In 2010, HALO joined forces with reStart Inc. to protect children in the greatest need. reStart is a homeless shelter agency in Kansas City, Mo., that provides temporary housing and supportive services to all populations. We partner with reStart because they share our passion for protecting and empowering youth. While reStart gives children a safe place to stay, HALO provides healing from trauma through our therapeutic art workshops. By working together, we provide homeless children in Kansas City the physical and emotional support of a family.
“We find HALO to be an incredible asset with some services that we just wouldn’t be able to provide without them. We really find that art is a way for our young people to express themselves and it’s such a great compliment to our educational activities because the youth need an outlet,” said reStart Youth Program Manager Rita Carr.
But our partnership is much more than art workshops. Like reStart, one of our goals is to help at-risk and homeless children learn what it takes to become independent adults. Youth from reStart’s emergency shelter and transitional living programs come to HALO to learn about self care and professional development while also healing from their past. They are taught life skills like how to take care of their body, learn about healthy vs. unhealthy relationships and how to dress and prepare for an interview. These skills help reStart’s transitional living program youth get jobs; a requirement for the youth to stay in their housing.
The partnership between HALO and reStart bridges the gaps of the many needs for at-risk and homeless children in Kansas City. In 2016, reStart served a couple hundred youth, with an average of seven youth in their emergency shelter on any given night. Together, through our educational programs, housing, art and love, we are helping one more child spend one less day alone.
HALO is always looking to partner with local organizations in the Kansas City area who are passionate about helping at-risk youth. If you’re interested in partnering with us, please email Carly Manijak at [email protected].
If you want to help with our mission in effecting more change in the lives of our children, please donate here.