News, Press & Awards

FFSC's Director of Outreach, Mr. Charles Barnes, has been honored with St. Louis Magazine's Shaping the Region Award! 🏆

For those who might not know, the Shaping the Region Award is a special recognition within St. Louis Magazine’s A-List Editors’ Choice Awards. It highlights the dedicated leaders, connectors, and innovators who are actively transforming and elevating the St. Louis area for the better. 🌆✨

Mr. Barnes is being recognized for his unparalleled excellence in serving our community and the profound impact he makes on families through FFSC's Re-Entry Project. His relentless dedication to helping men and fathers successfully transition from state, federal, and local prisons back into society—guiding them toward self-sufficiency and reconnecting them with their loved ones—is truly life-changing work. 🤝💪

Leaving prison and rebuilding a life is incredibly hard, but through his mentorship, unflinching respect, and guidance, Mr. Barnes proves every day that it can be done.

We're so proud of you, Mr. Barnes! Thank you for everything you do for our fathers and our region. 💙👏

Check it out HERE!

Big news! We are thrilled to celebrate FFSC's Family Therapist, Dr. Eddie McCaskill, for receiving the 2026 Excellence in Mental Health Award. 🧠💙 This award celebrates and recognizes unsung mental health professionals who have helped reduce the stigma of mental health in the African American/Black community in the St. Louis region. The St. Louis County Children’s Service Fund presents two Excellence in Mental Health Awards: the Excellence in the Field of Mental Health Award and the Community Mental Health Provider Award.

From his groundbreaking workshops on childhood adversity to his daily work right here at FFSC, Dr. McCaskill is a national voice in trauma recovery. He doesn't just provide therapy; he provides a roadmap for fathers to reclaim their lives and reconnect with their families.

Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/3f3thaws

This award belongs to our dedicated staff, our amazing partners, and—most importantly—the fathers and families who are changing their legacies every day.

We’re bursting with pride! 🤩 Friend, mentor, community leader—congrats to our very own Reginald Slaughter, who was honored at the NCNW Gateway Metropolitan Section Annual Hidden Treasures – Anchors in the Community Awards Ceremony & Brunch last Saturday, October 4th! 🎉
This is a HUGE deal. Reginald’s story is the heart and soul ❤️ of what FFSC does for dads and moms. He was one of the first fathers to graduate from our 6-week Family Formation program. He didn't stop there! He returned just a year later to work for us and has been an incredible force 💪 for over two decades!
Now, as our Community Outreach Coordinator, he uses his experience to inspire and guide others, proving that a different path is always possible. Our CEO, Cheri Tillis, said it best: "He came to us seeking a better path, and now he is a guiding force, helping others find their own." 🧭
Please join us in celebrating Reginald and his incredible, lasting impact on the St. Louis community! 🥳

📺 Watch the KSDK-5 segment, "Once a problem, reformed prisoner hopes to be part of the solution", featuring Reginald! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ddgd0QdmNf8

Congratulations to CEO, Cheri Tillis, who was selected as one of the top 100 women to receive the 2023 Black Girls Who Rock St. Louis Award and Golden Ticket! As a precursor to the special event, golden tickets were hand-delivered to awardees for the upcoming ceremony in December. Watch Cheri receive the Golden Ticket on video!

Black Girls Who Rock St. Louis Awards Celebration honors outstanding women in the St. Louis Metropolitan area who have made a significant contribution to her community or in her field of endeavor. One hundred trailblazing women will be selected to receive the 2023 Black Girls Who Rock Award.

The awards ceremony was held Sunday, December 10th from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Plaza Motors Mercedes and hosted by The R. Whittington Foundation National Council of Negro Women Inc., St. Louis Section and Divine Daughters. This was the first event of its kind to be hosted in the St. Louis area. The grand celebration brought women from all walks of life together in the name of love, peace, and joy … just in time for the holidays.