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Forward in Hope, Foster Care / Adoption, Ministry News

Two decades in, and this foster parent is still ‘getting through it’

November 2022 · Forward in Hope, Foster Care / Adoption, Ministry News

There’s the family you were born into and the family you choose. John Arellano, JP, has both. One of Saint Francis Ministries’ longest serving foster parents, he’s built his family by becoming family to many of the 175 boys he’s fostered since 1999. And he’s done it as a single parent, most recently by working full-time as a truant officer for the Garden City, Kansas, school district and at his local YMCA.

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Cake lady & others

July 2022 · Forward in Hope, Foster Care / Adoption

Commitment to children and families doesn’t end with the work that's detailed in a Saint Francis job description – especially for many of our employees. When you help vulnerable kids and families, your heart and mind don't turn off when you leave the office. Many of our employees use their talents to give extra, taking time out from their personal lives to make a difference for kids.

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Pinch-Me-Is-It-Really-True?

December 2021 · Foster Care / Adoption, Kansas, Ministry News

On Nov. 19, 2021, two little boys – Benjamin and Rylee – understood just a few things. One was that their last name was finally going to be just like that of the two people they have been calling Mommy and Daddy for two years. Another was that there was one heckuva celebration with a lot of happy people.

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She’s not going to let her youth in foster care define her adulthood

October 2021 · Foster Care / Adoption, Ministry News

That Sunday … well, it was both strange and chaotic. For Anika Pfannenstiel, it began with church and ended with a runaway sister and a trip to the police station. By the afternoon, officers had removed Anika and two sisters from their home as the three entered the Kansas foster care system. Monday, they went to court, where the judge awarded temporary custody to their older brother. In a matter of hours, 12-year-old Anika’s life had turned upside down.

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