U.S. Education Secretary Cardona: 'This is community coming together for children'

When it comes to throwing a party for education, Kansas City has all the goods, says U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “This is a prime example of a community coming together to serve children,” he said about his “Raise the Bar” education bus tour stop in Kansas CIty.

'A mighty day': LINC Caring Communities go back to school

From North Kansas City to Grandview, from Kansas City’s West Side to Buckner, Mo., LINC’s Caring Communities school programs pounced on the new school year. See the sights and sounds. We’ve got video.

Garden therapy: LINC learns community gardening for the health of children, families

At the moment, the freshly churned garden bed was surrounded by adults — LINC Caring Communities coordinators and their staff — kneading the soil with seeds and seedlings. But it was easy to imagine where this hot August training day at Kansas City Community Gardens was leading: Kids. Lots of them.

KC Health Department immunization drive offers healthy start to school

Start the School Year Right with an Immunization Back-to-School Bash. As the school year approaches make sure your children are not only ready but healthy to head back to school. The City of Kansas City’s Health Department is hosting several events to make getting immunizations done easy and fun.

Spreading the word: How students can get 2 years of college free

The Missouri A+ Scholarship program gives students the ability to earn two years of college free, but too many families don't know about it and are missing out on the opportunity. We’ve created a website to answer your questions.

Concerned about high blood pressure? Diabetes? Get a free kidney test kit

Have you been told that you have high blood pressure or diabetes? The National Kidney Foundation is offering free kidney tests for people who are at-risk. See how to get your test

Farm fresh: How free produce from Missouri growers is getting to KC area families

“It helps my kids eat healthy. It helps the moms who struggle throughout the summer to feed their kids when they’re not in school.” See how the Missouri Department of Social Services, LINC and local farmers are bringing home the harvest of a new federal program.

LINC Chess Camp: 'A great community, a great game to learn'

“Everybody comes together and they learn a game that’s been around for thousands of years. And they go teach their friends, and they teach their parents. It’s just a great community and a great game to learn.”

Tax-free weekend for back-to-school purchases coming Aug. 4-6

There will be no sales tax at all from 12:01 a.m. Friday Aug. 4 until midnight Sunday Aug. 6 on any sales of the exempt items like school supplies, backpacks, calculators and jeans.

Summer of LINC: celebrating the 'authentic child'

Summer at LINC throws open all the doors from the house of learning and opens children to a wider world. Throughout June, many of the children unloaded from school buses and let loose that first-time stare as they took in the scene of a trampoline park, or exotic zoo, or a theater stage.

Interactive map helps locate free breakfast and lunch summer programs for children

Free meals are waiting for children in the long summer weeks ahead, and an online interactive map can help families find where they are.

What a day! Triumphant Caring Communities Day shines with joy and love

“This is Kansas City. Everybody coming together.” Caring Communities Day can be measured by many large numbers, starting with a crowd that exceeded two thousand people. But take a look at the stories and images of the day and see how Caring Communities measure optimism, pride and power.

Time limits resume for federal food assistance, potentially impacting 26,000 Missourians

Adult SNAP participants without children must prove they are meeting work requirements or will lose benefits after just three months

Joy of art: LINC, KCYA team up to help kids find their voice

Summertime and all its wide-open joy brings opportunities for something different, something more. LINC’s partnership with Kansas City Young Audiences — a staple of LINC’s after-school programming during the fall and spring — can really stretch during June and July. See how LINC students can attend a camp for free.

KIDS COUNT Data 2023: Child care stress pushing parents to breaking point

Too many parents in Missouri either cannot find safe and adequate child care — or they can’t afford it when they do. The consequences, reported in the 2023 KIDS COUNT Data Book released today by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, are tearing at families, neighborhoods and the nation’s economic health.

Hickman Mills launches year-round school; LINC steps up

Hickman Mills is experimenting with a year-round school concept, trying it at Ingels to see if it can realize some of the academic and social-emotional gains that a stretched-out school year promises. LINC will be there. See what parents and kids think.

Check out all the prizes waiting for you at Caring Communities Day 2023

We are seriously loaded with prizes that we’re giving away at Caring Communities Day this Saturday, June 10. Take a look at the video. Check out our photo gallery. We’ve got big raffle give-away prizes like grills, air fryers and Chiefs tailgating gear. And we’ve got hundreds of game prizes for all ages.

LINC Commission welcomes new members

The Local Investment Commission has named former state Sen. Kiki Curls, lawyer Shawn Foster and longtime legislative aide Matt Haase to join the LINC commission in overseeing the work of LINC’s Caring Communities in support of children, families and neighborhoods.

Caring Communities Day June 10 to deliver food, family resources, music, dancing, games and prizes

And it’s all for free: The food. The treats. The games. The music. The raffle prizes. All the information booths. Caring Communities Day returns with a joy that reminds us what a world of good neighbors means to children and families. Join us. Here’s what you need to know.

Important information for families that are using, or may qualify for Medicaid

LINC is collaborating with several partners in the Kansas City area to help spread important information for families that are using Medicaid, and families that would qualify for Medicaid but have not applied. Here’s what you need to know.