Social Work

The program launched by the St. Clair County Transit District is meant to relieve pressure on local police and offer better care for riders who need it.

The Social Workers for St. Louis Initiative aims to connect nonviolent people experiencing mental health crises with trained health care workers — rather than police officers.

The county's Children's Service Fund is covering most of the cost of the two-year pilot.

Gateway Pet Guardians’ new social worker will help the organization strengthen ties to existing community resources for people facing hardship.

Amy Hilgemann remembers the job she had in the early 1980s as among the most fulfilling work she ever did. At the time, she directed Crisis Intervention Services, a collaboration with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Officers were empowered to hand off certain situations to a dedicated group of six social workers, including Hilgemann, whom they could call on seven days a week. The program got some rave reviews. But when the initial funding stream ran out, it ended.

Jermar Perry and Bryant Antoine are social workers and friends. They graduated together from St. Louis University's Master of Social Work program in May…