“Our daughter, Claire, has struggled with her speech since she was very young. I had her screened at Walker Scottish Rite Clinic and she qualified for services. I know that we are in good hands because my little brother went through the program 22 years ago. It helped him immensely.”
As Maryville’s Walker Scottish Rite Clinic celebrates 30 years, stories like this demonstrate the multi-generational impact of the services it provides. Started in 1988 by the Scottish Rite Masons, the Clinic became a program of Maryville in 2015 and now serves more than 650 children, ages 2 to 6, annually.
Services include speech-language screenings, evaluations, individual and group therapy, audiological evaluations and parent training — all at no charge. The free services are funded by many generous supporters.
Over the years, the Clinic has expanded its reach. Through partnerships with community centers, five service areas within the region are now covered—St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Franklin County, Jefferson County and Lincoln County—to reach at-risk children in urban and rural communities. The newest Head Start partner location in the city of Ferguson, Mo., was made possible by a grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health.
In addition, the ripple effects of the Walker Clinic’s mission continue to widen through collaboration with Maryville’s Walker College of Health Professionals students. Future clinicians studying speech-language pathology and music therapy complete practicums by working with children on-campus and at outreach locations.
The hands-on learning opportunities for students ensures the Clinic’s impact continues to grow. As these students move into clinician roles after graduation, they provide early intervention to children in the St. Louis community and beyond.