Collaboration
Project LAUNCH
Overview
Goals
Join Us
Partners
History
Overview
Project LAUNCH (Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health) is a child wellness promotion grant program of the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Vision for Children at Risk received five years of funding for this initiative beginning in October 2019.
We are fostering the healthy development and wellness of young children in the City of St. Louis by working alongside the community.
Goals
Through Project LAUNCH we are working to:
- Improve coordination and collaboration across family and child serving systems;
- Enhance the knowledge and related behaviors of parents of children birth to age 8 on topics of early childhood development and community resources; and
- Increase capacity of early child care providers on topics of early childhood social and emotional development.
Join Us
Parents & Caregivers of children 0-8 years: Families should be at the center of decisions that impact them. We provide opportunities for families to engage in this work through a Parent Advisory Council, Parent Cafes, Dad’s Cafes, and more. Click here to learn more.
Partner Organizations: Support the initiative as a representative on the Young Child Wellness Council (YWCW). Contact Project LAUNCH Director Isaac McBride to get involved: imcbride@visionforchildren.org.
Partners
Thank you to our many families and organizational partners that have already joined in on this initiative, including Affinia Healthcare, BJC Behavioral Health, Behavioral Health Response (BHR), Brown School Evaluation Center, Delta Gamma Center, and United 4 Children.
History
Vision for Children at Risk became closely connected to the Project LAUNCH initiative back in 2012 when we became the partner organization for implementing local efforts of a statewide Missouri Project LAUNCH (2012-2017 +1 year extension in 2018). From 2012-2017, we were instrumental in implementing:
- 1,636 early childhood social/emotional screenings in the St. Louis area;
- 583 referrals for children and families needing additional services in the St. Louis area;
- 896 parents and family members participated in Parent Cafés;
- Some 200 parents and community members participated in the Community Café series on transportation;
- 80 parents attended the Chicago Parent Program;
- 450 children in early childcare centers benefitted from a special social-emotional curriculum;
- Local ministers started a Pastor Café series; and
- Cultivated a community garden to provide fresh vegetables.
Also, as a result of the Community Café series on transportation, several positive changes were implemented in conjunction with Metro: 1) a text-on-demand app indicating bus arrival times; 2) an adopt-a-stop cleanup program; and 3) extended customer support hours.
Testimonials
Photos
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Upcoming Events
Stepping Up for Kids 2024
Honoring people that go above and beyond for children & families.
TBD
System of Care Council
Collaborating on issues concerning families and mental health.
Children’s Data
Check out our CMSL Data Book and our new interactive Children’s Data Center
Quantitative and qualitative data should provide the foundation for informed, strategic, collaborative community engagement, action, and advocacy. We invite you to explore the data and join us in working towards a better future for children and families in the St. Louis region.