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ARCHS Awards $5.5 Million to Enhance Workforce Development Initiatives

Nov workforce grants

This fall ARCHS issued $5.5 million to support intensive workforce development initiatives across the region. ARCHS provided grants to the following organizations:

-Better Family Life, Inc.
-Bridging Families to Communities & Beyond
-Employment Connection
-Fathers’ & Families Support Center
-Mission: St. Louis
-St. Louis Agency on Training & Development (SLATE)
-Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis

ARCHS secured its funding from the Missouri Department of Social Services. ARCHS’ funded partners will provide additional leveraged/in-kind support to further advance the ARCHS’ funded programs.

Services available through ARCHS’ funded programs include job readiness training, incentive rewards, subsidized employment, certifications in high demand industries, transportation, uniforms, childcare, utility assistance, assistance for court referred non-custodial parents, and additional wrap around support services.

In FY 2021, despite the challenges of the pandemic, ARCHS' workforce development funded initiatives garnered employment for 492 individuals at an average hourly wage of $13.53 per hour (with pay ranges up to $19 per hour). As well, more than $1 million in child support payments was generated.

Neighborhood Healing Network: Year One Impact



In 2020, ARCHS launched the Neighborhood Healing Network (NHN). Despite the many challenges of the pandemic, ARCHS and its partners found innovative ways to connect the community with services and programs. With the help of ARCHS’ NHN, since August 2020, 390 victims of crime were supported and given the necessary assistance needed to begin the healing process.

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ARCHS secured $1 million in funding from the Missouri Department of Social Services (Victims of Crime Act/VOCA) to create NHN. ARCHS' NHN partners include Alive & Well Communities, Better Family Life, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, Crime Victim Center, Fathers & Families Support Center, Mission: St. Louis, and the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis.

As clients engage with NHN service locations, they are provided information about crime victim and trauma support services available to them and their family members. NHN staff help clients directly engage with area agencies that provide behavioral health, education, employment, housing, and a myriad of additional human services.

Knowing that trauma impacts entire neighborhoods and communities, NHN also hosts community education programs to discuss the impact of trauma and victim’s rights.

ARCHS’ NHN partners are strategically located throughout the urban core of St. Louis. Over the past year, NHN has provided 666 direct referrals to area victim/social service agencies to assist crime victims. Additionally, 30 trauma focused workshops were conducted for NHN staff, neighborhood residents, and sector professionals. ARCHS reported a 92% positive experience accessing NHN services and 76% recommended NHN.

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has reported that as of October 23, 2021, 196 firearm deaths have occurred this year. A growing number of shooting victims in St. Louis, Missouri, sadly are children. SLMPD reports 11 children (17 and under) lost their lives from gun violence.

“The time is now, we must provide the resources needed for families and communities to address generational trauma/PTSD and build stronger neighborhoods,” says Wendell E. Kimbrough, ARCHS’ Chief Executive Officer.

This project is made possible by the funding made available through the Victims of Crime Act Fund administered by the Missouri Department of Social Services, Division of Finance and Administrative Services. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition.

ARCHS Awards $2.5 Million for After School Programming



This fall ARCHS issued $2.5 million to provide free after school programming for 1,900 students at 29 locations in the Jennings and Saint Louis Public School districts. ARCHS issued grants to the following organizations:

-Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis
-Gene Slay’s Boys and Girls Club
-Hopewell Center
-Northside Youth and Senior Service Center
-Provident Behavioral Health
-Stray Dog Theatre/Arts in Mind 
-Unleashing Potential
-United 4 Children (Professional Development Training)

ARCHS’ After School for All Partnership (ASAP) is the largest coordinated after school system in St. Louis, providing free, high-quality programming for under-resourced children in grades K-5. ARCHS secures its funding for ASAP from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and Saint Louis MHB. Additional in-kind support is provided by the Jennings School District and Saint Louis Public Schools.

ARCHS’ ASAP programs focus on four core activities: academic support/enrichment, social/life skills, health/recreation, and parent/family involvement. All ARCHS’ ASAP sites meet state licensing standards. ARCHS’ ASAP site staff are provided with extensive professional development training opportunities.

During the most recent school year, ARCHS’ ASAP served 1,370 students at 29 locations through in-person and virtual settings. Students benefitted from 17,826 learning activities and 300,000 hot meals.

ARCHS FY 21 Impact Video Report



ARCHS has released its FY 21 Impact Video Report. The video showcases the amazing work of its 27 funded partners during the most challenging of times. They each found innovative ways to navigate the pandemic, and NONE missed an opportunity to push the boundaries of innovation to meet urgent client needs.

Whether in-person or virtual, these combined efforts led to more than 64,148 of the region’s most under-resourced residents to be provided with vital human services. With a combined economic impact of $33.4 million, ARCHS and its partners are committed to convening and collaborating to enhance programs. 

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ARCHS Awards $1 Million to Launch Healthy Families Missouri Initiative

Home Visitation Program RegionsThis summer ARCHS awarded a combined $1 million to four organizations to launch Healthy Families Missouri (HFM) to serve children and families in 42 counties across the state of Missouri.

ARCHS is providing grants to Community Partnership of the Ozarks (Springfield, MO), New Madrid County Human Resources Council (New Madrid, MO), Northeast Caring Communities (Lancaster, MO), and The Community Partnership (Rolla, MO).

The ARCHS’ funded organizations will serve as Healthy Families America® (HFA) affiliates. HFA is one of the leading family support and evidence-based home visiting programs in the United States. The program is designed to promote positive parenting, enhance child health and development, and prevent child abuse and neglect.

Parental participation in the program is voluntary. HFA uses research-based tools proven to strengthen families​ with a focus reaching families at highest risk for child abuse and neglect​. HFA affiliate staff will provide personalized goal planning and support to families​ with an emphasis on parenting and child development​ education. Staff will also provide referrals to area education, housing, and additional community resources.

ARCHS and the funded organizations are part of The Family and Community Trust (FACT). ARCHS secured the funding through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Childhood. ARCHS serves as the program’s strategic technical advisor and fiscal agent.

“Our state-wide partners are uniquely positioned to help launch this new initiative to support Missouri’s children and families. This proven home visiting model will greatly enhance the state’s parent education and child safety efforts,” says Wendell E. Kimbrough, ARCHS’ Chief Executive Officer.

“By drawing upon the local expertise of our community partnerships, these new programs will offer a strong foundation to provide vital support services to parents,” says William T. Dent, FACT’s Executive Director.

The goals of the state-wide initiative include:

-22 jobs created with on-the-job training to become HFA certified as family support specialists
-286 families served monthly
-48 parent education cafés will be offered throughout the year
-5,700+ home visits completed annually

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