CSL Endorses Renewal of Children’s Services Fund

October 7, 2022 | By: Jeff Benson, CSL Board Chair

CSL Supporters –

In 2016, Jackson County voters approved the creation of the Jackson County Children's Services Fund (CSF), with a one-eighth cent sales tax that would sunset after seven years. A CSF is allowed, by Missouri state statute, to be created in counties by a vote of the people, and exists to improve children’s mental health and social-emotional wellbeing. In 2016, according to Missouri Kids Count, Jackson County ranked as one of the lowest-scoring counties in the State of Missouri for children’s health and wellbeing.

Since 2016, CSL has received about $1 million in cumulative funding from the CSF, in support of our Family Stability Initiative. The Family Stability Initiative intervenes with families at risk of transiency, and helps build a stable foundation. The families all have school-age children, and participation in the program leads to increased household stability, which improves mental health outcomes, school performance, and attendance. Since the funding began, CSL has helped 1,683 students from 583 families in Eastern Jackson County school districts, and 93% have remained stably housed (and in the same neighborhood school), and 87% reported improvements in their overall mental wellbeing.

The funding supports 3.5 full-time employees at CSL dedicated to the Family Stability Initiative, and across Jackson County, more than 400 positions are supported by the CSF. Most importantly, one of every three kids in Jackson County is impacted by one of the CSF’s funded programs.

Currently, the CSF is able to fund 60% of the requests it receives annually. Earlier in 2022, the Jackson County Legislature voted 9-0 to put on a new CSF ballot measure that would increase the tax levy by one-eighth cent, for a new total of one-quarter cent. Importantly, the measure would exist in perpetuity. The ballot measure will go before Jackson County voters on Tuesday, November 8, 2022.

At CSL’s August 2022 board meeting, the CSL Board of Directors voted unanimously to endorse this ballot measure. Our community must have the necessary resources if we are to make meaningful change in people’s lives (and their futures). Leading up to November 8, CSL will be providing educational information to our community about how this fund impacts lives, and why it’s important to “Renew the Fund with Question 1.” We will encourage our board, staff, volunteers, donors, program participants, and community-at-large to consider voting yes on the ballot measure.

CSL deals with a lot of “downstream challenges.” That is to say, we help adults that are dealing with many life challenges. For an adult that is homeless, has substance abuse, and has an underlying mental health condition, we are looking at a lengthy road back to stability, and one that will likely have costs in the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. “Upstream investments,” like the CSF, can intervene in a child’s life and help them enjoy a healthier and happier existence. Upstream investments can also, usually, be delivered at a fraction of the cost of a downstream challenge. With that in mind, we know that questions about taxation can be very polarizing, but we believe this is a good societal investment.

Investments in kids are investments in our community’s children. For a more prosperous generation of Jackson Countians, we encourage voters to Renew the Fund with Question 1 and vote yes on November 8.

Sincerely,
Jeff Benson
Chair, CSL Board of Directors