The St. Louis Children's Agenda

The St. Louis Children’s Agenda is a broad-based collaborative initiative pursuing strategic, coordinated community action to promote the well-being of all St. Louis area children. Currently, more than 700 representatives of some 300 area businesses, agencies, and community organizations are active participants.

The work of the Children’s Agenda is data-driven, research-based and outcome-oriented. The status and needs of young people in metropolitan St. Louis are assessed systematically to identify problems and opportunities not adequately addressed. Within that framework, specific “best practice” strategies to improve the well-being of children are developed and implemented through collaborative community action. Outcome goals are established to measure the community’s progress in improving the lives of children and youth.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Children's Agenda is comprised of specific policy and program strategies in the areas of:

  • Family Support
  • Critical development needs
  • Maternal/child health
  • Quality Education
  • Safe neighborhoods/strong communities
  • Economic opportunity
  • Community capacity-building

    Implementation of each Agenda strategy is pursued by a Work Group and facilitated by a Lead Agency. Biannual Update reports provide information on progress in implementing the strategies. The Children's Agenda Steering Committee directs the overall initiative. Vision for Children at Risk (VCR) provides core staffing and research support for the Children's Agenda initiative. Primary financial support is provided by the Deaconess Foundation. Every three years the St. Louis Metropolitan Children's Summit is held to review and revise the St. Louis Metropolitan Children's Agenda.

    This effort is a true community collaboration. It is sustained by the joint intelligence and energy of individuals and organizations working together to structure broad-based, coordinated community action to improve the well-being of all St. Louis area children. If you are not already a participant in the initiative, we invite you to join us in the important work.

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