. Providing cutting-edge professional consultation services to youth, youth care providers.
President & CEO Profile
In 1999, Kemoh and some members of his family were resettled in New York City through the United States Refugees and Resettlement Program. Kemoh attended the Stapleton Community Prep where he obtained a GED Certificate in 1999. Kemoh then moved to Jefferson City, Missouri in early 2000 through the invitation of a friend. In 2001, Kemoh enrolled at Lincoln University of Missouri (www.lincolnu.edu) where he obtained a Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice in 2005. In 2006, Kemoh enrolled in dual graduate programs at two different universities (Lincoln University of Missouri, and the University of Missouri-Columbia) while working fulltime as a Correctional Officer with the Missouri Department of Corrections. In 2007, Kemoh obtained a Master of Art in Sociology from LU; and in 2008, a Master of Social Work (MSW) with concentration in Policy, Planning & Administration from University of Missouri-Columbia (www.missouri.edu)
Kemoh has nearly ten years of professional experience in both adult and juvenile justice; and currently works as a Case Manager with the 19th Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri-Juvenile Division. He is a member of the ‘Treatment Staff’ at the Prenger Center (19th Judicial Circuit) Level-IV Residential Facility, where he helped develop the ‘Residential Program Manual' and 'Policies and Procedures Guide.' In addition, he serves as a Staff Trainer, and Coordinator of the Agency's Internship Program. As a policy and procedure Advocate/Analyst, Kemoh is always interested in helping youth care providers develop and implement policies, and procedures as well as programming that are structurally sound to increase the effectiveness of their organizations in serving youths in their care.
Kemoh is a member in good-standing of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW-Missouri Chapter) (www.socialworkers.org) and holds the Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW), and Certified Advanced Social Work Case Manager (C-ASWCM) Credentials. He is a Current member of the Board of Directors of the Central Missouri Foster Care and Adoption Association (CMFCAA), National Association of Social Workers-Missouri Chapter where he serves as the Chairperson of the Central Unit. In addition, Kemoh is a member of the Missouri Juvenile Justice Association (www.mjja.org); and a Mentor with the Missouri Valley Big Brothers, Big Sisters. In 2010 Kemoh founded Youth Balance Consulting (www.youthbac.com), a Limited Liability Company that provides consultating services to persons and agencies that are serving academic, and behavioral at-risk youths.
Kemoh Edwards was born and raised in Liberia, West Africa. Kemoh mother and father separated when he was barely one year old, and his father forcefully took him from his mother and sent him to live with his paternal-grandparents on the family farmland. Hence, at a very young age, Kemoh had mastered the family farming skills, with the only foreseeable destiny of becoming a farmer, as that was what his father had decided for the rest of his life! School was
Kemoh’s life, and transformation from a ‘tribal’ none-English speaking boy at age eight to the beginning of strong
not to be a part of his thought processes, and definitely not an option. At least not until his persistent, and unwavering mother, (whom he had not met nor heard from since he was barely one year old) showed up on the family's farm (a whooping two hours walking distance from the nearest gravel-motor vehicle road) carrying a piece of note written by a family member requesting that the paternal-grandparents released Kemoh into the custody of his mother. The note supposedly authorized by Kemoh’s father served as what U.S Juvenile Court Judges/Social Service Officials would grant as a family reunification order. The nerve-racking reunification would serve to be a critical point of
academic foundation leading to a first-generation graduate student; and a double master degree-holder.
