Neighborhood Healing Network
According to FBI and St. Louis Metropolitan Police Reports, the number of homicides reported in the city in recent years has increased to historic levels, especially in the number of children killed. It's not just the victim affected when a violent crime takes place, it takes a toll on the behavioral, mental, and physical health of the entire neighborhood.
That's why ARCHS launched the Neighborhood Healing Network in August 2020. The Missouri Department of Social Services has awarded a $1 million grant to ARCHS to oversee the Neighborhood Healing Network through five different non-profit hubs including Better Family Life, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, Fathers & Families Support Center, Mission: St. Louis, and the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis. The $1 million grant comes from the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA).
The unique strategy behind the Neighborhood Healing Network is to address both individual crime victims and victimized communities. When someone utilizes services at one of the five non-profit hubs, staff will identify if they have been impacted by trauma and provide participants with resources available to overcome barriers to education and employment, creating healthier families in the long run.
The five well-known St. Louis organizations were chosen as hubs due to their locations across St. Louis City and expertise to carry out Neighborhood Healing Network Services. The hubs will also work with Alive & Well Communities and Crime Victim Center to organize educational programming for the public about abuse, victim rights, laws, violence, and available trauma-informed care.
By providing trauma-informed care and services, the Neighborhood Healing Network will work to improve educational, economic, and health outcomes for individuals and communities.
To learn more about the Neighborhood Healing Network, visit www.stlarchs.org or STL Neighborhood Healing Network on Facebook.
Neighborhood Healing Network Hubs:
Better Family Life
5415 Page Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63112
Contact India McMillan, (314) 500-4727 india.mcmillan@betterfamilylife.org
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis
4317 Vista Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110
Brenisha Banks, (314) 335-8211 ext. 1211, brenishab@bgcstl.org
Fathers & Families Support Center
1601 Olive St., St. Louis, MO 63103
Kiihandra Jones, (314) 333-4170 ext. 120, kjones@fathersupport.org
Mission: St. Louis
3108 Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63107
Kelvin Pettis, (314) 534-1188, kelvin.pettis@missionstl.org
Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis
1408 N. Kingshighway Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63113
Joy Camp, (314) 338-0603, jcamp@urbanleague-stl.org
This project is made possible by the funding made available through the Victims of Crime Act Fund administered by the Missouri Department of Social Services, Division of Finance and Administrative Services. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department or the Department of Justice Programs.
Community Resource Specialist Marissa Genovese of Better Family Life explains stigmas around seeking mental healthcare and explains how the Neighborhood Healing Network can make it an easier experience.