April is National Minority Health Month, and as health disparities continue to affect people from racial and ethnic minority groups throughout the region, St. Louis County Children’s Service Fund (CSF) is acting to reduce barriers to mental health care.

Through strategic investment in local providers, as well as community resources, including Find A Service Tool, CSF is building awareness of services available in St. Louis County.

CSF offers individuals and families seeking care a way to locate specific providers and services near them using the Find A Service Tool, an interactive map found on its website at stlcsf.org/find-a-service/.

The tool addresses the lack of awareness of services for racial and ethnic minority groups by building knowledge of critical resources and supporting individuals in seeking the care they and their families need.

Of the 4,107 children and youth served by CSF’s inaugural Grassroots Funding Partners from October 1, 2021 – September 3, 2022, 79.92% were nonwhite. A complete breakdown of the populations served is as follows:

·       58.79% identified as Black/African American.

·       19.82% identified as Asian.

·       3.75% identified as biracial/multiracial.

·       0.19% identified as Hispanic.

As the organization continues to grow its impact, CSF aims to reach even more historically underserved groups within St. Louis County.

“Racial and ethnic minority groups are disproportionally affected by barriers to accessing mental health care,” said Emily Koenig, executive director of CSF.

“Mental health is healthcare, and maintaining mental and physical health are equally important for a person’s overall well-being. Through our strategic funding of local mental health providers and resources, CSF hopes to continue eliminating these barriers and providing access to services and care to all in need.”

CSF’s Core Funding Opportunity also supports services for minority groups. Of the 80,950 children who received mental and behavioral health services from CSF’s Core partners from January 2023 – June 2023.

• 58.5% were nonwhite, and the services were most predominantly provided to Black/African American children, at 45.5%.

Children and families seeking resources in St. Louis County can also take advantage of the CSF-funded Community Resource Initiative, a partnership with St. Louis County Library and Epworth Children & Family Services to bring social workers to five library branches to remove barriers that prevent access to care.

Additionally, youth, parents, and guardians can utilize the Youth Connection Helpline, a 24/7 crisis intervention and support hotline that connects individuals with ongoing care. To contact the helpline, call (314) 819-8802 or text BHEARD to 31658.

“Part of what we do at CSF is build awareness of the many excellent mental health services in our region because we know it’s the first step to increasing access,” said Koenig.

“In addition to funding our partners here in St. Louis County, we also offer our Find A Service Tool on our website, which is a great way to see many of the resources available in the region and where they are offered.”

Since its creation in 2008, CSF has invested more than $550 million in community organizations that offer children’s mental and behavioral health services, including crisis intervention, respite care, therapeutic and non-therapeutic counseling, substance use treatment and more. It is the largest children’s service fund in Missouri. 

For more information about CSF, its funded partners, and other available resources, please visit stlcsf.org or call (314) 615-5850.