ARCHS' Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) program graduated more than 130 students on January 11 from Fairview Elementary School in Jennings.

Students received certificates, T-shirts and backpacks for their hard work and the effort put forth in the classes. They also celebrated with cake and punch afterwards.

GREAT provides school-based, law enforcement officer-instructed classroom curriculum. The program's primary objective is prevention and is intended as immunization against delinquency, youth violence and gang membership.

GREAT Graduation Photo Gallery

Mentors and Mentees from ARCHS' Partnership with the MO Division of Youth Services and Fathers' Support Center pose with NBA superstar and St. Louis native Larry Hughes at a celebration luncheon on May 21.ARCHS' Partnership with the MO Division of Youth Services honored 15 area teenagers, their mentors, and parents at a celebration luncheon on May 21 at the Hilton St. Louis Airport Hotel. "Youth Striving For Change: A Celebration of Progress and Success gave special recognition to to those in attendance for voluntarily participating in the mentoring program in partnership with Fathers' Support Center.

The ARCHS' partnership provides adult mentors to juvenile offenders associated with the Missouri Division of Youth Services. NBA superstar and St. Louis native Larry Hughes was the keynote speaker for the event.

In the Spring of 2010, The Missouri Department of Social Services, Division of Youth Services' selected ARCHS to deliver its Community Mentoring Services Program (CMSP) to youth in the Greater St. Louis area.

St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS) Coordinator of After School Programs Judith King visits with a student at Henry Elementary during after school. SLPS funds the After School for All Partnership for St. Louis (ASAP) with $100,000 annually because it believes in the many positives after school programming brings to area students.ARCHS Funding Spotlight: On-going series of feature stories about the funders who entrust ARCHS with resources to provide vital community services to the St. Louis region.

The importance of after school programming to St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS) is highly evident.

"ARCHS commitment to SLPS students and their families remains unsurpassed," said SLPS Superintendent Dr. Kelvin Adams. "Now in its fourth year, the After School for All Partnership for St. Louis (ASAP) after school programs have proven to be a vital component in the district's efforts to provide high-quality after school programs designed to improve academic achievement."

ASAP students at Peabody Elementary carve pumpkins as part of their Lights On After School activities.The After School for All Partnership for St. Louis (ASAP) was proud to be one of 6,000 communities across the nation taking part in Lights On After School. The 11th annual Lights On After School was held October 21 and featured more than 1 million Americans rallying for after school programs.

Dozens of ASAP programs participated in Lights On After School and host Fall Festivals, Pajama Jams, Hip Hop Sock Hops, Sports Nights, Academic Olympics, After School Cook Off and more!

ARCHS serves as the strategic fiscal and contract management agent for ASAP. ARCHS is the largest provider of free after school programming in the St. Louis region.

ASAP and its partners have added more than 2,600 new additional "after school slots" to the City of St. Louis. ASAP is working toward a goal of adding more than 5,600 new slots to assure that at least 22 percent of city-based students have access to after school services (the national average).

Check out the photo gallery page (click on picture) to see "Lights On" pictures from ASAP elementary schools Sherman, Peabody, Mason, Lexington, Jefferson and Stevens Middle School (21st Century)!