The St. Louis Family and Community Partnership works to support families, prevent child abuse and neglect, and help ensure that children have permanent relationships that help them safely thrive with families in their own communities.
The St. Louis Family and Community Partnership is a coalition of more than 200 individuals in more than 70 child-serving agencies and community partners in metropolitan St. Louis. Partnership members include social-service agencies, courts, police, schools, government leaders and state agencies.
The mission of the St. Louis Family and Community Partnership is to promote advocacy, education and networking to improve the lives of children and families who have been impacted by abuse or neglect, and to strengthen families to prevent child abuse and neglect.
AUDIO: Ruth R. Ehresman, Vision for Children at Risk Advocacy Coordinator, shares a brief history and the mission of the St. Louis Family and Community Partnership.
AUDIO: Ehresman explains that the St. Louis Family and Community Partnership welcomes a broad spectrum of partners.
The St. Louis Family and Community Partnership participates in multiple activities that are key to the prevention of child abuse and neglect. These activities include the distribution of educational bookmarks, stickers and other materials during Child Abuse Prevention Month, displaying more than 200 “Every Child. Every Family, Secure and Safe” yard signs throughout the metropolitan St. Louis area; and a Family Resource Fair that provides information on community resources.
AUDIO: Ehresman talks about community support of the SLFCP.
The St. Louis Family and Community Partnership also promotes evidence-based programs to strengthen families. The Partnership facilitates training professionals and community members to host Parent Cafes. Parents Cafes are a tool used in the Strengthening Families Framework, an evidence based program shown to be effective in preventing child abuse and neglect.
AUDIO: Ehresman discuses how CTF funding has been a benefit to the St. Louis Family and Community Partnership.
Looking toward the future, the St. Louis Family and Community Partnership is looking to merge with the St. Louis Area Council on Child Abuse and Neglect (CoCAN), a collaborative council established in 1975 to meet the need for professional networking, education, and advocacy on behalf of children in St. Louis regarding child abuse and neglect.
AUDIO: Ruth R. Ehresman explains why the merge between the Partnership and CoCAN is important for child abuse and neglect prevention.
For more information on the St. Louis Family and Community Partnership, visit their website or call 314-534-6015.
