Deaconess Foundation is a grant making organization building power for child well-being through philanthropy, advocacy and organizing for racial equity and public policy change. A ministry of the United Church of Christ, Deaconess has invested more than $85 million to improve the health of the St. Louis community since 1998. The Foundation’s advocacy and grantmaking footprint includes St. Louis City, St. Louis, Jefferson, St. Charles and Franklin Counties in Missouri and Madison, St. Clair and Monroe Counties in Illinois.

Deaconess has long supported divesting from and abolishing the arrest-and-incarcerate model and unjust pre-trial detention and reinvesting in direct services and supports like mental healthcare, affordable childcare, and affordable housing. Deaconess commends the Mayor’s decisive budgetary action to close the city of Saint Louis’ Medium Security Institution, also known as the Workhouse. The reallocation of these public resources will benefit children and families. Budgets are moral documents that reflect values. The Mayor’s decision to also invest funds in community visioning planning reflects the value placed on community voice and community-led priority setting all in an effort to transform St. Louis into an equitable and inclusive region for our children.