Building a Village

April 1, 2025

At CAPA, we’re dedicated to fostering a supportive, empathetic, and growth-oriented environment for all our clients. We understand that families can face challenging times, and that’s why we’re here to support them in building resilience. Whether it’s through counseling for clients and families, providing support for new parents with infants and toddlers, or hosting educational classes and groups, CAPA is just a click away. As we mark 50 years of working to ensure the safety of children in Kansas City, we’re delighted to continue our efforts both in person and virtually.

And lastly, we want our community to know that we’re here to help families strengthen their connections and resilience and find their community!

A person’s capacity to navigate life’s challenges successfully – their resilience – is built on several factors, including solid executive functioning skills, supportive cultural traditions, and a sense of mastery regarding their life circumstances (Harvard, 2015) However, the most important factor is a person.

A consistent, healthy relationship with a nurturing adult is all that it takes to shift the trajectory of a child’s life toward successful outcomes, toward resilience.

The good news is, it only needs to be ONE person.

The great news is, it can be ANY person.

It can be YOU! You have everything it takes to be a meaningful part of a village.

Ways you can be part of a family’s Village

Support Caregivers

Caregivers experiencing their own high levels of stress may find it difficult to support their children – Validate their experience and let them know when they’re doing a great job!

Share resources

Tell someone you know about community resources – like CAPA

Our favorite at CAPA – join their play!

Play therapists believe that play is a language, and the toys are the words. Sometimes children struggle to verbalize how they’re feeling and the challenges they’re facing. Engaging with them in play can facilitate a sense of safety that can allow them to explore those feelings and challenges.

Dr. Bruce Perry, author of “The Boy Who Was Raised As a Dog,” “Born for Love” and who co-authored “What Happened to You,” with Oprah Winfrey says:

“The more healthy relationships a child has, the more likely he will be to recover from trauma and thrive. Relationships are the agents of change and the most powerful therapy is human love.”