April is National Minority Health Month, and as health disparities continue to impact racial and ethnic minority populations across the region, St. Louis County Children’s Services Foundation (CSF) is addressing barriers to mental health care. We are working to reduce this.
CSF increases awareness of the services available in St. Louis County through strategic investments in local providers and community resources such as the Find A Service tool.
CSF encourages care-seeking individuals and families to use the Find A Service Tool, an interactive map located on the website stlcsf.org/find-a-service/, to locate specific providers and services near them. We offer ways to find out.
This tool addresses the lack of awareness of services for racial and ethnic minority groups by building knowledge about important resources and supporting individuals and their families in seeking the care they need .
Of the 4,107 children and youth supported by CSF’s first grassroots funding partners from October 1, 2021 to September 3, 2022, 79.92% were non-white. The complete breakdown of the population served is as follows:
· 58.79% identified as Black/African American.
· 19.82% identified as Asian.
· 3.75% identified as biracial/multiracial.
· 0.19% identified as Hispanic.
As the organization continues to expand its impact, CSF aims to further reach historically underserved groups within St. Louis County.
“Racial and ethnic minority groups are disproportionately affected by barriers to accessing mental health care,” said Emily Koenig, executive director of CSF.
“Mental health is health care, and maintaining mental and physical health is equally important to a person’s overall well-being. CSF is committed to providing strategic funding to local mental health providers and resources. Through our delivery, we hope to continue to remove these barriers and provide access to services and care for everyone in need.”
CSF’s core funding opportunities also support services for underrepresented groups. Of the 80,950 children who received mental and behavioral health services from CSF core partners from January 2023 to June 2023.
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58.5% were nonwhite, and services were primarily provided to Black/African American children, 45.5%.
Children and their families looking for resources in St. Louis County can also take advantage of CSF-funded community resource initiatives. It’s a partnership with the St. Louis County Library and Epworth Children and Family Services that will send social workers to her five branches of the library to help remove obstacles. Access to care.
In addition, youth, parents, and guardians have access to the Youth Connection Helpline, a 24/7 crisis intervention and support hotline that connects individuals receiving continuing care. To contact the helpline, call (314) 819-8802 or text BHEARD to 31658.
“One of the things we do at CSF is raise awareness of the many excellent mental health services we have in our region, and I think that’s the first step to increasing access.” Because we know,” Koenig said.
“In addition to providing funding to our partners here in St. Louis County, we also provide a service search tool on our website, which provides information on the many resources available in the region and where they are offered. It’s a great way to see where you are.”
Since its founding in 2008, CSF has provided $550 million to community organizations that provide children’s mental and behavioral health services, including crisis intervention, respite care, therapeutic and non-therapeutic counseling, substance use treatment, and more. I have invested more than that. It is Missouri’s largest children’s services fund.
For more information about CSF, its funding partners, and other available resources, visit stlcsf.org or call (314) 615-5850.
