Since open enrollment began on November 1, more than 250,000 Missourians signed-up for health coverage through the Missouri Health Insurance Marketplace that gives uninsured Missourians a way to compare plans and buy affordable health insurance.

As the holiday season ends and people set goals for a healthier 2016, there is still time to sign-up for quality health coverage through the Marketplace. Most Missourians are required to have health insurance or face a penalty. And most Missouri Marketplace enrollees qualify for tax credits to lower their costs.

ARCHS encourages community, faith-based, and small business leaders, employees in child care and social services industries, and those who serve low-income families to encourage people to sign-up before open enrollment ends on Sunday, January 31, 2016.

ARCHS is one of 700+ members of the Cover Missouri Coalition -- a project of the Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH) that aims to reduce the rate of uninsured Missourians to less than five percent in the next five years. In August 2015, ARCHS was awarded a grant from MFH as part of a new push to help increase awareness among those who remain uninsured.

To enroll: Visit www.covermissouri.org to find local help with enrollment or call 1-800-466-3213 to set up an appointment with a local assister.

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ARCHS' partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the State of Missouri provided 5,500 area children in the Saint Louis Public School District access to healthy meals this past summer (2015), while making a $495,329 impact on the local economy in Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children (SEBTC) benefits.

Families participating in the ARCHS' summer food program used 94% of the funding available to them. This was the third time ARCHS participated in the project – one of the largest demonstration projects undertaken by the USDA.

Lessons learned from Missouri's project continue to inform decisions at the federal level about how to best address childhood hunger during the summer months when school meals are not available. Since 2012, ARCHS' program has provided more than 14,4o0 St. Louis area students with enhanced summer food benefits.

The Missouri project is a collaboration of the Missouri Departments of Social Services, Health and Senior Services, Elementary and Secondary Education, ARCHS, Local Investment Commission (LINC), Mississippi County Partnership, Saint Louis Public Schools, Kansas City Public Schools, and Hickman Mills School District. 

Kids Vision for Life-St. Louis had a highly successful 2015 fall semester. Over the last five months KVFL has visited more schools and served more students than ever before. KVFL's fall 2015 statistics:

• 62 schools visited
• 20,327 students received a vision screening
• 2,601 students received an eye exam
• 2,182 students were prescribed glasses

ARCHS is excited to be a KVFL partner as the program grows and provides services to more schools and area students.

Independent auditors have given ARCHS a "no opinion issued" or "clean" audit for the 14th consecutive fiscal year. ARCHS' FY 2015 (July 1, 2014-June 30, 2015) financial audit was reviewed and approved by ARCHS' Board of Directors at the December 9, 2015 meeting.

Issuance of "no opinion" means an auditor, upon review of an organization's financial statements and accompanying notes, concluded that the financial  tatements and accompanying notes are presented fairly, conform to generally accepted accounting principles, and fairly represent the true financial picture of the organization.

"These audits assure ARCHS' funders and partners that the organization is responsibly and properly managing the resources assigned to us," said ARCHS' Chief Executive Officer Wendell E. Kimbrough. "Our accounting controls ensure we are able to fund and enhance the delivery of more than 18 education and social service programs that annually improve the lives of more than 90,000 St. Louisans."

For the sixth consecutive year, ARCHS has also successfully completed a federal A-133 audit for its work with federal funding. An A-133 audit is required for any organization that expends more than $500,000 in a year in funding from the federal government.

During FY 2015, ARCHS had a $16.5 million impact on the region. Within that number, $6.3 million were grants and other revenues, and $10.2 million were funds/resources secured by ARCHS' education and social service program partners.