Steven began receiving services from Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri (LFCS) when his third grade teacher expressed concerns about disruptive and negative behaviors in the classroom that were interfering with his learning. Steven demonstrated impulsive behaviors, had trouble accepting consequences, and did not understand how his behaviors contributed to those consequences. By meeting with Steven, an LFCS staff facilitator was able to demonstrate appropriate anger management and decision-making techniques and discuss self-esteem. During his sessions, Steven learned to identify triggers for his anger and use his decision-making tools to help make better choices when he felt upset. By practicing activities to improve his self-esteem, Steven was able to learn what he valued, which helped motivate him to be successful in the classroom. By the end of the following quarter, Steven achieved the goals he set for himself, and his teacher reported that his classroom behavior had improved significantly. Steven’s self-confidence also improved, allowing him to enter and win the third grade spelling bee!
About Lutheran Family and Children's Services:
Lutheran Family and Children’s Services of Missouri (LFCS) was founded in 1868 as a residence for children left homeless after the Civil War. One hundred and fifty years later, LFCS provides an array of services in their St. Louis, St. Charles, Columbia, Cape Girardeau, Springfield, and Franklin County locations. These services include adoption and foster care as well as pregnancy and parenting programming. Additionally, the organization meets the mental, emotional, behavioral needs of clients by providing individual, family, and school-based counseling, evidence-based mentoring, prevention programs, and affordable early childhood education.
With the assistance of tax credits through the Missouri Department of Economic Development's Youth Opportunity Program (YOP), LFCS provides free prevention and intervention education programming facilitated by skilled social services professionals. LFCS is set to meet the following outcomes through its current YOP project:
• At least 175 of 200 at-risk youth participating in violence prevention/conflict resolution curriculum will successfully complete a curriculum series and demonstrate increased knowledge.
• At least 1,600 out of 2,000 at-risk youth will successfully complete a substance use prevention program, demonstrate increased knowledge, and enhanced decision-making and resistance skills.
To learn more about how YOP is helping organizations serve at-risk youth across Missouri, click here.