Accomplishments of
Vision for Children at Risk 
1991-2008

Vision for Children at Risk has made a significant impact on improving the way the St. Louis region takes care of its children.

Key accomplishments include: 
A solid base of comprehensive, current and reliable data and information on children

 • 8 editions of the Children of Metropolitan St. Louis (CMSL) report provide the community with data and information on children covering over 25 key indicators
 • Special reports including an inventory of child health resources and an assessment of community needs related to youth violence and child abuse
 • A new Web-based Children’s Information Clearinghouse soon will provide greatly expanded data, information, commentary and best practices on children’s services. 

Collaboration and communication among agencies around a regional strategic agenda for children
 • St. Louis Metropolitan Children’s Agenda involves some 300 agencies in over 25 strategies targeting priority needs in health, early childhood, family support, education, youth development and other essential needs
 • Involvement by Children’s Agenda participants is long-standing and sustaining

New programs and initiatives serving tens of thousands of children and attracting over $20 million in new funding to the region, would not exist without VCR and the Children’s Agenda:
 • Maternal Child Health Coalition o St. Louis Early Childhood Success programs
 • St. Louis Family & Community Partnership o Public Education Forums and Steering Committee
 • St. Louis Community Children’s Services Fund
 • T.E.A.C.H. Missouri program
 • Safe Futures program in St. Louis o Healthy Youth Partnership
 • Quality Standards for Home Visitation o Youth employment programs

Greater involvement in and support for children’s issues by business and civic leaders
 • Relationships built with key business, civic and government leaders who have become engaged in children’s issues
 • St. Louis Children’s Summits in 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2007 bring together hundreds of child-serving professionals and community leaders to identify strategies and solutions
 • Using the theme “Invest in Kids,” VCR has worked to educate civic leaders and the public about the benefits to the community of investing in children’s services.

In summary, Vision for Children at Risk has served as a catalyst to bring together stakeholders and guide strategic action to develop new programs and initiatives addressing critical needs of children.  

See list of 2007 accomplishments