In this Good Day Kansas segment, Ginny Ellis, Executive Director of Development at Saint Francis Ministries, shares an exciting initiative focused on creating meaningful healing spaces for youth in residential care.
Saint Francis Ministries is currently raising funds for a major outdoor playscape project at its Salina West residential treatment facility. The vision includes new playgrounds, a turf field, pickleball courts, and thoughtfully designed outdoor spaces created specifically to meet the developmental, sensory, and therapeutic needs of the youth served there.
As Ginny explains, play is far more than recreation—it is an essential part of healing. Working closely with the clinical support team, Saint Francis Ministries is designing spaces that not only provide fun and physical activity, but also support emotional growth, safety, and recovery for children who have experienced trauma.
The project also includes enhanced visitation spaces, recognizing the importance of helping children maintain family connections while receiving care.
Although located in Salina, the residential facility serves youth from across Kansas. Over the past five years, children from more than 80 counties have received care there, making this project an investment in healing for families throughout the state.
By supporting the Salina West outdoor playscape project, donors have the opportunity to help create spaces where childhood can be rediscovered, healing can happen, and hope can grow.
