Putting Kids First

A recent Needs Assessment in St. Louis County revealed that more than 12,000 St. Louis County children and youth in need of mental health services are going without help.The study also showed that more than 155,000 children and youth were not receiving beneficial school-based prevention programs; and that the unmet mental health and substance abuse needs of St. Louis County children and youth impacts 493,000 County families.

In response, a group of area agencies has joined together to estab-lish a Community Children’s Services Fund in St. Louis County. The Community Children’s Service Fund would provide ser-vices to children, youth, and their families facing tough issues like child abuse, mental illness, and substance abuse. The fund would be generated by a ¼ cent sales tax (one penny on every $4 pur-chase) and would be used solely for St. Louis County kids. Several surrounding counties have already created this type of fund, includ-ing St. Louis City, St. Charles County, and Jefferson County.

More than forty community and faith-based agencies are actively involved in the Putting Kids First initiative including Jewish Family and Children’s Services. The coalition is working to collect enough signatures to put the Community Children’s Services Fund on the ballot in St. Louis County. Volunteers are still needed to collect signatures, which must be turned in by mid-July. If you can help collect signatures over the next couple of weeks, please contact the campaign at (314) 544-3800 x302, or visit the campaign website at www.stlcokidsfirst.org.

Members who cannot volunteer but who live in St. Louis County can also be on the lookout for opportunities to sign the petition. A list of events where petitions will be available is also on the campaign website at www.stlcokidsfirst.org.