St. Louis Area First Steps

07/28/2026

Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.

Missouri First Steps is Missouri's statewide early intervention program for infants and toddlers, from birth to age 3, with developmental delays or disabilities.

At St. Louis Area First Steps, we proudly serve:

Region 1: St. Louis City and St. Charles County
Region 2: St. Louis County

Our General Information Brochure provides an overview of:

Who may be eligible for services
How the referral process works
What families can expect
How early intervention supports children in their everyday routines and natural environments

Whether you're a parent, caregiver, healthcare provider, educator, or community partner, we invite you to explore this resource and learn how Missouri First Steps helps children and families build strong foundations for lifelong success.

To learn more about eligibility or make a referral, visit:
https://dese.mo.gov/childhood/early-intervention/first-steps/parents

To make a referral or speak with our team, contact the St. Louis Area System Point of Entry (SPOE) Office at (314) 453-9203.

Please feel free to share this resource with anyone who may benefit!

06/30/2026

Check out this amazing resource in our neighborhood, that is truly changing lives, one diaper at a time! 🍼🩷
St. Louis Area Diaper Bank

Check out this link to find locations that provide diapers, training pants, and period kits throughout the community!

The St. Louis Area Diaper Bank does not distribute diapers or period products directly, but rather partner with other nonprofit organizations, healthcare providers and social service agencies throughout the region to help get families the resources they need.

06/17/2026

The Inclusion Gallery is a therapeutic indoor play space where children of all abilities can play, learn, and connect side by side.

06/17/2026

Milestones matter!🌟

Track milestones from 2 months to 5 years with CDC's easy-to-use illustrated checklists; get tips from CDC for encouraging child development; and find out what to do if there is ever a concern.

Download the "CDC's Milestone Tracker" app for free on both IOS, and Android devices in English and Spanish!

You can also access a desktop-friendly version through the attached link!

 Select the age of your child below to get started Infant(0-6 months) Baby(6-12 months) Toddler(12-30 months) 3 YearsOld 4 YearsOld 5 YearsOld

06/07/2026

Happy to support Gateway Down Syndrome Association today!!

05/22/2026

Check out one of these SEVEN inclusive and accessible playgrounds!🧩🛝

With summer just around the corner, there's no doubt that ALL will have a fun time!☀️🌈😎

Did you know that there are now seven inclusive and accessible playgrounds in the St. Charles County area? These sites offer equipment for children of all ages and abilities. There's one near you!

Jake's Field of Dreams at Heartland Park
Wentzville (100 William Dierberg Dr.)

Zachary's Playground at Hawk Ridge Park
Lake St. Louis (8392 Orf Rd.)

Civic Park Inclusive Playground
O’Fallon (Civic Park Dr. & Woodlawn Ave.)

Brendan's Playground at Westhoff Memorial Park
O'Fallon (810 Sheppard Dr.)

McAuley Playground at Hansen Park
St. Peters (1300 St. Peters Cottleville Rd.)

Kennedy's Playground
St. Peters (115 McMenamy Rd.)

Discovery Playground at Jaycee Park
St. Charles (2805 Elm St.)

05/19/2026

Mark your calendars for Sunday, June 7th! 🗓️🥳
Come and join our team and come together to support Gateway Down Syndrome Association at their Annual Step Up for Down Syndrome Awareness Walk & Festival!

Join the First Steps Team & Donate through this link: https://p2p.onecause.com/suds2026/team/firststeps

Help us reach our $1,000 team goal! Little steps still count, and we are so excited to make that first step in supporting our vital local resources such as Gateway Down Syndrome Association.

05/13/2026

Little Steps Count: Support Our First Steps Team! 💙

Our St. Louis Area First Steps team is proud to participate in Gateway DSA’s 50th Anniversary Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk on Sunday, Jun 07, 2026, at the Upper Muny Lot in Forest Park.
Kickoff is at 9:00 AM, and the awareness walk begins at 10:30 AM!
We have set a goal to raise $1,000 to help Gateway DSA reach its regional $500,000 target. Every dollar raised directly funds essential local programs such as resource packets for new families, specialized therapy, and music classes that help individuals with Down syndrome reach their full potential!

🕒 Critical Fundraising Deadline = May 16, 2026

Help our First Steps Team reach our $1,000 goal by Saturday!

Support our specific team page here: https://p2p.onecause.com/suds2026/team/firststeps

Be sure to stop by our First Steps table at the event to say hi!😊

Support First Steps/Benchmark Human Services. The Gateway Down Syndrome Association serves more than 2,200 individuals with Down syndrome and their families, through every stage of life. We envision a community where all people with Down syndrome can achieve their full potential.The support we recei...

04/05/2026

Babies remember. They just remember it differently. We remember in our brains, and they remember in their bodies.
— Meghan Schmelzer

We talk a lot about mental health these days. But we rarely talk about babies.

Mental health starts early, even before birth.

From the very beginning, babies are building their foundation. Every interaction. Every response. Every experience, good or hard, shapes their future. Learn more and get involved: https://bit.ly/40ETQdq

04/04/2026

1 in 10 children under age 5 have mental health concerns.

That means babies and toddlers in our communities are struggling before they even know how to explain it.

You don’t have to be a parent to care. Because what happens in the earliest years shapes everything that comes after. How children learn, connect, cope, grow.

Mental health starts early. And when we ignore it, the impact ripples through families, schools and communities.

Believing in babies means taking their mental health seriously from the start.

Learn more. Donate. Help build a world where every baby can thrive: https://bit.ly/4kDZZ2A