Today, Saint Francis Ministries celebrates the beginning of our second 80 years of helping children and families heal and overcome challenges to their wholeness and happiness.
You probably know the story. We talk about it often, not because we like to toot our own horn, but because it reminds us of our roots and our continuing commitment to Fr. Bob’s vision. Fr. Bob’s story helps us remember why we do what we do today.
You may recall that Saint Francis began with just 12 boys and one determined Episcopal priest. In 1945, the Rev. Robert Mize Jr. opened Saint Francis Boys’ Home in Ellsworth, Kansas, offering a second chance to adolescent boys who might otherwise have disappeared into the juvenile justice system. What started as a small home on the Kansas prairie has grown into a multi-faceted child, family, and adult services ministry spanning six states – Arkansas, Kansas, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas.
That growth is the real story worth celebrating. Saint Francis Ministries now provides foster care, therapeutic foster care, adoption services, family preservation and in-home support, residential care, behavioral health services, and community outreach to thousands of children and families each year.
Though our services have grown, our mission remains the same – to provide healing and hope to children and families. Fr. Bob’s original vision, that every young person deserves the chance to reclaim their life and their future, still guides our work today, even as the tools and programs supporting that vision have grown far more sophisticated. This year’s events like “Safe at Home,” tied to our 80th anniversary celebration, reflect our continued commitment to giving back to the communities this ministry serves.
A defining element of Saint Francis Ministries is our ‘Therapy in Christ’ approach, deeply rooted in the teachings of Saint Francis of Assisi. This holistic method emphasizes the dignity and worth of every individual and champions unconditional love, forgiveness as a transformative power, and the importance of God’s presence in daily life. Combined with a comprehensive range of care programs, Saint Francis Ministries offers an unparalleled framework for healing.
As Saint Francis Ministries looks toward our next chapter, with a strategic plan extending through 2031, we continue to rely upon the same foundation that carried SFM from a home for a dozen boys to a regional leader in child and family welfare.
