The Greater Kansas City Mental Health Coalition (GKCMHC) is a collaboration between 32 community agencies in both Kansas & Missouri working to provide cross-sector agency support, engagement, services, and education.
GKCMHC is open to human service agencies, please contact us if you would like to join our efforts.
GKCMHC’s Vision
As a coalition of cross-sector agencies throughout Kansas City, we believe transparent collaboration and equal access to mental health education and prevention will increase the health & wellness of our community.
GKCMHC’s Mission
We collaborate across KC agencies to support, engage and provide essential human services for people facing challenges in everyday life or times of crisis-regardless of faith, age, culture or lifestyle.
Our Partners
A complete list of coalition members and links to their websites can be found here.
Although, GKCMHC as an organization does not provide services to individuals, Jewish Family Services (GKCMHC lead organization) does have wrap-around services for families and individuals, including counseling, food pantry and social work. For additional information about how JFS can support your needs, contact JFS Navigator at 913-327-8250. Learn more at jfskc.org.
Meeting Notes
Jan. 2020 Notes
Feb. 2020 Notes
March 2020 Notes
The Goal
The Greater Kansas City Mental Health Coalition wants to start a conversation in our community. It is our hope that the reduction of stigma associated with mental illness will follow a similar reduction of stigma that occurred with cancer in the 1960s and 1970s and with AIDS/HIV in the 1990s.
History of GKCMHC
In 2010, a group of concerned individuals in the Jewish community began a frank conversation about mental illness, suicide and our community’s response to grief and loss.
The result was the formation of the Jewish Community Mental Health Coalition made up of Jewish Family Services, the Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City, and a dedicated group of volunteers.
The Coalition’s campaign to reduce the stigma of mental illness was launched in September 2013, but interest quickly grew beyond the Jewish community. In May 2014, more than a dozen community organizations came together to build on what started in the Jewish community by creating the Greater Kansas City Mental Health Coalition (GKCMHC). This Coalition, now made up of 32 partner organizations under the leadership of Jewish Family Services, pools resources and expertise to reduce the stigma of mental illness throughout the metro area.