Judge: Community support is vital for vulnerable children to thrive | Opinion
Vulnerable children — those experiencing poverty, neglect, abuse, displacement, or instability — represent some of the most urgent and complex challenges facing communities across the United States.
In Sedgwick County, this challenge is especially pronounced. While this region offers many resources and programs to assist families and youth, the needs of vulnerable children exceed what government systems alone can provide.
Community support — from nonprofits to individual volunteers — is vital to ensure these children not only survive but thrive.
According to recent data, about 17.2% of children in Sedgwick County live below the federal poverty level.
That means thousands of young people grow up without the reliable financial resources needed for things like healthy food, stable housing, quality childcare, or medical care.
Poverty also intersects with family structure: more than two-thirds of those children in poverty live in single-parent households, which often face heightened economic and social pressures.
When children grow up in poverty, they are more likely to experience food insecurity, lower educational outcomes, and chronic stress.
For example, food insecurity rates among certain demographic groups in Sedgwick County are more than double the overall rate, making access to nutritious meals a daily struggle for many families. Without the steady encouragement and support that stable adults and community institutions can provide, children living with these stressors may fall behind academically, socially, and emotionally.
Yet poverty is just one part of the broader set of challenges.
Another urgent area is the child welfare and foster care system.
Sedgwick County has one of the highest rates of children entering foster care in Kansas — about one-fifth of all removals in the state occur here. On any given day, there are more than 1,500 children in state custody, and that number has increased significantly in recent years.
These children often have experienced trauma, instability, or unsafe conditions in their homes, and the system struggles to find foster placements that meet their needs.
A placement crisis has been reported in recent oversight meetings, with hundreds of “failure to place” incidents in Sedgwick County, meaning the system could not find appropriate homes when children needed them.
In the midst of these challenges, youths may “bounce” between multiple placements, which is disruptive to their sense of security and affects emotional well-being. Vulnerable children need more than just basic services — they need consistent, caring adults and a community infrastructure capable of offering stability, encouragement, and support.
Government programs and county services form an important safety net. The Kansas Department for Children and Families offers childcare subsidies, food assistance (SNAP), and support programs that help families meet essential needs.
Early intervention programs also aim to connect families in crisis with home visits, education, and services intended to prevent abuse or neglect. Local community action organizations provide financial literacy and employment resources that help strengthen family stability.
However, formal systems can only go so far. Legal and social service interventions often occur after a crisis has begun, whereas community support can address challenges before they escalate. Community efforts can help reduce the number of children needing DCF intervention and can buffer the emotional and developmental impacts of such trauma.
One of the most powerful forms of community support is volunteer advocacy. Organizations like CASA of Sedgwick County train volunteers to advocate for children in foster care, giving judges and social workers deeper insight into a child’s needs and hopes. These advocates build relationships with children who have experienced trauma and help ensure that decisions about placements and services truly reflect the child’s best interests.
Similarly, the Child Advocacy Center of Sedgwick County provides a child-focused environment where abused children can receive supportive services, therapy, and help navigating the investigative and healing processes. The center relies on volunteers, donations, and community awareness to carry out its mission. Without these forms of grassroots support, many of the most vulnerable kids would lack access to trauma-informed care.
Faith-based and nonprofit movements like Care for Every Family connect community members, churches, and local organizations to meet real-time needs of struggling families. These networks can provide everything from meals and clothing to compassionate listening and mentorship, demonstrating how community engagement amplifies the effectiveness of formal welfare systems.
Volunteering doesn’t have to be long-term or highly specialized to matter. Simple acts — mentoring a young person, tutoring in school, donating school supplies, or participating in food drives — signal to children that they are seen, valued, and supported.
These forms of support can have ripple effects: Youth who feel connected to caring adults are more likely to succeed academically, stay out of trouble, and build positive peer networks. Check out Gathered Strong for a list of local organizations that need your support to help vulnerable children and families.
Community support has economic benefits.
Stronger support systems reduce long-term costs associated with juvenile justice involvement, emergency foster placements, and untreated health or mental health issues. Communities with active engagement also tend to have stronger schools, safer neighborhoods, and more stable families.
In Sedgwick County, the need for community support of vulnerable children is a daily reality reflected in human lives and local statistics.
Civic engagement, volunteerism, and community support are essential to building resilience in children, strengthening families, and creating a future in which every child has the opportunity to thrive.
— Kevin M. Smith is a District Court judge in Sedgwick County.