The Saint Francis Ministries Advocacy Team has remained busy over the last months, collaborating and building relationships with community partners and advocating for policies that positively impact child welfare. Most recently, that work has been centered in Texas and Kansas.
Saint Francis Ministries continues to actively engage in efforts to address child welfare challenges across several states,” says Vice President of Advocacy Matt Stephens. “Most recently, we participated in the Texas Child Protection Roundtable, a forum organized in September by Casey Family Programs.
The Roundtable brings together critical stakeholders in the child welfare sector to foster communication, share service updates, and explore potential legislative reforms.
In Kansas, Saint Francis provided testimony for the Kansas Joint Committee on Child Welfare System Oversight during the committee’s third-quarter meeting on September 11. The session covered various critical topics, including legal representation for children, updates from the Department for Children and Families, and the Kansas Office of the Child Advocate. The committee also heard from Therapeutic Family Foster Homes providers and case management contractors.
In all its Advocacy efforts, Saint Francis Ministries remains focused on three core areas: prevention, service access, and workforce development. The organization aims to safely reduce the number of children entering out-of-home placements by improving access to community resources, including mental health, juvenile justice, and specialized disability services.
For children already in care, Saint Francis facilitates access to essential services to ensure timely permanency. The organization also remains committed to recruiting, retaining, and enhancing the skills of the child welfare workforce while supporting initiatives that prioritize workforce safety.
Politically, Saint Francis is closely monitoring upcoming elections and coordinating meetings with potential candidates for the chair of the Kansas House Child Welfare Committee since the current chair is not seeking reelection. These efforts in the political arena underscore SFM’s commitment to advancing child welfare policy at both state and federal levels.
