Program areas at Kids Matter
The fostering healing program helps child crime victims including children who have experienced abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault or who are survivors of homicide of a parent or caregiver. Family connections provides family support and child abuse prevention to extended kin caregivers, including a grandfamily support group. Kids Matter has a multi-disciplinary team to provide trauma support, free legal services, free counseling, safety planning, in-home visits and other support to 2,000 children and families annually. Milwaukee's court appointed special advocate (casa) program is wholly managed by Kids Matter Inc. each year hundreds of children victimized by abuse or neglect are assigned a casa volunteer by a judge to advocate for the children's best interests in obtaining a safe, permanent home or to transition to independent living.
Fostering hope. Community partners and community volunteers donate goods and services to improve the lives of children in crisis. In 2023, $575,226 in in-kind donations and donated volunteer services provided emergency assistance to children in need, supported positive experiences for children, and eased the burdens of covid by caregiving families.
Free civil legal services for low-income families experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, homicide, loss or absence of parent. Assistance keeping children safe within extended kinship families and outside of foster care.
Other programskinship caregiver support/navigation. Free support groups, legal education, events, navigation of available services for kinship caregiving families. Hope for child homicide survivors. New grant supported program to provide timely support, counseling and services to children who lose a parent or caregiver to homicide.