Nearly 1 in 5 women in the United States have experienced rape or attempted rape some time in their lives, and 1 in 67 American men have experienced the same. According to the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN), every 68 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted.
Perhaps author Clara Ortega describes the relationship between siblings best: “To the outside world, we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were, we know each other’s hearts, we share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys.”
Saint Francis Ministries children in foster care in Kansas and Nebraska will soon receive duffle bags, teddy bears, and bibles to call their own, thanks to a generous contribution by Focus on the Family’s “Wait No More” program. The Colorado Springs-based ministry recently shipped 2,000 duffel bags and teddy bears and 2,000 bibles to Saint Francis Ministries’ Otis Avenue campus in Salina, Kansas, from where they will be disbursed to youth in foster care in Omaha and Grand Island, Nebraska, along with SFM locations throughout Kansas.
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, which makes blue the color of the day … and the month. Saint Francis Ministries is kicking off this annual opportunity to raise awareness about child abuse prevention by wearing blue on April 5, and on other Fridays throughout the month.
As every child knows with absolute certainty, Christmas is always celebrated on December 25th. There is no need to consult the lunar calendar, no complex formula whose intricacies must be worked out. You don’t need to know a thing about the Golden Number or the Sunday Letter to figure out when Christmas occurs. Christmas Day is December 25th and December 25th is Christmas Day. Simple.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are about 9.8 million single parents households in the United States. Most of these have single mothers, but single dads account for nearly one-third. Yet single mothers and fathers both play a vital role in the lives of their kids.
March has been deemed Social Work Appreciation Month, an opportunity that allows us time to pause and honor the efforts of professional social workers who have dedicated their career to serving vulnerable populations. Social workers serve in multiple sectors including hospitals and healthcare settings, schools, community mental health centers, etc. Today I would like to highlight the work of social workers in the child welfare system.
In a world where adversity often sets the boundaries of our potential, John McDowell’s story serves as a beacon of hope and resilience. Saint Francis Ministries’ Chief Information Office grew up in a challenging environment, yet he found strength through key moments and people in his life.
Yes, a full year has passed, and here at Saint Francis Ministries, we’re gearing up for the 13th Match Madness event in Salina, Kansas, on March 21. Sponsored by the Greater Salina Community Foundation (GSCF), Match Madness generates gifts to endowment funds for local charities for long-term support. Saint Francis Ministries has participated for the last several years, using the funds to support essential programs.
As February winds down – the season of Valentines and the American Heart Month – it might be worthwhile to open our hearts to those outside our social circle of family and friends. Specifically, we’re talking about the children and families we serve.
