YWCA is the 19th Largest Non-Profit Agency in St. Louis*
- YWCA Metro St. Louis is a 122-year-old non-profit human services agency on a mission to empower individuals, families, and survivors by facilitating a future where every person is safe, supported, and heard.
- Founded in 1904 to provide safe housing for women who came to work at the World’s Fair.
- Serves 10,000 individuals and families annually.
- Three core service areas: Crisis Services and Housing, Early Education, Career Readiness and Economic Empowerment.
- YWCA is fully accredited by Social Current and designated as an Outstanding Provider.
Head Start & Early Head Start Early Education Centers
- Largest provider of direct Head Start services in Missouri, with nine Early Education Centers and 12 childcare partners.
- YWCA receives more Head Start funding in St. Louis City and County than any other agency, and is the second largest grantee in a four-state region.
- YWCA is the only program in the state to receive the National Program of Excellence Accreditation from National Head Start Association.
- YWCA is addressing the childcare crisis with its Department of Labor registered apprenticeship, Successful Pathways®, designed to support the development of the next generation of early education professionals.
- YWCA is collaborating with St. Louis Innovation Districts to build Early Education Excellence Centers with STREAM curriculum.
Services for Victims of Sexual and Domestic Violence and Homelessness
- YWCA is the largest provider of sexual assault and domestic violence services in the region.
- YWCA is the ONLY dual-services agency (sexual assault and domestic violence) in the St. Louis region offering both a 24/7 Crisis Help Line and a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) that partners with area hospitals and police departments.
- The only YWCA in the United States with a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART).
- Winner of international Alliance for HOPE Purple Ribbon award for Outstanding Multi-Agency Partnership
- YWCA is the largest provider of housing for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in St. Louis City and County.
- YWCA holds one of the largest HUD contracts in the area.
Career Readiness and Economic Empowerment
- CREED aims to help provide a path to self-sufficiency for all clients.
- YWCA’s WorkREADI Program trains participants and places them in careers with our regional industry partners, enrolls them in an education program, or connects them to an apprenticeship program.
- Our clients benefit from financial education, credit counseling, and asset-building programs.
What Differentiates YWCA
- YWCA is the only agency that provides wraparound services, such as childcare, transportation, grocery assistance, rent/utility assistance, and housing at no charge to sustain clients so they can complete our programs.
- All YWCA clients, including Head Start families, may access our wraparound services.