The Advocacy team continues its pre-session work as legislative sessions begin across several of the states where Saint Francis Ministries operates. This work includes engaging elected officials, trade associations, and system partners to help shape policy discussions before legislation is formally introduced. Advocacy is not separate from the day-to-day work happening across programs but is meant to support it, remove barriers where possible, and make it easier for teams to do their job well in increasingly complex systems.
As we head into the session, our 2026 Advocacy Agenda is nearing completion and will guide how we engage legislation moving forward. Our focus remains centered on three core priorities:
- Prevention and Service Array: Ensuring children enter out-of-home care only when safety concerns truly require it.
- Workforce: Supporting policies that promote staff safety, retention, and professional development.
- Liability Insurance: Continues to pose a growing risk to child-serving organizations as coverage options decline and costs rise.
We are also closely monitoring state-specific developments. In Kansas, this includes juvenile justice and out-of-home capacity to ensure placement and service availability match the acuity of youth entering care.
In Texas, we continue to track changes to the T3C payment methodology and how the rollout is impacting providers and partners, in addition to monitoring SSCC readiness in several regions.
In Mississippi, we are tracking the allocation of previously appropriated funds to ensure they support the populations we serve.
As sessions approach, we will also continue tracking legislation in Nebraska, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Indiana, ensuring Saint Francis remains a strong, informed voice advocating for the quality work happening across our programs.
Matt Stephens is SFM’s Vice President of Advocacy
