St Francis Community Services

Sfcs provided a variety of Services to immigrants. 79 immigrant children participated in tutoring, homework help, guitar/art clubs, reading challenges, outdoor movie nights and other activities. Bilingual therapists counseled 100 spanish-speaking children and adults, while bilingual case workers helped 277 spanish-speaking households with everything from food to medical bills. The vietnamese health clinic cared for 159 vietnamese elders with chronic health conditions. Sfcs immigration attorneys handled 1,206 cases involving citizenship, daca renewals, asylum requests, work authorization and more.

Sfcs provided in-depth case management Services with its pathways to progress program, a joint effort with catholic charities of St. louis. Pathways to progress case managers meet with clients to work through challenges with employment, housing, education and personal finance. Pathways to progress served 90 families. All the families had an income at or below 130% of u.s. Poverty guidelines upon enrollment. Despite daunting barriers, over 85% improved their ability to meet their financial obligations, over 90% of adults improved their education or job skills, and over 90% of kids graduated to the next grade level in school.

Sfcs' legal assistance ministry provides free representation to low-income clients who could not afford an attorney. Sfcs attorneys and staff prepared clients for appearances in courts across the region. They undertook 217 family law cases, which continues the pace set last year that was nearly four times more than the previous fiscal year. An infusion of pro-bono volunteer attorneys allowed sfcs to handle 98 guardianship cases and serve as guardian ad litem for abused or neglected children in 186 cases. Meanwhile, the veterans advocacy project provided legal counsel for 25 low-income or homeless veterans. Attorneys worked to settle 179 municipal offenses for veterans.