Sunlight Children’s Services reports increased demand, expanded mental-health capacity

Representatives of Sunlight Children’s Services updated the Andover City Council on program activity and needs, saying the nonprofit continues to serve abused and neglected children across the region.

Bridal Murphy, chief executive officer, and Angie Thompson, director of development, described three core programs: a Child Advocacy Center (CAC) for forensic interviews, an emergency children’s home and a trauma-focused mental-health program. Thompson told the council, “We conducted 207 forensic interviews in 2025” and that the children’s home had 535 intakes in 2025, including 78 sibling sets. She said Sunlight is the only Kansas shelter that serves children from birth through 18 and can keep sibling sets together.

Thompson said Sunlight received additional state funding that allowed it to add two therapists and expand mental-health services, reporting a 64% increase in total mental-health services and improved caregiver support. She described the thrift boutique as both a public-facing awareness tool and an earned-revenue source that helps fund services; staff asked for volunteers, donations and gift cards for families in need.

Council members asked about funding sources; Sunlight said its revenue mix includes state and federal grants and county contributions (including a liquor-tax share from two Butler County communities). The nonprofit provided ways for residents to help: volunteer at the thrift boutique, donate supplies from an Amazon wish list or provide gift cards.

No action was required of the council.