Gathered

10/31/2026

Happy Halloween from Gathered! 🎃

Have fun, stay safe, and enjoy making memories together!

10/28/2026

Stepping into adulthood without a built-in support system is hard. A new local resource makes it a little less lonely.

The CCYT Empowerment Hub brings together 124 places across Wichita that help with housing, food, rides, health care, money, work, and school. It's built for young adults ages 17–26, and many of the resources are just one phone call away.

It's simple to use: start with what you need today, and the Hub points you to real people and places that can help. Nothing you search is saved or tracked. And if you'd rather talk it through, a CCYT specialist is ready to help you find a starting point.

We're grateful to see this launch in our community. If you know a young person navigating life after foster care, or anyone who could use a hand right now, please pass it along.

Real places in Wichita that help with housing, food, rides, health care, money, work, and school. Built by Community Connections YouThrive.

10/28/2026

It only takes one.

One trusted adult who listens. One mentor who believes in them. One conversation that changes the course of a life.

At Gathered, we believe every young person deserves a supportive community that helps them grow, dream, and thrive.

Who was the trusted adult in your life? Share below and help us celebrate the people who make a difference every day. 💙

Learn more: gatheredstrong.com

10/27/2026

Our communities don't lack caring people. They lack the connections that let caring people work together.

Last week, our CEO, Jae Hedrick, LMSW, shared what we're learning in Sedgwick County at the National Center for Community Based Child Welfare's annual symposium in Nashville. The heart of it: families shouldn't have to navigate the gaps between our organizations alone.

Thank you to our partners who build this work with us. 🦬

10/24/2026

A caring neighbor. A trusted mentor. A supportive church. A connected community.

Prevention isn't complicated. It starts with people coming together to help one another.

10/22/2026

A crisis—such as a parent losing housing, a severe mental health episode, domestic violence, substance use, or a child's unaddressed behavioral/mental health crisis—prompts someone (a doctor, school official, neighbor, or police officer) to call a state hotline or CPS.

A large majority of child welfare cases (around 62% to 76% nationally) stem from allegations of neglect rather than intentional physical abuse. Structural hardships like homelessness, lack of child care, or food insecurity are frequently interpreted by the system as parental unfitness.

This is why we exist. Safe Families for Children works on the PREVENTION side so that more families can stay together. To learn more about Safe Families, go to https://safe-families.org/.

10/22/2026

We love to see Representative Sandy Pickert recognized for her commitment to vulnerable children and families! 🧡🦬🎉

🏆 2026 Child Advocacy Champion: Representative Sandy Pickert

Children’s Advocacy Centers of Kansas is proud to announce Representative Sandy Pickert as a recipient of our 2026 Child Advocacy Champion Award!
A retired registered nurse who spent decades caring for Kansans before entering public service, Representative Pickert has brought that same commitment to children and families to her work in the Kansas Legislature.

During the 2026 legislative session, Representative Pickert was a strong voice for Kansas Children’s Advocacy Centers as lawmakers considered the growing needs facing CACs across the state. As Vice Chair of the House General Government Budget Committee, she helped advance a $2.7 million increase in state funding for Children’s Advocacy Centers—speaking up for our centers and the children and families they serve.

We are grateful for Representative Pickert’s willingness to listen, learn, and advocate for Kansas children.

We look forward to recognizing her at the Child Advocacy Champions Summit on November 10!

Sandy Pickert for Kansas Representative

10/20/2026

🌟 Join us for the Youth Empowerment Action Network (YEAN) Quarterly Meeting!

Connect with community partners, share ideas, and collaborate on efforts that empower youth across our community.

📅 October 27, 2026 | 2:00 PM
📍 727 N. Waco, Suite 180, Wichita, KS 67203

We're excited to see you there!

10/19/2026

Bernie is Gathered Strong's mascot and we are officially rolling out his name. He is a Kansas bison named after Bern, Switzerland, a nod to the neutral ground where people come together. That's the role we try to play here at home: making room at the table for everyone working on behalf of vulnerable children and families.

Bernie's first trip? Nashville! This week, our CEO, Jae Hedrick, is presenting at the National Symposium for Community-Based Child Welfare, sharing what our community partners, churches, agencies, and families in Sedgwick County are building together.

No sides, just humans. 💛