FFSC Expands Footprint to Illinois with New East St. Louis Satellite Location
Fathers & Families Support Center (FFSC), a nationally recognized non-profit leader in Responsible Fatherhood, is proud to announce the grand opening of a new satellite location in St. Clair County, Illinois. The community celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at 10:00 AM at 8601 Washington Street, East St. Louis, IL 62201. Members of the public, community leaders, and media were invited to attend for tours, refreshments, and a celebration of a stronger community.
The new facility is located at a property owned by the Delta Epsilon Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., affectionately known as the “Champion City Alphas.” Recognizing the alignment in their community-focused missions, the Alphas meticulously renovated the historic building to rent to community-forward agencies, providing FFSC with the perfect, modern launchpad to expand its reach directly into the Metro East.
“This expansion represents a massive milestone for FFSC,” said Cheri Tillis, Chief Executive Officer of Fathers & Families Support Center. “For over two decades, we have been breaking the cycle of poverty and strengthening families from our St. Louis headquarters. Crossing the river into East St. Louis allows us to meet families where they are, dismantling geographic barriers to deliver critical services. We are incredibly grateful to the Champion City Alphas for sharing our vision and providing a space where fathers can learn, grow, and build brighter futures for their children.”
From this new location, FFSC will offer its full suite of holistic resources, guidance, and support, including:
- Job Training & Employment Placement: Preparing participants for career readiness and retention.
- Parenting and Co-Parenting Classes: Equipping parents to support their children emotionally and developmentally.
- Legal Assistance: Providing critical, high-quality family law counsel for child support modifications, legal visitation, and custody.
- Mentoring and Family Support: Delivering comprehensive, year-long support systems.
A Proven Track Record of Community Impact
The expansion brings a highly successful, evidence-based program model to St. Clair County. According to FFSC’s newly released 2025 agency outcomes:
- Stellar Return on Investment: In 2025, FFSC returned a conservative estimate of $17,898,337 to the local community on an investment of $3.6M in program expenses.
- Economic Empowerment: Agency-wide, 267 participants obtained or maintained employment , earning an average wage of $18.65 per hour (well above the Missouri minimum wage of $13.75 and beating the Illinois minimum of $15.00). This funneled over $10.3 million back into the local economy.
- Transforming Lives: 81% of program participants reported increased parenting skills , 78% reported stronger co-parenting relationship skills , and 71% reported increased interaction with their children.
- Dramatically Lowering Recidivism: FFSC’s Re-Entry Project reported a mere 7% recidivism rate among participants, compared to the Missouri state average of 35%.
“As an East St. Louis native, I know first-hand the resilience, talent, and heart that exists in this community,” said Aubrey Yates, East St. Louis FFSC Facilitator. “But I also know the systemic hurdles our fathers face. Bringing FFSC’s boots-on-the-ground resources directly to Washington Street gives us the tools to heal families from the inside out. We aren’t just teaching classes here; we are restoring hope, restoring dignity, and giving fathers the financial and emotional stability to be the parents their kids deserve.”
FFSC is a United Way Member Agency and holds full recognition from the National Council on Accreditation (COA)—a distinction shared by only 44 out of 54,000 non-profits in Missouri.
