St. Louis County News

The Family Services Collaborative of St. Louis County announced a new integrated service delivery partnership aimed at strengthening family and youth support services across the region.

The initiative, made possible through nearly $1 million in combined grant funding, will establish and expand community-based resource centers in both northern and southern St. Louis County.

In Northern St. Louis County, nearly $700,000 in funding from the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) will support the implementation of three Community & Family Resource Centers and one mobile resource center to serve rural communities. Partner organizations include Ely Community Resource, Voices for Ethnic & Multicultural Awareness (VEMA), Mesabi Fit, and Lutheran Social Services.

In Southern St. Louis County, the Family Services Collaborative of St. Louis County is providing approximately $300,000 to enhance and expand Valley Youth Center, Lincoln Park Children and Families Collaborative, and Lutheran Social Services as key community resource hubs. These Community & Family Resource Centers offer free, family-centered services for those caring for youth ages 0-21.

Families will be paired with a Community Resource Navigator who will help connect them with regional support for food, transportation, and other basic needs not covered by county programs. Navigators will also facilitate access to services that promote healthy social-emotional development, offer safe social opportunities, and provide parenting resources.

“We are thrilled to expand the support available to families throughout St. Louis County, including those in rural areas,” said Cassie Liubakka, Director of the Family Services Collaborative of St. Louis County. “These centers will strengthen our collective efforts to ensure that every family in our region has access to the resources they need to thrive.”

To lead this initiative, the Family Services Collaborative and Lutheran Social Services have hired Erik Mattson as Program Director. Mattson brings a long career in high-risk youth and family programming and leadership. He is deeply passionate about serving not just a child, but their entire family, recognizing that a whole-family approach leads to the best long-term outcomes.

“This has been a recurring theme throughout my career,” said Mattson. “I am beyond excited to implement a model that prioritizes a whole-family lens in our service delivery.”

Additionally, the project is being launched in partnership with Consulting Perks, supported through the Sauer Foundation, and allocated through St. Louis County. The expansion of these resource centers will enhance the capacity of local communities to meet the diverse needs of children, youth, and families, ensuring they are connected to the right services at the right time.

Agencies and organizations interested in partnering with the Community & Family Resource Centers are encouraged to reach out to the Family Services Collaborative of St. Louis County for more information.