Faith community mobilization
Facilitating, connecting and strengthening faith-based programs and services in order to link congregational resources and strengths to community needs. Many of these initiatives will change frequently.
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Social development
Power of Partnerships Forums
The United Way of Greater St. Louis has collaborated with the East St. Louis, Ill.’s, School Districts Board of Education to develop a faith-based partnership component to strengthen the system’s mental health support services to students. From these forums, three initiatives were implemented.
- Sinai Family Life Center and After-School Enrichment Program: The Sinai Family Life Center and The Sinai-After School Enrichment Program are the social services outreach programs of The Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church. Selected students, targeted by teachers or counselors, are referred to the Sinai After-School Enrichment program as an after-school initiative. Students receive one-on-one tutoring in math, reading, writing, substance abuse awareness/prevention and computer training. In January of 2006, the United Way invested $10,000 to support the cost of personnel salaries to increase capacity and purchase computer software for the computer lab. Click to read more (.pdf).
- Sons and Valor and Daughters of Promise: New Life in Christ Interdenominational Church and its’ community action arm, New Life Enterprises, partnered its "Sons of Valor/Daughters of Promise" mentorship program with the O’Fallon Illinois School District 90’s Estelle Kampmeyer Elementary School in referring 25 boys and 25 girls targeted by teachers or counselors to this mentoring program. The curriculum encourages academic excellence through character building and a curriculum promoting self-esteem and positive socialization skills. In September of 2006, the United Way invested $15,000 to support current and expanded program material and transportation costs associated with the O’Fallon District 90 School System partnership during the 2006-2007 school year. Click to read more (.pdf).
- "Teen Talk": Presently taped at Faith United Baptist Church of O’Fallon, Ill., "Teen Talk" is aired on several local cable stations. Youth discuss topics that include HIV/AIDS awareness, self-esteem, absentee parents and violence. With United Way’s facilitation, partnerships between East St. Louis and several health and human service organizations have been established, resulting in enhanced discussion topics. United Way has invested $15,504 to cover the purchase of two professional broadcast cameras, tripods, lighting equipment and accessories needed to support quality on-site and expanded programming at more remote sites. Providing funding increases the target market of the program’s participants and strengthens the program’s structure and volunteer efforts to support its implementation. Click to read more (.pdf).
Healthy living
HopeBuild Garden of Eden
Studies have demonstrated that a wide array of health problems, including obesity and nutrition-related chronic diseases, are clustered in lower socio-economic groups. The HopeBuild Garden of Eden is the result of dialogues within faith-based community health ministries. Congregations in the targeted areas with health ministries initiated the concept of a community owned and operated produce market. The HopeBuild Garden of Eden provides neighborhood-based access to healthy fruits and vegetables, nutrition education and employment opportunities for the underserved in the St. Louis community. To date, United Way has invested $35,000 to support the HopeBuild Garden of Eden’s infrastructure and capacity building efforts.
Click to download a one-page .pdf with more about HopeBuild Garden of Eden
Academic support
The Joshua Generation
Studies have shown that students living in low social/economic communities need structured and mentorship programs to achieve academically. The United Way of Greater St. Louis has collaborated with the Jamison Memorial Human Resource & Development Agency Freedom School and North Park United Methodist Church and its educational program "The Joshua Generation" to develop a faith-based partnership component to strengthen educational support services to students.
Currently, North Park offers both after-school and summer camp programs and holds a "Back-to-School Rally" that provides free school supplies for 300 community children and their families. The after-school and summer programs have been offered at no cost or greatly reduced pricing in order that no child or family is turned away. The Joshua Generation @ North Park will serve 50 children and their families, beginning in the summer of 2007.
In December 2006, the United Way invested $15,000 to support the cost of required national and local training for all staff members, curriculum materials and scholarship assistance for participating students.
Click to download a one-page .pdf with more about The Joshua Generation
Homeless intervention services
Jail diversion for mentally ill non-violent offenders
People with mental illnesses in the criminal justice system are among the most vulnerable and underserved of all client populations. America’s jails and prisons, along with the nation’s homeless shelters and streets, have become the de facto “system of care” for hundreds of thousands of the poor who suffer from mental illness.
The City of St. Louis’ Department of Human Services is implementing an effective and innovative jail diversion project for people with serious mental illness. Key components of the program include integration of mental health treatment and substance abuse programs within the justice system; monitoring and evaluation to measure achievement of program goals; education; and partnerships between courts, public agencies and community organizations. The United Way has invested $50,000 to provide legal representation for 160 mentally ill individuals.
Click to download a one-page .pdf with more about the jail diversion program
Centenary Church's Drop-In Center for the Homeless
Lucas Park, located between 13th and 14th streets in downtown St. Louis south of Washington Avenue, has become a haven for many homeless individuals. Several church mission groups have been feeding the homeless in this park without proper permits to ensure sanitation.
Centenary Church is located at 55 Plaza Square in downtown St. Louis. In an effort to reconnect the church with the downtown community, the minister has worked closely with the City’s Department of Social Services, other homeless service providers and downtown community leaders to develop and implement a Drop-In Center that provides ongoing outreach to the homeless in the downtown area. The center provides an array of on-site services, including information about available services throughout St. Louis City and County. Any faith group interested in working with homeless individuals is welcomed and sought out to participate in the lunch and dinner feeding programs. The United Way awarded $40,000 to Centenary United Methodist Church to support the salaries of a full-time kitchen coordinator and a full-time outreach director.
Click to download a one-page .pdf with more about Centenary Church's Drop-In Center for the Homeless