Our Mission
Whole Kids Outreach is a faith-based, nonprofit service organization committed to the unmet health and developmental needs of children, youth, and pregnant women within their family structure. Over the past 20+ years, WKO has worked to develop innovative, culturally sensitive interventions and programs to help families living in Appalachian-style poverty in rural Missouri meet their healthcare needs.
How and why do we do our work?
Watch, Listen, and Love!The Challenge [4:12]
The Power of Camp [3:44]
The Need
We serve 11 counties in rural southeast Missouri, where the average yearly income for a WKO family of four is $15,500.
The average distance to a health care facility (outside Butler County) is over 60 miles, in a region with no public transportation. The service area has only 60% of the hospital beds required to adequately meet the service area's health care needs.
Since starting our work in 1999, WKO has served more than 2,000 families and 16,000 children in the 11-county region.
Our Programs
Program Sign UpRegistration for our programs is ongoing. Contact WKO directly or visit the Programs page to register for one of our current programs.
Our approach is to broadly address the many influences that place children at risk in isolated, rural, low-income areas. To enable a “whole” child to develop, and with the support of our allies, WKO has created diverse programs and activities designed to educate and strengthen both the children and their parents.
Home Visit Programs
Meeting Families Where They Live
Outreach Specialists and Registered Nurses travel to their client families' homes on a regular basis as part of three integrated programs: Healthy Families America®, Parents and Teachers, and Maternal-Child Nursing.
Center-Based Programs
For Kids & Parents
Center-based programs on our beautiful 10-acre property in Ellington, Missouri include a summer day camp, the Christmas Store, horseback riding, seasonal family festivals, and more.
Get Involved
Our mission continues to be possible thanks to the many individuals, corporations and foundations that volunteer their time and money to Whole Kids Outreach. Thank you to all of you!
Many of our programs are supported by the Missouri Department of Economic Development, through the Neighborhood Assistance Program and Youth Opportunity Program. These programs offer WKO the opportunity to provide Missouri state tax credits to donors. Visit our Donation Page to learn what is currently available.
Volunteer OpportunitiesVolunteer opportunities abound at WKO. New and returning volunteers are welcomed and offered a unique learning and social experience.
Make a Donation85% of WKO budget comes from donations and grants. Gifts of every size and type are appreciated!
One Story
“I have a client named Nikki. When we met, she was eight months pregnant with her second child, a daughter. Her ten-year-old son had to live with Nikki’s mother but Nikki was not allowed to live there because her mother told her there wasn’t room for her, so Nikki lived in her car. Nikki has a history of abuse and neglect from her mother and father. I was able to help Nikki find resources to get her out of her car and into a house. Together, we also found community agencies to help her pay her bills for three months so she could get on her feet before her daughter was born. Nikki now has a full time job and is paying her bills. Nikki is now living with her son and her daughter who was born healthy and continues to grow and thrive. Nikki is enrolled in college classes and hopes to become a nurse.”
Ashley, Outreach Specialist
October, 2017