Youth Programs - Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri https://staging.lfcsmo.org Mon, 25 Nov 2024 17:22:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.1 https://staging.lfcsmo.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Favicon-150x150.png Youth Programs - Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri https://staging.lfcsmo.org 32 32 LFCS Rallies Around Kids During This Election Season https://staging.lfcsmo.org/lfcs-rallies-around-kids-during-this-election-season/ Tue, 01 Oct 2024 16:14:09 +0000 https://lfcs.beanstalkweb.com/?p=2804
As election season approaches, we encourage you to focus on what truly matters: the well-being of children and families in our community. While we may be passionate about our politics, there’s one thing we can all agree on—every child deserves the chance to thrive. Lutheran Family and Children’s Services stands at the forefront of providing life-changing support for all children, couples, and families across Missouri.
Abuse, neglect, infertility or depression doesn’t care about who you vote for. These challenges can affect anybody, anywhere. LFCS offers critical services like pregnancy testing and support, parenting education, counseling for children and families, adoption services, foster care, and child development programs. These services aren’t just important; they are essential in helping children grow up safe, supported, and empowered.

By choosing to support LFCS, you’re casting your vote for a brighter future where every child has the tools, love, and care they need to succeed. Your gift is a direct endorsement of hope and healing for families who rely on LFCS to overcome the hardships they face.

In a time when divisions run deep, let’s unite over something that transcends politics: the well-being of our children. Please consider donating to LFCS to help us address the issues that are plaguing our communities. This year, vote with your heart. Choose kids. Choose LFCS.

Make a Gift

The post LFCS Rallies Around Kids During This Election Season first appeared on Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri.

]]> Homeschooling https://staging.lfcsmo.org/homeschooling/ Fri, 20 Mar 2020 01:11:16 +0000 https://lfcs.beanstalkweb.com/homeschooling/ Homeschooling is uncharted territory for many parents. If you are feeling overwhelmed by this  unexpected challenge, you aren’t alone and LFCS is here to help you along the way. Keeping a consistent routine is important and key to success. Follow this homeschool daily schedule to establish a “school away from school” routine. Also, be sure […]

The post Homeschooling first appeared on Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri.

]]> Homeschooling is uncharted territory for many parents. If you are feeling overwhelmed by this  unexpected challenge, you aren’t alone and LFCS is here to help you along the way.

Keeping a consistent routine is important and key to success. Follow this homeschool daily schedule to establish a “school away from school” routine. Also, be sure to check out  helpful homeschooling resources like ABC Mouse (abcmouse.com) and Scholastic (classroommagazines.scholastic.com). Many of these companies are offering free services in this time of crisis.

 

The post Homeschooling first appeared on Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri.

]]> Beating the odds https://staging.lfcsmo.org/beating-the-odds/ Mon, 04 Mar 2019 18:24:27 +0000 https://lfcs.beanstalkweb.com/beating-the-odds/ Shawn is growing up surrounded by crime, violence and poverty. His mom works two jobs to pay rent, utilities, and very few extras. As a single parent, she does her best to be present for her children and to give them a place to call home, but the neighborhood can be rough. Over the years, Shawn […]

The post Beating the odds first appeared on Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri.

]]> Shawn is growing up surrounded by crime, violence and poverty. His mom works two jobs to pay rent, utilities, and very few extras. As a single parent, she does her best to be present for her children and to give them a place to call home, but the neighborhood can be rough. Over the years, Shawn has watched relatives and neighborhood friends fall into the cycle of drug abuse, gang activity, jail sentences and living on the streets. Opportunity beyond these struggles is uncommon for the many people in Shawn’s life.

Fortunately, Shawn is learning to face the challenges of his environment in new ways through LFCS Community Prevention Services. This program aims to support at-risk youth through evidence-based life skills education and interventions. Areas reviewed include day-to-day challenges, self-esteem, substance abuse, violence, and other risky behaviors. Although new to the program, Shawn is beginning to see the opportunities beyond the familiar. And, for the first time in his life, Shawn has a male role model in his program mentor.

This positive experience has set Shawn on a new path. He is ready to beat the odds – to overcome any challenges that may come his way today so that he may build a better tomorrow.

 

Did you know poverty, single-parent households, and trauma are factors that impact a child’s success?

  • The poverty rate for single-mother households is 31%.
  • Poverty reduces a child’s readiness for school because it leads to poor physical health and motor skills, diminishes a child’s ability to concentrate and remember information, and reduces attentiveness, curiosity, and motivation.
  • 30% of children raised in poverty do not finish high school.
  • People who do not earn a high school diploma by age 20 are seven times more likely to be persistently poor between the ages of 25 and 30. [1]
  • When a child experiences a traumatic event, the effects can have a life-long effect. As the number of traumatic events experienced during childhood increases, the risk for the following in adulthood increases: depression, alcoholism, drug abuse, and suicide attempts.[2]

[1] ChildFund. 2015. https://www.childfund.org/Content/NewsDetail/2147489206/

[2] Mental Health Connection. Recognize Trauma. Statistics. http://www.recognizetrauma.org/statistics.php

The post Beating the odds first appeared on Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri.

]]> Promoting Positive Norms: Living Drug-Free https://staging.lfcsmo.org/promoting-positive-norms-drug-free/ Mon, 20 Feb 2017 16:01:00 +0000 https://lfcs.beanstalkweb.com/promoting-positive-norms-drug-free/ Society and the media often promote negative social norms in regards to substance abuse. As a result, children and teens can be misinformed on the subject. They often overestimate the number of people who use drugs. Young people may also relate drug use to being acceptable or even cool. These perceptions can undermine a child’s […]

The post Promoting Positive Norms: Living Drug-Free first appeared on Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri.

]]> Society and the media often promote negative social norms in regards to substance abuse. As a result, children and teens can be misinformed on the subject. They often overestimate the number of people who use drugs. Young people may also relate drug use to being acceptable or even cool. These perceptions can undermine a child’s sense of safety, autonomy, belonging, and hope for the future. They can also increase the likelihood that a young person will use drugs.

Reinforcing positive norms can correct these misconceptions teaches children to be resilient and to ultimately make choices to live drug-free. LFCS uses an evidence-based program called Too Good for Drugs to introduce a series of skills that will prepare kids to make healthy choice and resist unhealthy behaviors.  Below are some examples of what we teach.

 

Positive Norms about Drug-Free Living  drug free

My family and community expect me to be drug free.

I am unique and special. It is important to be myself.

I know how to resist negative peer pressure.

I can find many ways o have fun without using drugs.

Stress is normal; I am learning healthy ways to relax.

Taking care of my body will help me stay healthy

I can participate in decisions that affect my life.

I can show I am grown up by using self-control and mastering many skills.

I am learning many ways to get what I want and need without using tobacco, alcohol or other drugs.

I am valued as someone who is learning to make important contributions to my family and community.

I am connected to my family and community. What I do affects other people who care about me.

The post Promoting Positive Norms: Living Drug-Free first appeared on Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri.

]]> Building Self-Confidence https://staging.lfcsmo.org/building-self-confindence/ Fri, 30 Dec 2016 20:06:10 +0000 https://lfcs.beanstalkweb.com/building-self-confindence/ During his 4th grade year, Eric participated in the LFCS program, Project STEPUp . After completing the 10-week Botvin LifeSkills program with the rest of his class, Eric’s teacher referred him for one-on-one follow up coaching.  He was showing very little motivation in school and was having a hard time making friends. Although Eric was a very sweet kid, he […]

The post Building Self-Confidence first appeared on Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri.

]]> During his 4th grade year, Eric participated in the LFCS program, Project STEPUp . After completing the 10-week Botvin LifeSkills program with the rest of his class, Eric’s teacher referred him for one-on-one follow up coaching.  He was showing very little motivation in school and was having a hard time making friends. Although Eric was a very sweet kid, he was lacking self-confidence. He would say things like, “I’m just not the kind of kid who has friends,” or, “I’m just not the kind of kid who does well in school.”

During one-on-one visits, an LFCS LifeSkills Facilitator spent time with Eric working on positive self-talk. When Eric would say something negative, it would be pointed out and he would be asked to change it into a positive statement. He really enjoyed this, and over time, he was saying more and more positive statements about himself. Near the end of his 90-day one-on-one coaching, LFCS received an email from Eric’s teacher saying, “You are awesome! Thanks for all you’ve done with Eric. I’ve seen a change in his attitude toward school. Did he tell you he made homework club? He turned in EVERY homework assignment for the whole month!” Other teachers he worked with made similar comments. Eric was really proud of himself, too.

By the end of the thirteen meeting program, Eric had achieved both of his program goals! His grades were improving and he was making more friends in class. Overall, Eric was just one of the many students who really benefits from the extra support to achieve academic, behavioral and social goals in school.

To learn more about STEPUp, click here.

The post Building Self-Confidence first appeared on Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri.

]]> Your Opinion Matters! https://staging.lfcsmo.org/your-opinion-matters/ Fri, 16 Dec 2016 18:39:56 +0000 https://lfcs.beanstalkweb.com/your-opinion-matters/ Your opinion matters at LFCS! The mission of Lutheran Family and Children’s Services is to help families, children and individuals experience greater hope and wholeness of life. One way we achieve this mission is through advocacy, but we need your help! What issues matter most to you? Affordable health care? Mental health services? Or maybe, pregnancy assistance? Tell us! […]

The post Your Opinion Matters! first appeared on Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri.

]]> Your opinion matters at LFCS!

The mission of Lutheran Family and Children’s Services is to help families, children and individuals experience greater hope and wholeness of life. One way we achieve this mission is through advocacy, but we need your help! What issues matter most to you? Affordable health care? Mental health services? Or maybe, pregnancy assistance? Tell us! Your feedback will allow LFCS to be effective in our advocacy efforts.

Please complete this brief survey to help us determine our focus in the upcoming years.

Thank you for helping LFCS raise public awareness about issues in our communities! Together, we can be the voice for those that cannot be heard.

 

 

The post Your Opinion Matters! first appeared on Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri.

]]> Afterschool Activities https://staging.lfcsmo.org/afterschool-activities/ Fri, 07 Oct 2016 17:31:39 +0000 https://lfcs.beanstalkweb.com/afterschool-activities/ What do your kids do after school each day? More than 26 percent of school-age children are on their own after school, according to the Afterschool Alliance. The hours between 3-6pm are reported as the peak times for juvenile crime and experimentation with drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, and sex. Lack of funds seem to be a main factor in kids […]

The post Afterschool Activities first appeared on Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri.

]]> What do your kids do after school each day? More than 26 percent of school-age children are on their own after school, according to the Afterschool Alliance. The hours between 3-6pm are reported as the peak times for juvenile crime and experimentation with drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, and sex. Lack of funds seem to be a main factor in kids being unsupervised during this time. Parents need to work and often cannot afford to send their children to afterschool activities, which can be expensive.

However, the benefits of afterschool activities are extensive. Studies show that quality afterschool programs can lead to improved attendance, better behavior, and higher grades. Teens not involved in afterschool programs are nearly three times more likely to skip classes, use drugs, smoke, drink, and engage in sexual activity.

If money is an issue, see what your child’s school district offers in terms of free or low-cost afterschool activities. Ask about possible scholarships for different sports and extracurricular activities. Depending on your child’s age, perhaps have them spend their afternoons at a friend’s house where a parent will be present. If your teen has to be unsupervised, make sure you know where they are and who they are with.

 

Learn More

The Afterschool Alliance is a national organization working to ensure that all children have access to affordable afterschool programs. Visit their website for much more information and see how you can help with this effort.

The post Afterschool Activities first appeared on Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri.

]]> Join Our Advocacy Network https://staging.lfcsmo.org/join-our-advocacy-network/ Fri, 19 Aug 2016 16:00:45 +0000 https://lfcs.beanstalkweb.com/join-our-advocacy-network/ “Why don’t you pick on someone your own size?” In Hollywood playgrounds, it’s easy to spot the villain, because they’ll be bullying someone who can’t defend themselves. The hero immediately steps in to deliver justice, saying their good guy catchphrase. The hero’s actions ensure that the victim is given the right to eat their lunch, […]

The post Join Our Advocacy Network first appeared on Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri.

]]> i Advocate“Why don’t you pick on someone your own size?” In Hollywood playgrounds, it’s easy to spot the villain, because they’ll be bullying someone who can’t defend themselves. The hero immediately steps in to deliver justice, saying their good guy catchphrase. The hero’s actions ensure that the victim is given the right to eat their lunch, play sandlot baseball, or not have a wedgie, just like everyone else. Advocacy. It’s simple, right?

In real life, things simply aren’t that black and white, and problems are rarely fixed by a good guy swooping in to save the day. Instead, it is on every person’s shoulders to protect those who are unable to protect themselves, to step up, to do the right thing.  Advocacy doesn’t get glorified quite the way that you may have thought it did when you were a child, but that doesn’t make it any less important. There are so many people that need help.

When you advocate, first you identify something as unfair or wrong, then you recognize that the people it impacts cannot fix it by themselves. Lastly, you make a commitment to helping them. When some people hear that, they respond “That sounds like a lot of work.”  I’ll be honest with you, it is a big job, but here’s the thing: the more people who commit to advocacy, the easier making change gets.

A great way to advocate is through contacting your policymakers. Joining Lutheran’s Online Advocacy Network makes it easy! Notifications will allow you respond to Action Alerts when your voice can make a difference for children and families. Doing so will protect and grow programs that make such an impact in the lives of vulnerable children and families.

Want to share the opportunity to get involved? Try a post like one below on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Do you want to be an advocate for foster children, at-risk families, pregnant women, individuals with mental health concerns, or those impacted by natural disasters? I am, and Lutheran Family and Children’s Services’ Online Advocacy Network makes it easy. I get Action Alerts when my voice can make a difference. Join at http://bit.ly/advocateonline

#Iadvocate for kids & families, and you can too! Join Lutheran Family & Children’s Services’ Online Advocacy Network at http://bit.ly/advocateonline

The post Join Our Advocacy Network first appeared on Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri.

]]> Keep Your Child Learning This Summer! https://staging.lfcsmo.org/keep-your-child-learning-this-summer/ Fri, 03 Jun 2016 16:28:24 +0000 https://lfcs.beanstalkweb.com/keep-your-child-learning-this-summer/ 10 St. Louis Activities to Keep Your Child Learning This Summer Yay, it’s summertime! This is what most school age children are yelling at the top of their lungs right about now.  This is exciting for parent as well, but also a little nerve wrecking.  Our children have learned so much throughout the school year, […]

The post Keep Your Child Learning This Summer! first appeared on Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri.

]]> 10 St. Louis Activities to Keep Your Child Learning This Summer

Yay, it’s summertime! This is what most school age children are yelling at the top of their lungs right about now.  This is exciting for parent as well, but also a little nerve wrecking.  Our children have learned so much throughout the school year, and we don’t want that to stop.  For some kids, a few months off in the summer can lead to loss of knowledge and lowered test scores.  While our kids are definitely in need of a break to recharge for the upcoming school year, we can also make sure they have fun & learn all summer long!  Here are 10 great ways to do just that!

  1. Summer Reading Club Kick-off: Start off the summer by getting signed up for the summer reading club! This extravaganza event is fun for the whole family. There will be face painting, snow cones, a climbing wall, and more. It will be held at St. Louis County Library Headquarters, on Saturday, June 4th from 1:00-4:00. If you can’t make that, be sure to stop into your local County Library to get your child signed up for a summer full of reading & prizes! We all love incentives! For more information: http://www.slcl.org/content/summer-reading-club-kick.
  2. Visit the St. Louis Science Center! They have wonderful summer events for kids of all ages. From free weekly Story Times, to Dino Mysteries & the Teen Science Café, there is something for everyone! For more information: http://www.slsc.org/kid-family-activities.
  3. Amazing Animal Encounters and the World Bird Sanctuary: Free, fun, family-friendly environmental education programs are presented by the naturalists using snakes, parrots, birds and mammals. You and your kids will learn about the amazing creatures that share our planet, and what we can do to help them survive. For more information: http://www.worldbirdsanctuary.org/events/amazing-animal-encounters/.
  4. Planetarium Shows play daily at the James S. McDonnell Planetarium in Forest Park, including: The Little Star That Could, Live Sky Tonight/Mission Mars & The Constellations.  After the show, you can take a self-guided tour of the Boeing Space Station to learn about living and working in space. For more information: http://www.slsc.org/planetarium-show.
  5. A-MAZE-ing Cockroaches: Kids ages 7-12 will replicate a famous study by zoologist Charles Henry Turner. Working in teams, kids will build a maze out of play dough and run live cockroaches through it. Part of the StArt@Your Library series at the St. Louis County Library. Free, but registration is required. Learn more and register at slcl.org.
  6. Space Travel: Kids can race a balloon rocket and design their own car engine as they learn about space travel. They’ll see the principle of propulsion at work in a real rocket launch, and build their very own Shuttle Copter to fly to the skies!  Presented by Mad Science of St. Louis. For ages 6-11. Part of the StArt@Your Library series at the St. Louis County Library.  Free, but registration is required. Learn more and register at slcl.org.
  7. Building the Arch: Kids will use their hands and brain to engineer their very own arch made out of everyday materials at this free workshop. Part of the StArt@Your Library series at the St. Louis County Library. For ages 7-11. Free, but registration is required. Learn more and register at slcl.org.
  8. Stop Motion Animation: Learn how to create a stop motion film with an iPad app. iPads provided. Ages 10–14. Part of the StArt@Your Library series at the St. Louis County Library. Free, but registration is required. Learn more and register at slcl.org.
  9. Family Days and the World Chess Hall of Fame: Explore the current exhibitions during a kid-friendly tour, take part in hands-on activities for kids, and play and learn about the game of chess at these special Saturday Family Days. These events are designed for families with children ages 5 to 12. Each day has a different theme.   Admission is $5 per child for non-members. For more information: http://www.worldchesshof.org/news-events/event-calendar/event/2016/06/04/family-day-/.
  10. Faust Historic Village Open House: Experience St. Louis County as it was a century ago. Tour the 1850s Conway House, and its period herb garden and outdoor kitchen.   Also tour the circa 1848 log cabin of Ludwig and Salome Mertz, a dye and insect repellent garden, German vegetable garden, smokehouse, outhouse and woodshed and the Davis House. On occasion, visitors may see a blacksmith at work in the Yokel barn. Guides in period dress will be available to answer questions. This is a free event is at Faust Park in Chesterfield. For more information: http://www.stlouisco.com/Portals/8/docs/Document%20Library/parks/PDFs/Faust/CalendarofEvents.pdf

 

We hope you and your children have a blast learning together all summer long!

 

For additional activities across the St. Louis region, visit blueprint4summer.com. Create an account an plan your summer one activity at a time!

The post Keep Your Child Learning This Summer! first appeared on Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri.

]]> Early Head Start Program begins at Hilltop https://staging.lfcsmo.org/early-head-start-hilltop/ Wed, 25 May 2016 21:18:01 +0000 https://lfcs.beanstalkweb.com/early-head-start-hilltop/ LFCS Partners with Youth In Need in the Early Head Start Expansion Grant St. Louis, Missouri (May 25, 2016) – Lutheran Family and Children’s Services of Missouri (LFCS) is proud to be a partnering site for the Youth In Need early Head Start Child Care Partnership and Early Head Start Expansion Grant. This grant allows […]

The post Early Head Start Program begins at Hilltop first appeared on Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri.

]]> LFCS Partners with Youth In Need in the Early Head Start Expansion Grant

St. Louis, Missouri (May 25, 2016) – Lutheran Family and Children’s Services of Missouri (LFCS) is proud to be a partnering site for the Youth In Need early Head Start Child Care Partnership and Early Head Start Expansion Grant. This grant allows LFCS’ Hilltop Child Care Center to expand and serve up to 16 infants and toddlers in St. Louis City and County beginning June 6, 2016.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to serve infants and toddlers at our Center,” said Julie Aitken, Hilltop Director.  “Our mission is to support and strengthen families, and this enhancement to our Child Care Center is no exception.  We are here for the families in the city and county who need quality, affordable care while they are working and /or going to school.”

The 1994 reauthorization of the Head Start Act established Early Head Start as a program for low-income families with infants and toddlers and pregnant women. Research and practice indicates that the time from conception to age 3 is critical for human development and, for infants and toddlers to develop optimally, they must have healthy beginnings and the continuity of responsive and caring relationships.

Early Head Start programs, like Hilltop, provide family-centered, full-day, full-year services designed to promote the development of the youngest children; to engage parents in their roles as primary caregivers and teachers of their children; and to help parents move toward self-sufficiency.

 

About Hilltop Child Development Center
Hilltop Child Development Center is owned and operated by Lutheran Family and Children’s Services of Missouri. Both state licensed and NAEYC accredited, the Center provides quality and affordable child care services and school readiness to children ages 6 weeks to 12 years.  Since 1968, Hilltop has provided children with a wide variety of basic skills that prepare them for success in elementary school and placed a strong value on developing good self-esteem, verbal and creative expressiveness, assertiveness and a sense of personal responsibility that is age appropriate.

About LFCS
LFCS, a proud member of the United Way, is a statewide agency with headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, five regional offices and numerous satellite counseling sites. LFCS serves families, children and individuals from all walks of life in their greatest times of need.  Services are open to anyone regardless of race, faith, national origin, gender, or age.  As a nonprofit social services organization, its goal is to open doors for people who are challenged by poverty, unexpected pregnancy, violence, divorce, unemployment, illness, homelessness and more.  LFCS provides four key areas of support to tackle these challenges – Child Welfare, Mental Health Services, Child and Teen Development, and Disaster Services.  The programs offered through each of these areas empower individuals and families and seek to develop healthy, supportive foundations for a lifetime.  The staff delivers professionalism and personal care in equal measure to every situation and each client who visits one of the five offices around the state of Missouri.  Everything LFCS does integrates with the community to enrich and heal the lives of people with the expectation that troubled individuals find hope and realize that tomorrow can be different than today.  For more information, call 314-754-2785, email Megan Nichols.

The post Early Head Start Program begins at Hilltop first appeared on Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri.

]]>