Mabee Foundation Challenge Grant to Help Provide St. Louis Families with Hope

FamilyForward Awarded $1.25 Million Challenge Grant for New Developmental Trauma Center Campus

The J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation of Tulsa, Oklahoma, issued a $1.25 million challenge grant to FamilyForward to expand services for children with trauma from abuse or neglect. The challenge grant is being used to renovate a new Developmental Trauma Center campus to serve the St. Louis region. Read more about the new campus here.

The Mabee Foundation grant was contingent upon FamilyForward raising $2.55 million by January 11, 2023. FamilyForward is thrilled to have achieved this thanks to the 75 donors who pledged or donated toward this goal.

“FamilyForward is recognized as the innovative, regional leader in treating developmental trauma in children and supporting families in our community,” said Chris Reid, President of the FamilyForward Board of Directors. “This new campus aligns with our strategic plan, placing us in a unique position to continue providing the leadership required to address the challenges for children who have experienced trauma and abuse at an early age.”

More than 1,750 children and family members with complex trauma were served by FamilyForward in 2021. It is estimated that by 2025, after the completion of the Developmental Trauma Center campus, FamilyForward will have the capacity to serve 3,000 area clients annually.

“Unfortunately, the need for trauma prevention and treatment services in our community is great – and growing,” said Karen Nolte, FamilyForward CEO. “The new campus will permit us to increase our capacity to serve more children and families in our community and allow us to walk with each of them on their journey of hope and healing.”

In addition to expanding the capacity to serve more clients, the Developmental Trauma Center campus will include a Training and Research Institute that will serve as a regional hub for understanding and treating childhood trauma by providing comprehensive and high-quality training opportunities for parents, professionals, educators, and others who work with children impacted by abuse, trauma, and neglect.