Since Marygrove’s reorganization in late 1983 and its merger with Child Center on July 1, 2006, boys and girls, ages from birth to 21, have found MARYGROVE to be a place where they can live and grow. With 135 licensed beds, it is one of the largest residential facilities in the State of Missouri.
Historical Highlights
Marygrove was founded in 1849 as The House of the Good Shepherd in the City of St. Louis. The Sisters of the Good Shepherd cared for troubled and runaway adolescent girls by providing residential services and a high school education. The program moved to various locations and finally settled at Grand and Gravois. In 1969 the operation was moved to its current location in Florissant and the name was changed to Marygrove.
Child Center of Our Lady of Grace was founded in 1947 by the Daughters of Charity to provide diagnosis and treatment for children with severe behavioral problems. In 1965 Child Center began offering residential services to 24 boys ages 5 to 14 and day treatment and special education classes for 36 boys and girls.
November 1, 1983-With only 17 lay employees and 4 female clients left on campus, Catholic Charities takes over the management and administration of Marygrove with a new license for 60 beds for girls between the ages of 12 and 18.
1984-Marygrove becomes co-ed and changes licensing to include males & females, ages 6 to 17.
1986-Requests licensing to extend age limit to 19 years for males and females.
1987-Accreditation is received to serve behavior-disordered, educable mentally challenged in on-campus classrooms.
1990-Sequoia House, a psychiatric group home for young women, ages 17 to 21, is opened in partnership with Missouri Department of Mental Health.
1991-Marygrove begins offering day emergency services to boys and girls, ages 6 to 18.
1994-Overnight Emergency Program begins as a pilot endeavor.
1995-Sycamore House becomes the only registered, licensed residential therapeutic foster home in the area. National Council of Accreditation accredits Marygrove as a part of the Catholic Charities network of children’s agencies.
1996-Overnight Emergency Program expands to 7 nights a week and receives a “waiver” in licensing age to provide crisis care to children from birth to 18.
1997-Marygrove signs contract with St. Louis Community College to become partners in excellence for training in residential care, nursing, education, social work, and recreation… the first step in becoming an educational/training center.
1998-Sequoia House begins apartment services for males and females ages 17 to 21.
2000-P.A.L.S. Program is developed to provide at-risk youth with adult mentors through a community-based service. Full-time Director of Mentoring is hired.
2003-Marygrove launches Capital Campaign with $4 million goal.
2003-Kids Care Crisis Nursery program begins providing at-risk youth with a safe haven, helping to prevent or eliminate child abuse and neglect.
2003-Clinton Cottage opens. The second residential, therapeutic foster home in the area.
2005-Marygrove breaks ground for Drury House, a 12-bed transitional services facility for young males.
2006-Drury House, a 12-bed psychiatric group home for young males, opens in February.
2006-On July 1, Marygrove and Child Center of Our Lady merge. MARYGROVE is located on the former Marygrove campus in Florissant.
2007-Cedar Cottage begins converting to a 15-bed, residential treatment facility for juvenile sexual offenders. The cottage is licensed for males, ages 12 to 21.
2007-A small, two-bedroom house on campus is converted to an independent living house for two transitional living residents preparing to move off campus into an apartment in MARYGROVE’s Independent Living Apartment Program.
2008-MARYGROVE is in the final phase of renovating the lower level of Drury House, a transitional living group home for 12 young men who are learning life skills to help them eventually move off campus. The lower level of Drury House will be used for Resident Youth Advisory Board meetings, The Sharing Program, staff training and staff offices.
2009-Construction is underway in Sequoia House with the addition of new bedrooms to accommodate two more adolescent females in need of transitional and independent living services.
2010 -Converted Arbor House on campus to a transitional foster home for boys; purchased two new vans for Sycamore and Clinton foster homes; made major repairs on the cafeteria roof; replaced the patio at back of Administration Building. Marygrove’s School was recognized as a school of excellence by the National Association of Special Education Teachers.
2011 -Grewe House opens as another Transitional Living Home for older youth.
2012-Planning, demolition, and construction begins for Orchard Row in Edmundson. This will add 2 transitional living and 1 foster home into the program and services already offered at Marygrove.
