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Identifying Barriers at the 2019 Missouri Reentry Conference

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The 2019 Missouri Reentry Conference gave participants a unique opportunity to identify and address strategic barriers to employment for ex-offenders. Using an interactive smartphone app, participants reviewed policy-based restrictions on employment and credentialing options, identified resources such as state services and certifying boards, and offered solutions to overcome these barriers, both at the legislative and individual level.

The feedback from more than 400 reentry professionals are being put into action. The results from this activity is being analyzed  by officials with the Missouri Department of Corrections, Missouri Department of Public Safety, and Missouri Department of Social Services. These agencies will reference the conference data as they continue working with reentry professionals and lawmakers to eliminate some of the barriers mentioned.


Click here to read and download the one-page Barriers to Reentry report. 

ARCHS Debuts Infant Toddler Specialist Network (ITSN)

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ARCHS is proud to announce the launch of its newest initiative: The Infant Toddler Specialist Network. ITSN provides support and expertise for license and license-exempt childcare centers serving children 0-36 months old in St. Charles, Montgomery, Warren, Lincoln, and Gasconade Counties. 

The ITSN program is funded by the Missouri Department of Social Services, Children's Division. ARCHS manages the program with an ITSN staff to guide childcare centers to become more marketable, share innovative ideas to improve work with infants and toddlers, provide networking opportunities with other providers, and set goals based on the Infant Toddler Environment Rating Scale Third Edition (ITERS-3) assessment. Participation in the ITSN program is voluntary, and there is no cost for a childcare center to participate. 

ARCHS' ITSN staff are early childcare and education professionals with 60 years of combined experience working with families, infants, toddlers, and educators across the Show-Me-State. The team is registered with Missouri Family Care and Safety Registry (FCSR) and has completed fingerprinting and FBI Background Checks. 

Get answers to other ITSN frequently asked questions here.

Anyone interested in participating in the ITSN program should contact Amy Flesher, Director of Early Childhood & Parenting Initiatives/ITSN Coordinator, by calling (314) 289-5617 or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

ARCHS FY 2019 Audit

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Independent auditors have given ARCHS an "unmodified" or "clean" audit for the 18th consecutive fiscal year. ARCHS' FY 2019 (July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2019) financial audit by Anders was reviewed and approved by ARCHS' Board of Directors in December 2019.

Issuance of “unmodified” means an auditor, upon review of an organization’s financial statements and accompanying notes, concluded that the financial statements and accompanying notes are presented fairly, conform to generally accepted accounting principles, and fairly represent the true financial picture of the organization.

For the ninth consecutive year, ARCHS has also successfully completed a federal 2 CFR 200 audit (formerly called an A-133 audit) for its work with federal funding. A 2 CFR 200 audit is required for any organization that expends more than $750,000 in one year from federal government funding.

During FY 2019, ARCHS had a $27 million impact on the region. Within that number, $12.8 million were grants issued by ARCHS, and $14.2 million were additional funds/resources secured by ARCHS funded partners.

The FY 2019 audit also highlighted that ARCHS’ “administrative overhead” costs are only 14-percent, which is below the national average of 25 percent as calculated by the national United Way and other groups. This means that 86 cents out of every dollar ARCHS manages goes to the delivery of human service initiatives that annually serve more than 197,000 St. Louisans facing disparities and disadvantages. The remaining 14 cents provides strategic consulting, technical assistance, and professional development services that assist in the management and evaluation of these vital initiatives.

Food for Thought: The Power of Nutrition


This time of year is meant for reflection and to recognize thankfulness in your home, workplace, and community. ARCHS is thankful to oversee funding and strategic planning that allowed 12,191 children at 72 locations throughout the St. Louis area to eat nutritious snacks and meals during the 2019 fiscal year. It is heavy to report that 865,400 Missourians are struggling with hunger as many across the country prepare to sit down for a Thanksgiving feast. ARCHS' nutrition initiatives are aimed to provide resources for nutritious foods to keep young minds sharp, allow families a peace-of-mind, and decrease hospitalizations.

ARCHS also aims to keep nutrition education alive. Hundreds of kids in St. Louis may now be able to help their parents with cooking this holiday season. Operation Food Search's trained nutrition professionals are teaching cooking courses at several ARCHS' afterschool locations. Participants learn to navigate through a kitchen with affordable ingredients, safe knife skills, flavorful recipes, and healthy MyPlate proportions.

See a complete breakdown of ARCHS' nutrition accomplishments in an easy-to-read infographic.