Better Family Life is here to help through the uncertainty and times ahead. With programs and services across Missouri and Illinois, we are on the front lines to determine where resources are most needed. Our management team is closely monitoring the developments of COVID-19 in our region and across the nation to ensure the safety of our staff, volunteers and people we serve.

​Better Family Life (BFL) is helping St. Louis County residents impacted financially by the coronavirus through housing, utility and technology assistance.

At this time, we are currently at capacity, but you are welcome to click the button below to be added to our waitlist. 

Missouri Residents: For general questions about COVID-19 and Missouri's response, contact 877.889.3931 or visit health.mo.gov

Illinois residents: For general questions about COVID-19 and Illinois' response, contact 1.800.889.3931 or visit dph.illinois.gov

​We encourage you to review these recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control for reducing the risk of COVID-19 infection for ourselves and others.
(Wait List Link will be active on Friday, October 9th)

COVID-19 RESOURCES

Students
food services
Missouri​
  • Beginning Monday, March 23, Normandy will provide grab-and-go breakfasts and lunches for students. Meals will be dropped off with students/families at bus stops throughout the district beginning at 10 a.m. Meals will also be available at drive-through pick up locations at each school (except CASA) between the hours of 11 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. 
  • Saint Louis Public Schools offering free meals.  Meals will be available for carry out only Mon. - Fri. – 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Please see link for locations to pick up meals.
  • Where kids can get free meals in St. Louis, Metro East
  • ​St. Louis Area Foodbank resources for food pantries and distribution events nearby​
Illinois
​
Online programming
  • Age of Learning is providing free home access to ABCmouse, Adventure Academy, and ReadingIQ to help the tens of millions of families in the U.S. whose schools are closed due to the coronavirus. Schools and school districts facing closures can get free accounts for their students to continue learning at home during this period of school closures by visiting www.AgeofLearning.com/schools.
  • ABCmouse.com® Early Learning Academy, for preschool through 2nd grade students, is a comprehensive, research-validated, award-winning curriculum for preschool through second grade, available on all major digital platforms and used by tens of millions of children to date. Redeem code at www.ABCmouse.com/redeem.
  • Adventure Academy™, for 3rd through 8th grade students, the first-of-its-kind educational massively multiplayer online game (MMO), serves elementary- and middle-school-aged children with thousands of literacy, math, science, and social studies learning activities in a fun and safe virtual world. Redeem code at www.AdventureAcademy.com/redeem.​
  • ReadingIQ®, for preschool through 6th grade students, is an award-winning digital library and literacy platform for children 12 and under designed by reading experts to improve literacy skills, with many thousands of expert-curated books from leading publishers. Redeem code at www.ReadingIQ.com/redeem. 
​
internet services & activities
National
parents
Food services
Missouri
  • Missouri Department of Social Services
    Extend Food Stamp/SNAP certification periods by six months for those re-certifications coming due in March, April and May. This action prevents Food Stamp benefits from ending during the COVID-19 pandemic. DSS is also currently waiving all work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents through the end the federal emergency COVID-19 declaration.
    Pandemic Food Stamp/Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (P-SNAP) benefits.  This means all households currently eligible for SNAP will receive the maximum amount for the household size.  This P-SNAP benefit increase will automatically be added on the normal date the recipient receives their SNAP benefit for the month of April. P-SNAP families with children eligible for free or reduced-price lunch in all Missouri school districts that close at least five consecutive days will get a Pandemic EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) (P-EBT) card benefit for March, April and May.    ​
  • Saint Louis Public Schools offering free meals.  Meals will be available for carry out only Mon. - Fri. – 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Please see link for locations to pick up meals.
  • Where kids can get free meals in St. Louis, Metro East
  • St. Louis stores set aside hour for shoppers 60 and above and for people with compromised immune systems
  • St. Louis Area Foodbank resources for food pantries and distribution events nearby​
Illinois
  • Illinois Department of Human Services
    Extend Food Stamp/SNAP certification periods by six months for those re-certifications coming due in March, April and May. This action prevents Food Stamp benefits from ending during the COVID-19 pandemic. DSS is also currently waiving all work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents through the end the federal emergency COVID-19 declaration
    Pandemic Food Stamp/Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (P-SNAP) benefits. This means all households currently eligible for SNAP will receive the maximum amount for the household size. This P-SNAP benefit increase will automatically be added on the normal date the recipient receives their SNAP benefit for the month of April. P-SNAP families with children eligible for free or reduced-price lunch in all Illinois school districts that close at least five consecutive days will get a Pandemic EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) (P-EBT) card benefit for March, April and May.
  • East St. Louis School District – grab and go student meals on wheels
  • Where kids can get free meals in St. Louis, Metro East​
Rental & utilities assistance
Missouri
  • Ameren Missouri is suspending all disconnections for non-payment and forgiving any late payment fees for residential and business customers
  • Spire suspends disconnects and late fees until May 1 for residential and business customers
  • Missouri American Water will be placing a moratorium and discontinuing service shut-offs at this time
Illinois
  • Ameren IL is suspending all disconnections for non-payment and forgiving any late payment fees for residential and business customers
  • Illinois American Water will be placing a moratorium and discontinuing service shut-offs at this time
National
  • Charter is offering free access to internet for households with children
unemployment & small business services
Missouri Illinois National
student services

Missouri Illinois National
health & wellness services

Missouri
  • COVID-19 Testing Locations: Call the site you wish to visit before visiting the hospital or testing location to determine testing eligibility. Sites require physician orders or evaluation before testing is approved.
  • St. Louis Counseling resource on talking to your kids about the Coronavirus
  • City of St. Louis Department of Health: COVID-19 information and hotline
  • Compass Health Crisis Hotline, Mon. -Fri.: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Call 888.237.4567
    After Hours: Call 800.833.3915,

National
other services & resources
Missouri
We will update this page as more information becomes available.

At Better Family Life, the safety of our students, staff, and community is our top priority.
Thanks in advance for your continued support in this effort.
If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact us at
​(314) 367-3440 ext. 701


​Better Family Life Inc.
Youth, Family and Clinical Services
​​Copyright 2020. All Rights Reserved.
5415 Page Ave.      I        St. Louis, MO 63112
Office: 314.454.0622 Ext. 716     I     Fax:  314.932.1213