Metro East Mutual Aid (MEMA) is an all-volunteer network in the Illinois Metro East supporting and strengthening communities through autonomous organizing, solidarity, and resource sharing.

Provides individual and group support (including support from a therapist and registered nurse), access to resources, pregnancy/delivery/parenting support, and childbirth classes for pregnant and parenting youth up to age 19. Free individual, group and family counseling for youth living in St. Louis County and St. Charles County Weekly teen parent support groups, individual counseling, nurse on staff for checkups and birthing classes. Baby care items for all youth that enroll in the program. Services are free of charge. Schools based counseling school districts: __St. Louis County:__ Jennings, Hazelwood, Riverview Gardens, Pattonville, Parkway, Ritenour, Valley Park, Lindbergh, Maplewood Richmond Heights and North Tech High School __St. Charles County:__ City of St. Charles, Orchard Farm, Francis Howell and Wentzville __Lincoln County:__ Elsberry, Troy and Winfield If you are a youth in crisis, you can access help 24 hours a day. Based in St. Charles, with outreach programs in St. Louis City. Many resources and programs listed on their website, including HEAD START. Street Outreach, Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing available. Staff completed one trans competency training with Trans Housing Initiative St. Louis (THISTL) in May of 2024.

St. Louis Area Diaper Bank strives to make a health, social and economic impact by not only providing diapers and period supplies but by connecting them to these resources and other resources through our partner agencies. Providing families in need with free diapers influences a range of positive outcomes for these families, such as positive changes in parental mood (reducing the risk of childhood abuse); improved child health and happiness (nurturing their ability to learn); and increased opportunities for childcare, work stability, and school attendance.

Operated by Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, Safe Kids provides car seat checkups and safety information to providers, parents, and caregivers regarding child safety and injury prevention. They have reduced cost car seat programs as well, often as low as $25 for a new car seat.

At the Center, teens can meet other teenagers like themselves who are going through the same experience. We are one of only two centers in St. Louis that provide comprehensive medical care and support for pregnant teenagers age 17 and under. Established in 1999, the Center provides care for teen parents throughout their pregnancies and helps prepare them for life as young parents. Teens meet as a group weekly for classes, prenatal checkups, and support from the Center staff and other teens. Other children, the baby’s other caregiver/s, family members, and close friends are welcome to attend meetings. We provide healthy snacks and even transportation to and from the meetings, if needed. At the Center, teen parents receive: - Prenatal checkups, including ultrasounds to monitor baby’s health - Healthy eating and living advice - Childbirth classes designed specifically for teenagers - Parenting skills classes - Life skills classes - Assistance with school and job training - Service referrals for after birth

Optometry Cares – The AOA Foundation manages__InfantSEE®,__ a public health program designed to ensure that eye and vision care becomes an integral part of infant wellness care. Under this program, AOA optometrists provide a no-cost comprehensive eye and vision assessment for infants within the first year of life regardless of a family’s income or access to insurance coverage. The__ VISION USA program __, is no longer providing direct eye and vision care assignments. If you are in need of a comprehensive eye exam, please contact __EyeCare America__. Please contact __New Eyes__ if you are in need of glasses. Other resources can be found on __All About Vision__. When it was opperating, VISION USA provided free eye exams to eligible, low-income working families. Services were donated by volunteer optometrists who were members of the American Optometric Association.

"Nurses for Newborns strives to serve at-risk families in our service areas that need support around their pregnancy and care for their newborn." They provide home visits by nurses and material goods including diapers, formula, baby food, bedding and cribs all at __no cost__. "Serves families in these 21 counties: St. Louis City and County, and Butler, Carter, Crawford, Dunklin, Franklin, Howell, Iron, Jefferson, Lincoln, Madison, Perry, Reynolds, Shannon, St. Charles, St. Francois, St. Genevieve, Warren, Washington, and Wayne counties."