Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri

Throughout our 152-year history, Lutheran Family and Children's Services has evolved to meet the needs of our community. When faced with adversity, our organization has risen to the occasion. While the situation with COVID-19 is in many ways unprecedented, we continue to meet the urgent needs of our clients with the same standard of excellence that we have established through more than a century of caring for children, families and individuals throughout Missouri. We stand strong and united in our mission.

How LFCS supports the St. Louis Community
Calls for help increased 91 percent overall in 2020. After lockdowns began in March 2020, Missouri's Child Abuse Prevention Hotline saw a 50 percent decrease in third party reporting as children had fewer interactions with teachers and other mandated reporters. The increased stress on families from issues such as job instability, illness, and isolation caused by the pandemic magnified the risk for children.

Through innovative and comprehensive programs, LFCS works to address the needs of families at risk. These programs facilitate the pursuit of stable living conditions, higher education, and employment, as well as providing counseling and education to manage life stressors. Services offered by LFCS include:

● Parenting Services offered at no cost for any family with children age five and under that includes one-on-one assistance to help parents and children thrive;
● Behavioral Health Services with professional and affordable counseling services for families and individuals of all ages;
● Foster Care Services that advocate for children and provide safe, loving homes where children are well cared for;
● Hilltop Child and Family Development Center, located in North St. Louis with specialized learning plans for each child and a range of services for families such as parenting courses, individual and family counseling, and high-quality childcare.

We are here for you, if you need us. On behalf of all of us here at LFCS, thank you for your continued commitment to our vision to make generations of children and families across Missouri safer and stronger together.