Since August 2024, Saint Francis Ministries has partnered with Texas families in McLennan and Bell Counties to offer them hope in crisis and help them create opportunities for positive change before any involvement with foster care or child protective services becomes necessary. The partnership is part of Texas Home Visiting (THV), a free, voluntary program through which early childhood and health professionals regularly visit the homes of families with at least one child five years old or younger. Texas Home Visiting grants were instituted by the state in 2012, using evidence-based home visiting models to support positive outcomes for children, increase family self-sufficiency, and create communities where children and families can thrive.
“THV is a true prevention program,” said Texas Home Visiting Program Director Katherine May. “We work with families before involvement with the foster care system and help them grow stronger so they can stay together.”
The State of Texas awarded Saint Francis Ministries the THV contract in early 2024, enabling SFM to expand its prevention services into Waco and northcentral Texas. Utilizing the Family Check-Up® therapeutic model, Saint Francis THV is voluntary and family-driven. Families who want extra support choose to participate in the program and receive help crafting parenting goals, understanding their children’s behavior, and improving well-being. THV staff work with families for three to six months or until they can operate independently.
“They can sign up themselves or be referred,” said May, “and those referrals can come from anywhere in the community – their school, doctor, library, other providers, or other THV families. We currently serve 11 families but can serve up to 36.”
THV complements Saint Francis Ministries’ array of programs and services, especially because of its focus on prevention and empowering families to address and handle challenges themselves.
“One of my favorite parts of THV is that the family drives the process,” said May. “The family decides on the goals based on the support they want. Eligibility requirements are also fairly open. They need one child aged 0-5 and must live in McLennan or Bell County.”
Based in Waco, the Saint Francis THV team consists of May and three Family Intervention Specialists serving both English and Spanish speakers.
Learn more about SFM’s work in central Texas at https://saintfrancisministries.org/texas/family-check-up/.
