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Trapped Behind the Scam
World Day Against Trafficking in Persons falls on July 30. This year’s United Nations campaign, “Trapped Behind the Scam,” addresses

Trapped Behind the Scam
World Day Against Trafficking in Persons falls on July 30. This year’s United Nations campaign, “Trapped Behind the Scam,” addresses

Listening Is an Act of Hospitality
Earlier this week, Tuesday to be exact, the world observed World Listening Day, established in 2010 to celebrate listening. Why, you might ask, does this

The Results Are In – FCT Works
No one wants to see a child removed from home and placed into foster care. In fact, foster care should always be considered a last

Rathbun Retires After 45 Years With Saint Francis Ministries
Saint Francis Ministries announces the retirement of Cheryl Rathbun after 45 years of faithful and dedicated service to Saint Francis and to the children and

Strong Families Are Powered by Love
Saint Francis Ministries believes – actually, we know – that strong families make children’s lives better … because the fundamental feature of a strong family

Here’s Your Pre-holiday Safety Check
It’s that time of year again when dangers abound – if we fail to remain alert and attentive, especially with kids around. Although the July

Saint Francis Kansas Foster Family of the Year: Emily and Shawn Mason
Emily and Shawn Mason believe in second chances, so much so that building strong relationships with birth parents virtually defines the way they foster parent.

June is National Family Reunification Month
Foster care is fundamentally a temporary solution to a crisis situation. The goal of all foster care placement is the child’s eventual safe return home.

Like Mothers, Fathers Play an Essential Role in Their Kids’ Lives
“Fathering is not something perfect men do, but something that perfects the man. The end product of child raising is not the child, but the

Saint Francis Ministries welcomes new Executive Officer for Mission & Ministry
Salina, Kansas – June 2, 2023 – Saint Francis Ministries is delighted to welcome Reverend Andrew T. O’Connor as our new Executive Officer for Mission

National Safety Month – Be Prepared
Each month, we bring a focus on a different topic as a nation, and June brings National Safety Awareness Month. The National Safety Council (NSC)

Memorial Day – summer fun and somber remembrance
The traditional kick-off to summer, Memorial Day weekend brings to mind outdoor family fun – grilling, swimming, camping, boating – you get the picture. And

Summer brings both busy streets and quiet spaces
Wherever you live, odds are kids are getting out of school for the summer this week or within the next couple. That means, there will

Saint Francis Ministries names new Chief Clinical Officer
Saint Francis Ministries announced today that Amanda Pfannenstiel has been named the child and family services organization’s new Chief Clinical Officer. With 19 years’ experience

Mental Health Awareness is essential to our work
Mental Health Awareness Month takes place every May, and it’s one of those monthly observances that means a lot to Saint Francis Ministries. Just a

Is there room in your home this National Foster Care Month?
One of Saint Francis Ministries largest programs is foster care. Last year, we served about 4,200 children and teens in foster and kinship care in

May: Trauma Awareness & Mental Health Awareness Month
Monday marks the beginning of both Trauma and Mental Health Awareness Month, so this week we explore how trauma and mental illness correlate with each

Foster care and faith, like peas and carrots
Among the many programs and services Saint Francis Ministries provides, three of our most prominent are foster and kinship care and adoption. This means we must

Help Strengthen Families and Prevent Child Abuse
Salina, Kansas – April 17, 2023 – April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and many Saint Francis staff is wearing blue on Fridays to

Child maltreatment is a complicated social issue
In 1974 the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) was enacted as a federal measure to address the overwhelming number of children entering the

Is There Room in Your Pew?
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2nd Corinthians 5:17 It seems

Saint Francis Ministries finalizes sale of historic former headquarters
Salina, Kansas – March 30, 2023 – Saint Francis Ministries finalized the sale of its Elm Street offices last week, bringing to a close an

Grateful to finally be home
A few months ago, I arrived at Saint Francis from “Corporate America,” having worked in the private sector in everything from small local companies to

We need you. They need you.
“Social worker …. Only because full-time, multi-tasking ninja is not actually a job title.” Most of us at Saint Francis can relate. After all, it’s

Our own Madness event is just three days away
College basketball’s annual March tournament has begun, and hopefully you’re brackets haven’t broken your heart yet. That said, we also hope you’ll take a day

Social Workers still breaking barriers on behalf of others
At Saint Francis Ministries, we have lots of respect for social workers. Because they form the front line in our service to children and families,

“Success is not defined by the system; it’s defined by yourself” (Part II)
As a former child in foster care, Kansas law provided for a college tuition waiver, and she took advantage of the opportunity if offered. She

“Success is not defined by the system; it’s defined by yourself” (Part I)
Every Tuesday, Alexandria Ware meets with a group of young people of color transitioning out of the foster care system. Together, they participate in group

Every March we celebrate a different kind of madness
Every March, we get a bit excited here at Saint Francis Ministries. And while, many of us are indeed basketball fans, our anticipation has to

Is There Room in your Heart … to be a partner?
Created in 2016, the Saint Francis Foundation serves as the philanthropic arm of Saint Francis Ministries, which means the fine folks working at the Foundation

A Trap of Our Own Making
For most of us, Valentine’s Day inspires thoughts of romantic love. Unfortunately, it can also provide powerful triggers for persons dealing with trauma. Our guest