For more information, please contact:
Marie McGeehan
Director of Communications
Boys & Girls Town of Missouri
Phone: 314-535-7911
Fax: 314-535-6632
marie.mcgeehan@great-circle.org

Boys & Girls Town of Missouri Eastern Region Serves
Record Number of Children and Family Members in 2008

St. Louis, Mo. (Aug. 11, 2009) – Boys & Girls Town of Missouri served 6,700 children and family members – the highest number since the agency was founded in 1949 – through its four campuses in St. James, St. Louis, Springfield and Columbia. St. Louis City and St. Louis County were the second and third highest referral sources for children in treatment programs at Boys & Girls Town.  Boys & Girls Town of Missouri treats at-risk children with histories of abuse, neglect, severe behavior disorders, psychological problems and disruptive families.
 
The Eastern Region campus based in St. Louis served 1,824 children and family members – almost one-third of those served by the agency statewide.

St. Louis City & County are Among the Top Referral Counties for Services
Greene County was the top referral county for children treated in Boys & Girls Town of Missouri treatment programs.  St. Louis City and St. Louis County were followed by Jefferson, Christian and St. Charles counties.  In 2008, Boys & Girls Town helped children from 95 of Missouri’s 114 counties representing 83 percent of the state, plus the City of St. Louis and other states.

Estimated Number of Abused and Neglected Children in the St. Louis Region
Figures from Citizens for Missouri’s Children’s 2008 Missouri Kids Count Data Book Online indicate 9,562 children in St. Louis City and St. Louis, St. Charles and Jefferson counties were identified as abused or neglected – an average of 22.6 children per 1,000 population. Numbers are likely much higher than this as not all abuse or neglect is reported. The average for Missouri was 32.6.

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About Boys & Girls Town of  Missouri
Founded in 1949, Boys & Girls Town of Missouri is a nationally accredited organization that provides extensive treatment through residential, foster care case management, outreach and family therapy programs for troubled youth with a history of abuse, neglect, severe behavior disorders and psychological problems. The organization's mission to "improve the lives of children with emotional and behavioral problems through superior, family-focused services" is fulfilled through campuses in St. James, St. Louis, Springfield and Columbia, MO.  BGTM helps redirect the lives of more than 6,700 boys and girls and their family members annually.  For more information, please visit the website at www.bgtm.org

About Edgewood Children’s Center
Founded in 1834, Edgewood Children’s Center provides compassionate care and treatment to restore children and strengthen families through intensive therapy, education, case management and support services. Many of the children served have been physically, sexually or emotionally abused; neglected; or abandoned. Edgewood offers a broad array of treatment, education, prevention and support services for children and families, active child advocacy, professional consultation and training. Edgewood Children’s Center is a 501(c)(3), nonprofit, nonsectarian, United Way agency. For more information please visit the Web site at www.eccstl.org.