Mission & History
The mission of Sheffield Place is “To empower homeless mothers and their children to heal from their trauma and become self-sufficient.”
What makes Sheffield Place unique among homeless serving organizations is the commitment to serving families with multiple barriers to success (mental health, addiction, and domestic violence backgrounds, low educational attainment, and felony convictions among others). The agency embraces Trauma Informed Care (TIC) and trauma recovery as the first step in healing and provides intensive mental health and addiction recovery services delivered by licensed, master’s level therapists and experienced case managers.
Once families stabilize in the residential program and transition to housing in the community, they receive ongoing case management, therapy, and other supportive services for as long as needed and at no cost through the aftercare/outpatient program.
In addition, Sheffield Place owns and operates 10 units of housing in the neighborhood. Families may rent these houses based on a sliding scale. The families continue to receive case management and other services and may stay in the houses for as long as they desire.
In these ways, Sheffield Place demonstrates its firm conviction that the underlying trauma of each client’s life must be addressed for healing and self-sufficiency to occur.
About Trauma Informed Care
Research identifies trauma as a major risk factor for a number adverse health and mental health outcomes. (ACE Study) By understanding and treating trauma as the service delivery model, Sheffield Place is a leader and innovator in providing Trauma Informed Care for both children and adults. Key milestones include:
In 2007, Sheffield Place became the first supportive housing agency in the nation to provide the three best evidence-based therapeutic modalities for traumatized children.
In January 2008, Sheffield Place implemented the CARE (Child Adult Relationship Enhancement) model for trauma informed service systems.
In August 2008, Sheffield Place was selected as one of 20 organizations nationwide to participate in a learning community sponsored by The National Child Traumatic Stress Network to implement Integrated Treatment of Complex Trauma (ITCT).
In March 2009, as a result of our commitment to evidence-based treatments, Sheffield Place was recognized as a national best practice for work with traumatized, homeless children (America’s Youngest Outcasts: A State Report Card on Child Homelessness, March 2009).
In 2011, Sheffield Place was named a best practice in homeless services by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Region VII.
In 2012, Sheffield Place received certification from the Missouri Department of Mental Health, which was renewed in 2015, 2018, and 2021.
Sheffield Place believes that the mental health needs of the homeless mothers and children who call Sheffield Place home must be addressed to help children and families heal from their trauma to gain self-sufficiency.
Sheffield Place has been recognized for excellence in nonprofit management:
In 2014, Sheffield Place received the Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership Award from Support KC.
In 2015, Sheffield Place received the Excellence in Fundraising Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Mid America Chapter. Click here to see the awards video.
In 2022, Sheffield Place received a Brick-by-Brick Award from the Kansas City Industrial Council in recognition of the agency’s contribution to the growth and development of Kansas City’s industrial areas through the renovation of a former convent into seven living units for homeless families.
Sheffield Place has received the top 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator for the eighth consecutive year. Sheffield Place received a 100% rating in the most evaluation of accountability, transparency, and effectiveness. View the Sheffield Place rating here.