About

Kate Heinen, LCSW received her Master's in Social Work from the University of Missouri - Kansas City and her undergraduate degree in Film & Media and American Studies, with a concentration in race relations, from the University of Kansas. Her clinical social work has focused on practicing trauma-informed dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), community education, grantmaking for healthcare, and program interventions for meaningful systemic change.
Kate formerly worked in a private practice as a therapist for individuals suffering from post-traumatic stress, borderline personality disorder, anxiety, and depression. Her community social work has historically focused on policy advocacy and community organizing, particularly in regards to demolitions of large structures in residential neighborhoods. Prior to working for six years with the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault where she was the Coordinator of Community Engagement, Kate served as the Domestic Violence & Child Abuse Victim Advocate for the Kansas City Prosecutor's Office and provided crisis intervention services for Rose Brooks Center's emergency shelter and safe housing programs as a Housing & Resource Advocate. Before moving to Kansas City in 2010, Kate oversaw community volunteer recruitment and training for Douglas County Court Watch to effectively monitor Order of Protection dockets in Douglas County, KS and worked as a Court Advocate for domestic violence and stalking victims in Lawrence, KS with Women's Transitional Care Services.
Direct policy work has included working with legislators and stakeholders to amend Kansas and Missouri state laws and Kansas City ordinances to expand housing protections for individuals and families seeking safety from domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
Kate was appointed as the 2019-2021 Co-Chair for the Women's Equality Coalition of Greater Kansas City and was elected in 2020 as a board member for Women in Film + Media KC.
In her spare time, Kate writes short stories and essays, plays music, and is a hobbyist filmmaker focused on social justice documentaries.