Community support often begins with a simple conversation. Early Childhood Community Leaders develop and implement community focused plans at ensuring these moments of simple conversations happen. Working in every part of Missouri, Community Leaders bring local partners together, raise awareness about early childhood services, and document resources in their communities so families and professionals have access to reliable information through resources.

In one such moment, a conversation with a Community Leader and the tools offered through the Missouri Family Resources (MFR) app opened doors and helped improve daily life for a Missouri Family. 

“A Community Leader recently met with a family and introduced them to Missouri Family Resources, explaining how helpful the website and app can be for finding supports, including those that are not always available locally. The parent explored the platform and discovered a provider offering applied behavior analysis (ABA) supports for children, something she had not been able to find in her own area.
 
Through the connection she made with Missouri Family Resources, the family was linked with a group based in St. Louis. Her child is now set to receive regular Blossoms ABA therapy support services in the home. This simple introduction to MFR opened the door to services that will make a meaningful difference in their daily life.”

Missouri Family Resources is a free statewide resource website and mobile app that houses a variety of local resources for families with young children. It is designed to be used by families and professionals. Users can search for local resources, then print their search results or share them directly by email, text, or social media.

The platform makes it easier for parents to learn what is available in their area while helping communities streamline services with better coordination.

The Office of Childhood would like to thank our Community Leaders for the effort and care they put into supporting Missouri families. For information about how to connect with a Community Leader in your area, see the Community Leaders home page.