Epworth Children & Family Services

06/11/2026

Your $5 rubber duck helps Epworth reach unhoused youth with hot meals and shelter, support young adults building independence through transitional housing, and connect families to the counseling and care they need to stay together.

Last year alone, we served 425 youth at our Drop-In Center, reached 824 unhoused youth through street outreach, and housed 94 young adults through our Transitional Housing Program.

Adoption Link: https://www.duckrace.com/stlouis

Whether you adopt one duck or a whole flock, every adoption puts real resources behind Epworth's work with youth across St. Louis and gives you a shot at $500. Come race with us on July 18th.
We would love to have you there!

06/02/2026

🦆 They're coming 🦆

One of our favorite days of the year is almost here and we want YOU there
with us.

Epworth's 5th Annual Duck Derby & Backyard Bash returns Saturday, July 18
from 11 AM to 2 PM at our Webster Groves Campus. It is a full afternoon of
BBQ, backyard games, snow cones, music, and hundreds of rubber ducks
racing for cash prizes!

The event is FREE to attend. Adopt a duck for as little as $5 and give
yourself a shot at winning $300, $200, or the $500 Lucky Duck prize.

Every duck adopted supports Epworth's work with more than 4,330 youth and
families in our community every year.

Adopt yours today at the link below and share this with someone who needs
a great Saturday plan. 🦆

[ADOPTION LINK: www.duckrace.com/stlouis]

06/02/2026

05/28/2026

05/19/2026

Not every superpower looks like flying. Sometimes it looks like showing up on the hardest days and choosing to stay when walking away feels easier.

This Foster Care Awareness Month, Epworth is highlighting IW’s journey through foster care.

His story is a powerful reminder that healing does not happen overnight. But with the right support system in place, growth is always possible.

At Epworth, our continuum of care is designed to meet youth exactly where they are and walk with them all the way to stability through residential treatment, transitional living, mental health support, life skills development, and trusted relationships that do not disappear when a program ends.

Behind every success story is a support system that refused to give up. Every young person deserves the chance to build a future beyond survival mode.

We are incredibly proud of IW and honored to walk alongside young people like him every single day.

05/14/2026

It takes a village to help children and families thrive.

May is National Foster Care Month, and throughout the month, we’re joining alongside FamilyForward and Youth In Need to shed light on the journeys of children, youth, and families involved in foster care.

At Epworth Children & Family Services, we know support begins long before a child enters foster care. Strong families need strong communities, and prevention services can make all the difference in helping families stay safely together.

Each week this month, we’ll be highlighting one of the organizations in our consortium helping strengthen the continuum of care for children and families at every stage of their journey.

“When communities show up early with support, families are stronger and children are safer,” said Venita Govan, PhD, Interim President and CEO of Epworth Children & Family Services.

Through Epworth’s Family Support Network (FSN), families receive free in-home therapy, parenting support, and personalized guidance designed to help families navigate challenges safely and successfully at home.

Therapists meet weekly with families in their homes, virtually, or in the community to help build parenting skills, reduce stress, strengthen family relationships, and connect families to additional resources and support.

For more than 100 years, organizations like Epworth Children & Family Services, FamilyForward, and Youth In Need have helped strengthen families and support children and youth across our community. In 2025 alone, more than 6,000 children and families were supported through our collective partnership and services.

It truly takes a village. We are proud to stand together in helping create brighter futures for children, youth, and families across our community!

05/12/2026

Foster Care Awareness Month is not just about sharing stories. It is about building real understanding. 💛

Foster care is widely misunderstood, and those misconceptions affect how communities, policymakers, and neighbors show up for youth and families who need support. Today we are highlighting a few misconceptions to share the reality.

Because awareness is only at the beginning. Understanding is where real change starts. 💛

05/08/2026

Yesterday was Give STL Day, and this community showed up for the young people at Epworth in a truly incredible way.

When we set our goal of $6,000, we believed in our donors and supporters. What we did not fully anticipate was just how far that generosity would go. Together, you helped raise $10,625, nearly doubling our original goal!

Because of you, youth living on our residential campus will head into summer with a repaired pool, new swimsuits, towels, and everything they need to enjoy the season with confidence and joy. For the 29 youth who currently call our campus home, this means more than access to a pool. It means having a space to laugh with friends, learn to swim, and simply be kids for a while.

And your impact reaches far beyond this summer. The repairs made possible through your generosity will continue serving youth at Epworth for many years to come!

Thank you for believing in these young people and for helping create the kind of summer where childhood memories are made. We look forward to sharing photos and updates from the pool in the weeks ahead. 💛

05/08/2026

Last chance to help make summer possible. We’re grateful for every gift today. Thank you, St. Louis! 🧡 If you still want to give use link here: https://www.givestlday.org/organization/epworth