Raising St. Louis
Raising St. Louis is actively serving the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Families can enroll by calling 314.747.RSTL (7785) or 314.362.9586 or by completing our online enrollment form.
Raising St. Louis connects with mothers, fathers and other family members to help build and sustain the family unit, reduces the high infant mortality rate, promotes literacy and increases access to health care. Any woman or family who lives within an identified 22 zip code area and is pregnant, or has a child up to age 4, is eligible to participate, at zero cost to the participant.
Raising St. Louis Services Include:
- Brings you services from Nurses for Newborns and Parents as Teachers – through visits to your home or other convenient location
- Connects you to resources you need
- Invites you to meet other parents and share experiences
- Provides you at times with diapers and other childcare items
- Gives you important information about health, safety and child development
- Performs exams to make sure your child is healthy and safe
- Shares with you effective parenting skills and tips
- Helps you understand your child and his or her unique development
- Helps you find the resources your family needs when they need them
The program also offers monthly parent support group meetings, Family Connections, where participants connect with other parents and receive help with navigating additional health and social services.
As an incentive to maintain regular home visits, families receive Kids Kash which can be used during the monthly group meetings to purchase such items as diapers, car seats, baby supplies, books, toys and other items to make caring for their baby a little easier.
Behavioral Health Response
314-469-6644
The Behavioral Health Response is a locally based 24-hour helpline. If you are feeling depressed, are experiencing an emotional crisis, difficult mood or need someone to talk to, a counselor will be available at any time of the day or night to talk, provide intervention, and if necessary, help with establishing a care plan. If you are in an immediate emergency, please call 911.
Crisis Nursery
St. Louis City: 314-768-3201 or 314-338-2200
St. Louis County: 314-953-8030
St. Charles: 636-947-0600
Wentzville: 636-887-3070
If you are feeling overwhelmed, depressed, anxious, are concerned about your and your child’s safety or find yourself struggling with difficult emotions to the point that you feel you temporarily cannot care for your child, call Crisis Nursery 24 hours a day. A trained professional will provide help, resources and emotional support. If necessary, Crisis Nursery will provide safe, emergency care for children ages birth through 12 years old.
Jamaa Birth Village
Jamaa Birth Village is a 501c3 non-profit Maternal Health organization located in Ferguson, Missouri serving the greater St. Louis metro area. Through its comprehensive and first of its kind “Equal Access Midwifery Clinic”, Jamaa Birth Village provides culturally based traditional and evidence based Midwifery + Doula care, Perinatal Mental Health Care, Holistic Therapy, Spa Services, Childbirth Education and so much more! Since 2015 we have supported 500+ families with perinatal care. Our goal is to lower prematurity and the infant & maternal mortality/morbidity rates that are significantly higher for Black women through community led and woman centered care.
Nurses for Newborns
314-544-3433
At no cost to you, Nurses for Newborns will send a registered nurse to visit you at home to check on the health of both you and your baby. The nurses are a wonderful source of information for new and experienced moms about infant care, feeding and signs to look for that mean you may need to call the doctor. If you have ongoing concerns about your baby’s health, or you need ongoing support, your nurse will continue to visit as needed. If you are struggling with postpartum depression or anxiety, please tell your nurse so she can provide additional recommendations. We suggest you call before you leave the hospital or shortly after you return home to set up the first appointment.
St Louis Doulas of Color Collective
The St. Louis Doulas of Color Collective proudly provides culturally competent care to mothers and families in the St. Louis area, education to the community with focus around choice, and space for other doulas of color to thrive.
Postpartum Support International
Missouri: 314-602-5184
Illinois: 224-800-1492
Postpartum Support International provides extensive information for moms and families seeking guidance and community following pregnancy. Postpartum Support International is a great place to call if you would like to talk to a volunteer who is a mom and had her own emotional struggles after birth and now wants to help other moms experiencing similar issues. The website is also a wonderful place to numbers for call-in support groups and even information about groups for dads.
Parents As Teachers
Parents as Teachers works through the Missouri and Illinois school districts. At no cost to you, a trained specialist will visit you and your child at your home once a month. You and your educator will interact with your baby together. The educator can offer tips and interactive games you can play with your baby to make the most of your little one’s development. While the service can be stopped at any time, you and your child may stay in the program until they are 5 years old.
Safe Connections
314-531-2003
Safe Connections provides free, professional counseling as well as support groups for those who are currently experiencing, or in the past have experienced, domestic violence or an abusive relationship. Abuse can be physical, verbal or emotional. For quick help and support during a crisis, or for more information, call the 24-hour hotline and a trained professional will always be available. If you believe you are in immediate danger, call 911.
AWARE
314-362-9273
The AWARE program at Barnes-Jewish Hospital seeks to reach out to those experiencing partner abuse or partner violence. You will have one on one contact with an AWARE counselor who will support you and work alongside you to create a plan to change the situation.
SSM MOMS Line
314-768-6667
This peer-supported telephone line caters specifically to moms who are in the throes of baby blues, postpartum depression, or anxiety disorders.
Generate Health Home Visiting Collaborative
Provides free home visiting as a free service for parents who are pregnant, have a young baby, or child not older than 5 years old. Home visiting agencies that are part of this referral system serve families in St. Louis County and City. Fill out an application here: Generate Health Home Visiting Collaborative – Centralized Referral & Intake (cmh.edu)
The Wellness Center
The Wellness Center is a practice that offers doula services. This center was established in 2023 by one of our staff members, Taylor Bass. Taylor provides culturally congruent doula services to those in the STL community. The goal of The Wellness Center is to center the client and their wellness, with the understanding that they are the expert in their health and body.