Frequently Asked Questions

Q:  How do I turn in my petitions?
A: Petitions can be dropped off at Lutheran Family and Children’s Services (8631 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63124) from 8:30-6:00 Monday - Thursday and 8:30-4:30 on Friday. You can also mail your petitions to Putting Kids First (1860 Borman Court, St. Louis, MO 63146). Click here to download and read petition guidelines. Please note that all petitions MUST BE NOTARIZED!

Q:  Where can I find a notary?
A: Free notaries are available at Lutheran Family and Children’s Services (8631 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63124) Monday through Friday. Please call 1-800-326-LFCS to make sure one will be available for your designated time. Most banks will also notarize documents free of charge.

Q:  Can I get more petition pages and / or hand outs?
A: YES. To download the petition page please click here NOTE: Printing the petition form requires LEGAL SIZE (11x17) paper in order for it to be submitted. If you are unable to print the petitions on legal size paper or would like more hand outs or other materials, please click here to contact us via email or phone 314-749-8338.

Q:  Where can I sign the petition?
A: Petitions are available at the front desk at the following locations and times marked.

Q:  What is Putting Kids First in St. Louis County?
A: Putting Kids First in St. Louis County is a countywide initiative to develop a Community Children’s Service fund to help our children, youth and their families facing tough issues like substance abuse, child abuse and mental illness. The funds generated will be used solely for children’s services in St. Louis County.

Q:  How would the fund be financed?
A: A 1/4-cent sales tax, or 1 cent on a $4 purchase, would generate approximately $40 million annually.

Q:  What services will be covered by this fund?
A: Services are for St. Louis County Children, from 0 to 19. They include:

• Support for families in crisis
• Transitional living programs for older youth
• Temporary shelters for the abused/neglected, homeless or mentally ill
• Alcohol and drug abuse treatment
• School-based prevention programs
• Counseling and psychiatric treatment

Q:  How will the funds be disbursed?
A: The money raised by this tax would be distributed by an independent board of citizen volunteers within the community that are appointed by the County. This board would be audited each year by an independent auditor to make certain that the money is spent on effective and efficient programming, according to the needs identified within the community.

Q:  Why do we need these services?
A: Recent cuts in state and local funding for mental health and substance abuse services have left a gap in social services. While the funding has been decreasing, the need for services has not. In 2007, an independent study of the needs of children in youth in St. Louis County revealed that 12,000 kids in need of services were going without and another 150,000+ kids were not receiving school based prevention programs. The only way to guarantee a safety net for our community’s children is to pass this 1/4 cent sales tax initiative.