Resources

How to find resources:

There are many resources available in the areas surrounding UMSL and the communities UMSL students call home. You can use the links below to search for resources on your own. Services and agencies regularly change so guides may not be entirely complete. For assistance navigating, please contact us. 

There are a variety of community resources that may be able to assist with your needs. Here are some tips to keep in mind during your search:

1. Prioritize - Make a list of your needs and seek help for the ones that are most important.
2. Search - Locate providers who offers services that fit your needs
   • Use Google!
   • Try a variety of key words – i.e. overnight childcare, St. Louis; St. Charles rental assistance; help with asthma medication
   • Set aside time & be patient – there are currently a lot of resources available to assist people, but it can take time to sift through information on websites and/or fill out applications and submit documentation. Understand this is part of the process and unavoidable. Be prepared and know it may be frustrating. 
   •  
3. Participate -  Try to provide all of the information that's being requested and follow through with the steps you need to take

When contacting agencies:

1. Be ready to provide your full name and contact information. Use the priorities you've created to give a brief account of what you need. It may be helpful to have these main points and your questions written down in front of you for your reference.
2. Have paper and pencil ready when you call. Take notes! Be sure to record the names, titles, and phone numbers of the people you speak with.
3. Keep your notes together so you can use this information when you make follow-up calls.
4. Take the time to say thank you to those who assist you along the way.

Where to look:

United Way 2-1-1 is the largest and most popular resource guide available in Missouri and Illinois. By dialing 2-1-1, you can speak with a resource specialist 24 hours a day, 7 days a week that can help you find the resources available to you. You can also chat with a representative Monday through Friday from 9AM to 5PM. United Way 2-1-1 offers their full resource guide online for you to browse and search at your convenience. 

Child Care Aware  Search for child care by zip code to make an information choice. Providers are screened by Child Care Aware to ensure quality and safety.  After using this site, if you have questions or need additional assistance, please call 1 (866) 892-3228 to speak with a Child Care Aware Resource Specialist.

Child Care Subsidy The Missouri Department of Social Services offers the Child Care Subsidy Program to help eligible families pay for child care so parents can focus on going to school, studying, or working.

• Who is eligible?
  • Low-income parents or guardians of a child under the age of 13 (or age 13 or older with a special need) who are:
  • Working
  • Attending school
  • In job training
  • Disabled
  • Homeless
  • Searching for a job
  • Being evaluated for training and/or employment
  • Receiving child welfare services from the Children’s Division 

• How can Student Advocacy & Care help?
  • Our social workers can help currently enrolled students complete and submit the Child Care Subsidy application. Once approved, we can assist students with maintaining their eligibility and completing the Child Care Schedule Verification Form. 

Mercy Healthcare also maintains a list of neighborhood ministry resources.

Medicaid and Access to Healthcare Social workers can connect you to community resources that specialize in medicaid eligibility. There has been an expansion on the eligibility requirements for Medicaid. Are you a Missouri resident and interested in applying? Apply for Medicaid. We can also help you navigate the services available to you as a student through UMSL Health Services.

We are here to help you with this process. Our team can help you identify what your needs are, assist in looking for resources to meet those needs, and problem solve any gaps. You don’t have to do this alone. Contact a Case Manager.