Episcopal City Mission

Episcopal City Mission provides chaplains and programs to children ages 11 through 17 in the juvenile justice system. Our chaplains offer support, healing and hope to children at the St. Louis City and County Juvenile Detention Centers and Missouri Hills (a Division of Youth Services facility.) Through the programs they offer and their caring, listening presence, ECM chaplains are in a very real sense the compassionate face of a loving God for the children in a time of life-changing crisis. Our chaplains seek to positively impact the children's perspective and understanding to bring about a hope-filled, productive future.

Ours is a ministry of presence. Our goal is to be there for the children, many of whom are suffering from trauma, grief and loss, to show them the healing presence of God's love. In a world that feels unsafe and out of control, we provide emotional safety, support and unconditional love. Our chaplains are often the first consistent adult presence in their lives. In the time they are with us, we show them that God is alive in them.

* We believe that all children deserve a second chance
* We believe in the healing promise of God's presence
* We believe in providing a safe environment, free from judgment
* We believe children aren't disposable and are worth our time and attention
* We believe the children we serve are more than the worst thing they have done
* We believe being there, providing a ministry of presence, is healing
* We believe the calming presence of our chaplains reassures the children that someone cares about their spiritual well-being