." We are ready to support Senate Bill 16 in the 2021 #moleg session and thank Senator Jill Schupp for her leadership on this legislation.