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Social Solutions Global Awards ARCHS with Ballmer Group Investment Matching Grant

Social Solutions Ballmer
Social Solutions Global today announced ARCHS and Kansas City Local Investment Commission (LINC) as recipients of Social Solutions matching grants using funding from Ballmer Group. The matching grants will defray 50 percent of the licensing costs for Social Solutions’ leading case management and analytics solution, Apricot 360.

Both organizations are significant providers of out-of-school time child care in their communities, supporting critical initiatives including early childhood education, correctional re-entry programs, and fostered youth programs, and serve as crucial coordinating hubs in their respective communities. The matching grant includes other community partners that are part of the Missouri Family and Community Trust (MoFACT), a private-public sector partnership that consists of the major state agencies involved in social services and education.

With their Apricot 360 licenses, LINC, ARCHS and the other Missouri community partnerships can now:

  • - harness data for more comprehensive reporting
  • - proactively identify risks and take action
  • - address chronic absenteeism
  • - support education enrichment in out-of-school time programs
“We’re thrilled to expand our partnerships throughout Kansas City and St. Louis and are inspired by the dedication of these organizations in supporting at-risk students and families in their communities,” said Kristin Nimsger, CEO of Social Solutions. “With more robust access to insights and data, these organizations can take their work to the next level and support students where they need it most.”

"In St. Louis, ARCHS is committed to disrupting cycles of intergenerational poverty by advancing lifelong learning, and a large part of this is providing holistic support of each student and family,” said Wendell E. Kimbrough, Chief Executive Officer of ARCHS. “With this matching grant, the Apricot 360 solution will enhance ARCHS’ strategic consulting and technical support services for our grantees related to data management and program evaluation.”

ARCHS Awards $6.1 Million to Enhance Regional Employment Efforts

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Since August 2018, ARCHS has issued $6.1 million to support a portfolio of job development, training, placement and support programs being offered by six area workforce-focused organizations serving St. Louis City and St. Louis County.

ARCHS has issued grants to the following organizations:
  • - America Works - Missouri
  • - Better Family Life, Inc.
  • - Employment Connection
  • - Mission: St. Louis
  • - Louis Agency on Training and Employment
  • - Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis
ARCHS secured funding from the Missouri Department of Social Services to support these initiatives. The primary target population will include SNAP recipients, veterans, homeless individuals and families, justice involved individuals, and those struggling to find full-time, sustainable employment because of barriers to work.

“This is ARCHS’ largest single investment in workforce related programming in our 20 year history,” said Wendell E. Kimbrough, ARCHS’ Chief Executive Officer.” While we talk about a good economy, and low unemployment rates, there are thousands of people trapped within on-going cycles of intergenerational poverty in St. Louis who need viable skills training and connections to employers.”

This funding supports a variety of job readiness and placement services, social services and barrier removal services. It also provides resources for reliable and affordable childcare, remedial education services/GED training, basic skills training, and connection to parenting classes/family mediation services.

In addition to funding, ARCHS provides strategic consulting and technical assistance to support its grantees. This includes connecting funded organizations with state and regional resources to enhance their efforts, including Missouri’s SkillUP program. ARCHS partners with its grantees to share resources, coordinate efforts, and foster collaboration.

ARCHS currently funds and strategically enhances more than 30 regional initiatives that improve the lives of more than 180,000 individuals facing disparities and disadvantages in St. Louis’ most impoverished communities. ARCHS works to disrupt cycles of intergenerational poverty by advancing lifelong learning.

Individuals interested in learning more about these workforce programs, should contact the ARCHS’ funded organizations directly:

  • - America Works – Missouri
    • 1010 Market St., Suite 890, St. Louis, MO 63101
    • 314-492-5430
    • americaworks.com/missouri
  • - Better Family Life, Inc.
    • 5415 Page Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63112
    • 314-367-3440
    • betterfamilylife.org
  • - Employment Connection
    • 2838 Market St., St. Louis, MO 63103
    • 314-333-5618
    • employmentstl.org
  • - Mission: St. Louis
    • 3108 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63107
    • 314-534-1188
    • missionstl.org
  • - St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment
    • 1520 Market St., Suite 3050, St. Louis, MO 63103
    • 314-589-8000 ext. 3634
    • stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/slate/
  • - Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis
    • 8960 Jennings Station Rd., Jennings, MO 63136
    • 314-388-9840
    • ulstl.com

ARCHS Partnership with St. Louis Public Schools Update

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ARCHS' funded partnerships enhanced the lives of thousands of Saint Louis Public School students and their families throughout the 2017-2018 school year. 

Valued at more than $10 million, these programs enhanced after school, behavioral health, digital literacy, summer meal, social support, and vision care services throughout the district.


Application of Interest to Operate After School Programs

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APPLICATION HAS CLOSED

About ARCHS: Area Resources for Community and Human Services (ARCHS) funds and strategically enhances initiatives that improve the lives of children and families facing disparities and disadvantages in St. Louis’ most impoverished communities. ARCHS works to disrupt cycles of intergenerational poverty by advancing lifelong learning. Learn more at stlarchs.org.

ARCHS' Mission: To improve the lives of Greater St. Louis' residents by convening strategic community partnerships.

Funding Opportunity: ARCHS is seeking to provide funding to a qualified service provider(s) to manage up to five (5) licensed after school programs as a part of its After School for All Partnership (ASAP).  The funded after school programs shall serve low-income students in grades K-6 residing in St. Louis City or St. Louis County beginning in the 2019-2020 school year.  Eligible afterschool program participants include students whose parents are working, in job training, or in school and qualify economically for free meals through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) or the school lunch program. A maximum of $65,000 shall be awarded per program site and will be based on the number of students proposed to be served.
 
Requirements include but are not limited to the following:
  • -Offer program services to eligible families at no cost.
  • -Operate according to the Licensing Rules for Group Child Care Homes and Child Care Centers from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Bureau of Child Care for a minimum of 48 children.
  • -Offer well rounded programming that includes but is not limited to academic support/enrichment, social and life skills, health and recreation, character development and parent/family involvement. Services must be sensitive to cultural, ethnic, religious and diversity issues, including appropriateness of staff, materials, and approach.
  • -Operate Monday through Friday, 3 hours daily, including school holidays and vacation periods, with the exception of legal public holidays provided that the program has access to the facility in which the program is held.
  • -Offer daily, nutritious snacks and meals in accordance with the CACFP or school lunch program.
  • -Provide documents of ownership, lease or memorandum of agreement for use of facility. Programs in public, private and/or charter schools as well as community based organizations shall be considered.
  • -Use of a web-based data collection system for the submission of after school program data including but not limited to student attendance, student characteristics, staff/personnel, etc. (training to be provided by ARCHS).
  • -Adhere to all other goals outlined in ARCHS’ performance-based contract.
 
How to Apply:
Interested applicants who meet the outlined requirements must submit this online application no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 15, 2019.

Online Application

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