Our Story

Our Impact

Essential Families delivers 24/7 coordinated support directly into the home to stabilize families and create pathways to economic mobility — because Everything Starts at Home.

Using a certified human Digital Case Manager supported by Carrie AI Agent, our AI-powered Digital Case Manager, we provide:

Economic Mobility coaching
Parenting support
Telehealth access
Workforce pathway connections
Broadband, Chromebooks, and digital skills training

Essential Families has helped more than 1,093 families close the digital divide and advance toward economic mobility, with more than 2,470 families currently on the waitlist.

Our work is powered by evidence-based frameworks including:

EMPath’s Economic Mobility Bridge
The Urban Institute Upward Mobility Framework
Parents as Teachers
Nurturing Parenting

Together, these models strengthen families across five key pillars:

Rewarding work
High-quality education
Healthy environments
Responsive governance
Opportunity-rich neighborhoods

Proven Results

4.9 out of 5 client satisfaction rating for Economic Mobility workshops
4.8 out of 5 client satisfaction rating for Digital Case Manager follow-up services
Independent validation from Dr. Brent Never at the UMKC Henry W. Bloch School of Management

Our Vision

To reach, inform, and inspire children and families.

Our Mission

Strengthening families is essential to our community, city, and state. And, we believe, Everything Starts at Home.

Interested in learning about or funding the Essential Families Economic Mobility Program?

Click here to schedule a meeting with Terri English-Yancy

(Photo and Video Gallery)

June, 20th 2026,

Vineyard Garden CAN Workshop | Saturday - June 20th, 2026 | Vineyard residence receive additional training on Carrie AI

June, 13th 2026,

Vineyard Garden CAN Workshop | June 13th, 2026 | Carrie AI Training with Kenneth P. Yancy I & 3rd Wave Marketing

June, 06th 2026,

Vineyard Garden CAN Workshop | Saturday - June 6th, 2026

June, 01st 2026,

June 1st, 2026 | Lyriks Institute Students Attend Economic Mobility Workshop at Keystone CoLab

May, 30th 2026,

Blue Hills Day on Saturday May 30th held at 6025 Prospect, Salvation Army Parking Lot

May, 16th 2026,

Vineyard Garden CAN Workshop | Saturday - May 16th, 2026

May, 14th 2026,

St. Michael’s Veteran Center Check-In 6

May, 07th 2026,

Palestine Seniors Final In-Person Check-In | May 7th, 2026 | 6 Virtual NoW Video Sessions Next

May, 06th 2026,

St Michael’s Veteran Center Check-In 5

May, 02nd 2026,

A Senior Day Party held at Ruskin High School

May, 02nd 2026,

Vineyard Garden CAN Workshop | Saturday - May 2nd, 2026

April, 30th 2026,

St Michael’s Veteran Center Check-In 4

April, 30th 2026,

Palestine Senior Center Check-In 5

April, 22nd 2026,

St Michael’s Veteran Center Check-In 3

April, 15th 2026,

St Michael’s Veteran Center Check-In 2

April, 11th 2026,

Vineyard Garden CAN Workshop | Saturday - April 11th, 2026 | 11:00 AM - 12 NN

April, 06th 2026,

Essential Families Economic Mobility Workshop: 3818 Chelsea Drive/St. Michael Veteran Center

April, 04th 2026,

Essential Families CAN Workshop at Vineyard Neighborhood Association

April, 02nd 2026,

Palestine Senior Activity Center Economic Mobility Workshop

March, 31st 2026,

Digital Case Manager All Team Meeting

March, 26th 2026,

In Person Check-In 3 of our DCMs with the Palestine Senior Clients

March, 16th 2026,

St. Michael’s Veteran Center Registration Day. Thank you to Emma, Shamal, and our Digital Case Managers—Eric, Stephne, and Marshon. We registered 20 veterans and added 11 more to a growing waitlist.

March, 10th 2026,

Essential Economic Mobility Workshop at Palestine Senior Activity Center March 10th, 2026: In honor of Women's History Month, Essential Families is "Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future."

February, 23rd 2026,

Essential Families attends city of Kansas City public budget forum, to address 2,493 children and families on their waitlist

February, 07th 2026,

Vineyard Garden CAN Workshop | Saturday - February 7th, 2026 | 11:00 AM - Noon

February, 02nd 2026,

Monday - February 2nd, 2026 | 6:00 -7:30 pm

December, 31st 2025,

Essential Families 1st Annual Fundraiser/New Year's Eve Gala

December, 15th 2025,

Celebrating economic mobility wins! Vanessa and Veronique won our follow-up contest with KC’s Digital Equity Department, receiving Chromebooks and support. Their commitment stood out, and Veronique will train as a Digital Case Manager in 2026.

December, 05th 2025,

Groundbreaking Event: Essential Families Office Building & Francine Marie Kerr Family Center

December, 02nd 2025,

Essential Families Economic Mobility Workshop: Dave’s Place

November, 17th 2025,

Essential Families Economic Mobility Workshop: WYCO Residents ONLY West Wyandotte Library 1737 N 82nd Street KCK 66112

November, 15th 2025,

Essential Families Economic Mobility Workshop: Morning Star Community Room

November, 13th 2025,

Essential Families Economic Mobility Workshop: 2816 E 23rd St/ Seton Center

November, 12th 2025,

Essential Families Economic Mobility Workshop: Get Help KC 11.12.25 Gregg/Klice Community Center

November, 11th 2025,

Essential Families Economic Mobility Workshop: 2816 E 23rd St/ Seton Center

November, 08th 2025,

Essential Families Economic Mobility Workshop: Get Help KC Lamp Campus 1801 Linwood Blvd

November, 08th 2025,

Essential Families Economic Mobility Workshop: ONLY Lafayette County Residence 547 S. Business Highway 13 Lexington, MO 64067

October, 29th 2025,

Essential Families Economic Mobility Workshop: SENIORS ONLY 3325 Prospect Ave Palestine Senior Citizen Activity Center

October, 24th 2025,

Essential Families Economic Mobility Workshop: ONLY Lafayette County Residence 547 S. Business Highway 13 Lexington, MO 64067

October, 23rd 2025,

Essential Families Economic Mobility Workshop: St. Michael's Veteran Center

October, 23rd 2025,

Essential Families Economic Mobility Workshop: Hickman Mills Middle School

October, 22nd 2025,

Essential Families Economic Mobility Workshop: Gregg/Klice Community Center

October, 18th 2025,

Community Event: Giving Hope and Help - 13th Annual Feminine Hygiene Period Product Drive & Expo

October, 14th 2025,

We’re back! Digital Director , Digital Case Manager team meeting held on Thursday October 14th. Preparing for our upcoming Economic Mobility Workshops.

February, 15th 2025,

4th T-Mobile 5G Internet Hotspot Distribution - Southeast Community Center

February, 08th 2025,

3rd T-Mobile 5G Internet Hotspot Distribution - Northeast Library 6000 Wilson Ave

January, 25th 2025,

2nd T-Mobile 5G Internet Hotspot Distribution - Southeast Community Center

January, 21st 2025,

1st T-Mobile 5G Internet Hotspot Distribution - Southeast Community Center

December, 18th 2024,

Lyriks Institution - Essential Digital Opportunity Workshop at Southeast Community Center

December, 17th 2024,

ArchWell Health - Essential Digital Opportunity Workshop - 3135 Prospect Ave

December, 12th 2024,

St. Michael's Veterans Center - Essential Digital Opportunity Workshop at 3818 Chelsea Drive

November, 11th 2024,

Resiliency at Work (RW2) - Essential Digital Opportunity Workshop at Southeast Community Center

November, 07th 2024,

Rural and Greater Kansas Digital Navigator Team Meeting

October, 19th 2024,

Linc Community Event. Family and Community Engagement Director, Mikia Johnson

October, 12th 2024,

Community Outreach Bash, St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, Saturday, October 12th. Digital Navigator Dorothy Burrell, Family and Community Engagement Director Mikia Johnson

September, 12th 2024,

Dallas County - Buffalo Missouri Essential Digital Opportunity Workshop

August, 21st 2024,

State Senator Barbara Anne Washington Essential Telehealth letter of support.

August, 12th 2024,

Essential Rural Digital Opportunity Workshop- Lexington Missouri

July, 12th 2024,

Essential Digital Opportunity Workshop and 500 Household Celebration

June, 22nd 2024,

Washington Wheatley Community Partner Event- Essential Families uses courier service to deliver laptops and workshop essential equipment and material.

June, 22nd 2024,

Essential Families is growing: Now using courier service to deliver laptops and essential workshop material and equipment

June, 18th 2024,

Essential Families works to eliminate digital divide Rae Daniels Interview

June, 15th 2024,

Latinx Essential Digital Opportunity Workshop

June, 12th 2024,

Latinx Essential Digital Opportunity Workshop

June, 08th 2024,

Manheim Park Neighborhood Meeting- Our newest Community Partner

May, 20th 2024,

Community Partner: Greater KC LINC

May, 16th 2024,

May 16th: Digital Navigator Curriculum Training (May 14th-16th, 2024 Trainer: Tamiika Samuel, Digital Navigator Council District 5 Director)

May, 15th 2024,

Della Lamb Essential Digital Opportunity Workshop

May, 15th 2024,

Digital Navigator Curriculum Training - May 13-15th, 2024 | Trainer: Christina Kohn Digital Navigator Council District 6 Director

May, 08th 2024,

May 8th, 2024 Community Partner : Key’s Reality

May, 07th 2024,

Community Partner: ArchWell Health. Aging Population Healthcare.

May, 04th 2024,

Entrenamiento de Navegadores Digitales de LEC

April, 16th 2024,

Community Partner: Black Family Technology

March, 19th 2024,

Essential Telehealth Letters of Support for Veterans, Unserved and Underserved Rural, Urban Communities, and Early Childhood Mental

February, 27th 2024,

Community Partner: ArchWell Health. Aging Population Healthcare.

November, 14th 2023,

Phyllis Wheatley Elementary School

October, 14th 2023,

W.E.B. Dubois Learning Center 50th Anniversary Event- Community Partner Registration

October, 04th 2023,

First 2-day Virtual Digital Navigator Curriculum Training Cohort. Trained 8 new Digital Navigators. We now have 59 Digital Navigators for the greater Kansas City area.