Synergy Services, Inc.
Safe today. Strong tomorrow.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Domestic Violence Center (DVC)
Synergy provides residential shelter to 300+ women and children annually who are fleeing domestic violence at its SafeHaven Domestic Violence Center (DVC) shelter located in Clay County. The client-centered program provides a secure attractive environment, 24-hour emergency hotline, awake staff, mental health counseling by licensed therapists, case management, employment readiness training, parenting support, recreational activities, two prepared meals per day, and clothing. Synergy has participated in the Lethality Assessment Program with the Kansas City Police Department North Patrol and other domestic violence agencies. Toward that end, the agency has agreed to accept any victim of domestic violence and her children who are determined to be in highly lethal situations (at danger for being killed) whether or not the Center is at full capacity.
School Based Integrated Services (SBIS)
The School-Based Integration Services (SBIS) program assesses, guides and supports Jackson and Clay County, MO elementary, middle and high schools with a purpose to create safe, trauma-informed care (TIC) environments (conducive to successful learning) through early intervention and therapeutic services.
Child Abuse Prevention, Treatment and Related Services
Synergy House (SH) provides short-term emergency shelter for youth 12-18 who are victims of abuse/neglect, in state custody; homeless or runaway; and/or families requiring child crisis intervention. The Youth Resiliency Center (YRC) is a drop-in/resource center for homeless and community youth struggling to connect. Services include showers, laundry, advocacy, fitness, food, clothing, therapy, medical and dental care. Children's Center (CC) provides 6-8 week residential care for children 0-21, who are victims of abuse/neglect and in state custody. The Transitional Living Program (TLP) provides housing, educational & life skills planning for homeless youth age 16-22 and Maternity Group Home (MGH) for parenting/pregnant homeless youth - Synergy's Teen Parent Support (TPS) Program helps prevent child abuse & domestic violence by providing trained mentors for at-risk pregnant/parenting teens & young adults.
Family Violence Counseling
Synergy provides outpatient individual and group counseling for victims of domestic violence along with case management, art and play therapy for children who are victims of physical, sexual and/or emotional abuse, neglect, or secondary trauma caused by witnessing violence. The agency also provides a 36-week mental health-focused, outpatient Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVIP) to treat victims and perpetrators of intimate partner violence. These populations are treated in separate groups (victims and Batterers Intervention Program-BIP-participants).
Children's Advocacy Center (CAC)
The Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) provides forensic interviews, victim advocacy, case collaboration, and a Multi-disciplinary Team approach to investigating child abuse that occurs in Clay, Platte, and Ray counties. The CAC services children ages 3-17 as well as adults with developmental disabilities or other vulnerabilities who have alleged sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect, exploitation, or have witnessed abuse or other violent crime. The mission of the CAC is to provide a dedicated, child-friendly environment, which is sensitive to needs specific to children who disclose sexual abuse and/or physical abuse or who have witnessed homicide or abuse of another. This is accomplished by providing a comprehensive, culturally competent, multi-disciplinary team approach to prevention, investigation, assessment, protection, referral for prosecution, and treatment of child abuse/neglect.
Where we work
Accreditations
Council on Accreditation (COA) [for Children and Family Services] - Accreditation 2021
National Children's Alliance - Accreditation 2015
Awards
Affiliations & memberships
Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence - Member 2000
National Network for Youth 1980
National Children's Alliance - Full Member 2001
United Way Member Agency 1980
National Network for Youth 1980
Missouri Kids First Coalition 2004
Jackson County Continuum 2013
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsNumber of people who received clinical mental health care
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Children and youth
Related Program
Family Violence Counseling
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
This metric represents the number of individuals who received individual, family and group therapy though Synergy's Family Care therapeutic program.
Number of clients in residential care
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Children and youth
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Individuals served in Children's Center, Domestic Violence Center, Synergy House Emergency Shelter, Transitional Living Program, and Maternity Group Home Program. Lower number served FY 2021 (Covid).
Number of direct care staff who received training in trauma informed care
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of youth who demonstrate that they have developed coping skills
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
This metric reflects the number of Synergy House Emergency Shelter youth that utilize new coping skills they developed after being care between 15-30 days. Total depends on average length of stay.
Number of youth who demonstrate that they have developed social skills (e.g., interpersonal communication, conflict resolution)
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Children and youth
Related Program
Child Abuse Prevention, Treatment and Related Services
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
This metric reflects the number of children who developed an increase in pro-social skills while in care. Lower number served FY 2021 due to Covid pandemic.
Number of financial literacy courses conducted
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth, Young adults
Related Program
Child Abuse Prevention, Treatment and Related Services
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Financial literacy education classes are offered once a month at Synergy's Homeless Youth Campus for runaway, homeless, street, and at-risk youth ages 12-21. Lower number provided FY2021 due to Covid.
Number of bed nights (nights spent in shelter)
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth, Adults, Families
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Total annual bednights for Domestic Violence Center, DV Housing Program, Synergy House Emergency Shelter, Children's Center, Transitional Living and Maternity Group Home residential programs.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
As
a mental health agency Synergy Services is committed to helping victims of
trauma, abuse, poverty, homelessness and family dysfunction gain the resiliency
needed to succeed and lead a healthy productive life. Synergy understands that
conquering Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) as well as ongoing trauma
depends upon offering vulnerable individuals a wide range of connections and
supportive services complemented by effective counseling and case management.
Having provided shelter, counseling, and housing for victims of domestic
violence, homeless and abused children and youth, as well as family therapy for
almost 50 years, Synergy embraces its own experience and the research that
documents that a sense of belonging and a feeling of “connectedness” is essential
for healthy development. In the absence of positive and responsive
connectedness, individuals see themselves as unlovable and incompetent; view
others as uncaring and untrustworthy, and the world as unsafe and full of
threat. In addition, Synergy functions from an understanding that a strength-based approach to helping people change their life trajectory depends
upon helping them meet a wide range of needs including housing, employment,
health care, education, and social development.
Therefore, Synergy’s long-range strategic plan is to help build the
community’s capacity to meet the comprehensive needs of vulnerable individuals
and families. This requires working collaboratively with other social services and mental health agencies; government; schools and universities; health care
providers; foundations, corporate, religious, and civic leaders; and vulnerable
individuals themselves to foster the investment needed to implement
best-practice and comprehensive solutions. Synergy seeks to strategically gain the resources and collective will to create a community free of family violence. Toward that end, the agency has provided leadership in seeking consistent and sufficient funds to help the Greater Kansas City community meet these challenges. Synergy is committed to passing the Children’s Service Fund as widely as possible. This is a small sales tax passed by the voters in each county to support comprehensive services for children and youth including housing, shelter, mental health support, school-based prevention and treatment services, drug and alcohol addiction care, and services for pregnant and parenting youth. Synergy also works with elected officials at every level to encourage expanded investment in vulnerable populations and devotes time and attention to fostering social justice. Synergy is confident that this base of funding will bend the arc in overcoming childhood trauma and empower the next generation to conquer many of society’s generational problems as well as preventing future dysfunction. In addition, Synergy seeks to work collaboratively to expand its college housing program for homeless youth, thereby helping vulnerable youth not only gain housing and wrap-around services but the opportunity to obtain the education and resiliency needed to transform their futures. Synergy also understands that domestic violence continues to be the leading public health issue in the United States and across the world. We, therefore, seek to work with fellow-providers to build on current knowledge such as the use of the documented Lethality Assessment. We will strive to change the means of providing safety for victims and their children from being largely shelter-focused to offering more long-term housing and employment support and to expand the treatment of batterers to diminish the number of victims by addressing battering as both a crime and as a mental health and societal problem.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Provide
integrative, trauma-informed care to those who are most vulnerable to
homelessness, mental health crisis, and family violence.Synergy has developed an integrative care assessment tool that measures vulnerability in 18 unique domains.The agency has a TIC Committee that is providing training in best-practice trauma-informed strategies for all staff members. In addition, the agency is introducing a best-practice curriculum for advocacy across the agency programs entitled Trust-Based Relational Intervention. The model was developed at Texas Christian University and comes highly recommended.The agency Diversity Committee convened an all staff retreat to address racial and social justice, conducted numerous training programs including workshops co-convened by the KCPD, and is planning a year-long project to enhance agency culture. Training includes an understanding of sexual and gender diversity, racial equity, and cultural competence.Synergy has applied for federal funding to strengthen its outreach to homeless and vulnerable youth to overcome and preventing youth trafficking.Synergy is working with Georgetown University and the Jurist Project in Clay County to improve support services for families whose children have been removed from their homes. The goal is to better integrate services that lead to permanency for children.The effort is being made to hire a more diverse staff to fully represent the agency’s clientele.Synergy has introduced a special program with Dr. Scott Sells to provide intensive family therapy for children with behavioral health challenges.Synergy is participating in a longitudinal study of homeless youth with Professor Kim Tyler from the University of Nebraska and funded by NIH. Provide leadership to pass the Children’s Services Fund in Platte, Ray & Cass Counties and assist in community efforts to develop and sustain funds needed to serve vulnerable children, youth, and families in Kansas City. Synergy led the Children Services Funding Coalition of Jackson and Clay County to support passage of this tax initiative in Jackson County in 2016 and Clay Co in 2017. Synergy will continue to provide leadership in this capacity as other counties in the area engage in the effort to pass CSF initiatives. Campaign strategies will engage community groups, neighborhood association, and an effort to get out the vote as the grassroots level.Expand housing programs for runaway and homeless youth and children and families facing homelessness due to family violence and poverty.Expand the Park University project to provide housing and a college education for more youth at Park University as well as other area colleges and universities in collaboration with Truman Behavioral Health. The University TLP team, represented by Synergy, Park University, and Truman Behavioral Health executive leadership and program staff, has been meeting for the past several years to develop every aspect of this program from integrated intake assessment to graduation.Remodel and renovate Synergy’s Domestic Violence Center. Renovation began in 2018 and will be completed in 2019.Work in partnership with the Kansas City Housing Authority (KCHA) to implement a Project-Based Voucher program for homeless youth that was approved for 2019 and will provide 25 new housing units. Also, work to obtain another Project-Based Voucher program with the KCHA to provide 25 apartments for survivors of domestic violence and their children.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Synergy Services completed the construction of
its 6-acre Homeless Youth Campus including a newly constructed Emergency shelter
and a Youth Resiliency Center in 2010, completed renovation and new build
construction of another 6-acre Childrens’ Center in 2015-2016, and is currently
renovating and expanding its Domestic Violence Center. Its experience in leading capital campaigns
to complete these projects indicates that Synergy has a Board of Directors that
is engaged, generous, and capable of presenting the mission and vision to the
larger community. Since 2010 the agency
has raised almost $19 million dollars in addition to its annual budget to
expand and enhance its various locations.
The agency also received and completed a 7-year New Market Tax Credit
Transaction as a component of the Youth Campus campaign. Synergy also partners with
Park University which provides its two locations on the campus for one cent/year
rent. The agency has well-established partnerships and collaborative relationships with other service providers and stakeholders. Synergy extends its expertise at the local, county, regional, state and national levels to routinely support legislation, policy, and funding to address issues in the mental health and social services sector. Agency staff members provide current leadership across a wide array of areas as follows: chair of the behavioral health task force for the GKC Chamber of Commerce as well as its ACES program; chair of the CSF campaigns for Jackson and Clay Counties; chair of the Leadership CO for the Northland Chamber of Commerce; appointment to the Missouri Supreme Court’s Commission on Domestic Violence; the State of Missouri Child Abuse & Neglect Review Board; MCADSV State Standards for Batterer Intervention, Public Policy CO, and Expert Witness Incubator Lab; Federal HHS FYSB peer monitor & grant reviewer; Federal TIC Learning Cohort; Board of Federal RHYTTAC (Runaway & Homeless Youth Training & Technical Assistance Center); lead agency for SafePlace in Metro KC; advisory board of MHDC; KC Homeless Asst CO; Turning Point Homeless Shelter Advisory Board; SMMC Integrated Care Team; Region 4 Balance of State COC Board; MO Kid’s First CAC Executive CO & Legislative Policy Chair; KC Roundtable Legislative CO; MO Task Force for Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse, Chair of Child Abuse Investigations Sub-Committee; Juvenile Justice State Advisory Board; Clay CO Signs of Safety Implementation Team; Chair Georgetown Multi-System Collaboration. Training, & Technical Assistance Program for Clay CO; Coalition Against Human Trafficking through US Attorney’s office of Western District; Ray CO System of Care; facilitator of Community Response Team for Clay, Platte & Ray Cos; Synergy has been accredited by the Council on Accreditation, the largest accrediting body for non-profit social service organizations, since 2000 and received its last two accreditation reviews with no recommendations for improvement. COA informed the agency that this is very rare and has happened to less than 10 agencies over the last two decades. Synergy is also certified by the Missouri Dept of Mental Health, licensed by the State of Missouri, & certified by United Way.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Synergy maintains standards of service delivery
and operations that encourage vulnerable children, youth, and families to
remain connected to Synergy to continue the healing process and build
resiliency. Synergy routinely received high scores on client safety, client
engagement in services, and increased resiliency after treatment. These
outcomes are mostly based on the client care level of intervention. Clinical measurements
included: Parent’s ability to provide safe & nurturing interaction – 71%;
Parent’s awareness of their child’s developmental needs – 67%; Reduction in
depression and anxiety across programs – 92%;
Feel physically safe while in the program – 95%.The challenges that Synergy faces is that the number of requests for services nearly always outpaces Synergy’s capacity. The science that informs the efforts of ACE’s related projects, resiliency, trauma-informed care, and service integration is validated more positively every day. Communities seem to be more and more aware that prevention and early intervention is making a significant difference in health, education, employment, and family well-being. Additionally, economists seem to increase their ability to measure the return on investments and communities are beginning to understand that the cost saved by investing in early intervention programs like Synergy, is very significant.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, established an agency Diversity & Inclusion Committee,
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Synergy Services, Inc.
Board of directorsas of 03/17/2022
Ms. Susan Casey
Community Member
Term: 2022 - 2024
Tom Isenberg
Community Volunteer
Dustin Kerr
QuikTrip Corporation, KC Division
Greg Personelli
Argosy Casino Hotel and Spa
Michelle Brown
CBIZ MHM, LLC & Mayer Hoffman McCann, PC
Wayne Threatt
WBT Strategy Consulting LLC
Dr. Terra Frazier
Children’s Mercy Hospital
Cheryl Givens
Community Volunteer
Jason Bennett
American Century Investments
Susan Casey
Community Volunteer
Michael Gabrick
Cerner
Amanda Richardson
Grant Thornton LLP
Shane Smeed
Park University
Marisa Wiruhayam
M&D Enterprise, Inc.
Rachel Peterson
STINSON, LLP
Mia Scott
Mia Johne Photography
Johnny Waller, Jr.
Community Volunteer
Ryan H. Powell, O.D.
Vision Source Eyecare
Lauren Kepler
JE Dunn
Jason Bennett
American Century Investments
Tommy W. Taylor
Polsinelli Attorney, Retired
James Caniglia
UMB Bank
Amanda Richardson
Grant Thonton, LLP
Brynn McCan
Curry Real Estate Services
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
The organization's co-leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 03/31/2020GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.