Johnson County Nonprofits Awarded $1 Million in COVID-19 Relief Funding

Johnson County, KS, Government and the REACH Foundation this week announced grants totaling $1 million to 17 nonprofit organizations providing behavioral health services, including mental health and substance abuse treatment and other services to Johnson County, KS, residents.

Recognizing that safety net provider organizations experienced significant revenue losses and service delivery challenges due to COVID-19, the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners awarded the REACH Foundation $1 million to be reallocated to eligible nonprofits serving vulnerable Johnson County residents. The foundation served as a no-cost financial intermediary, ensuring that 100 percent of grant funds were reallocated to grant recipients.

The grants were designated to support operating expenses related to clinical care, case management and support services, as well as administrative costs and supplies, and COVID-19 testing and vaccine education and support. Funds also could be used for residential care services and housing supports for displaced individuals, remote and/or telehealth services, and direct assistance to individuals experiencing mental health crises.

“At the start of the pandemic, restrictions on use of CARES Act funding made it difficult for mental health provider organizations to secure funding for essential personnel and general operating expenses,” said Brenda Sharpe, REACH Foundation President and CEO. “REACH was pleased to partner with the county and our area safety net providers to ensure availability of critical services at a time of high need.”

The following 17 organizations were awarded grants:

AdventHealth Foundation of Shawnee Mission, $90,000

Child Abuse Prevention Association, $25,000

Cornerstones of Care, $50,000

First Call Alcohol Drug Prevention & Recovery, $50,000

Gateway of Hope Ministries Inc., $50,000

Growing Futures Early Education Center, Inc., $50,000

Health Partnership Clinic Inc., $50,000

Heartland Regional Alcohol & Drug Assessment Center Inc., $90,000

Jewish Family Services, $50,000

KC Healthy Kids, $50,000

KidsTLC, Inc., $75,000

KVC Hospitals Inc., $100,000

Lorraines House, $50,000

Mirror, Inc., $50,000

Safehome Inc., $70,000

Sunflower House, $50,000

The Children’s Mercy Hospital, $50,000

Organizations eligible to apply included 501c3 organizations and governmental entities providing services to vulnerable Johnson County, KS, residents. The foundation provided a similar grants application and management role to reallocate $160,455 in federal CARES Act funding received by Johnson County in 2020.

For more information, contact:

Becky Jones, Assistant Finance Director, Johnson County Government

Becky.Jones@jocogov.org | (913) 715-0530

Becky Benak, Director of Grants and Operations, REACH Healthcare Foundation

becky@reachhealth.org | (913) 432-4196