As part of Saint Francis Ministries’ ongoing commitment to improving placement stability and ending night-to-night placements, SFM has established a new position – Executive Director of Foster Care Homes. The role, which reports to Michelle Albertin, Vice President of Permanency, is designed to enhance collaboration between Foster Care Homes and Case Management Programs while leading efforts to expand bed capacity across Central and Western Kansas.
“This is a critical step toward ensuring that every child in our care has a safe and stable place to call home,” said Holly Osborne, President of Kansas. “By strengthening our foster home network and eliminating night-to-night placements, we can better support children, foster parents, and staff alike.”
The initiative also aims to alleviate strain on staff managing after-hours responsibilities, creating greater workforce stability and a more sustainable support structure for those serving on the front lines of child welfare.
“When we stabilize placements, we not only serve children better but also strengthen the dedicated teams who care for them,” Osborne added.
Osborne said that Emily Kohl will assume the new Executive Director position effective November 2. Kohl brings nearly 25 years of experience in child welfare, most recently serving as Adoption Director, where she helped advance permanency pathways for children and families. Her background also includes roles as both a Foster Care Homes worker and supervisor.
“Emily’s deep experience, compassion, and leadership make her the ideal person to guide this important work,” Osborne said. “She understands both the systemic and human sides of foster care, which is vital to creating lasting change.”
As part of the transition, Saint Francis will hire a new Director of Adoption to maintain continuity in its adoption programs. FCH recruitment will remain under Valerie Leon, Vice President of FCH, through the end of the year, with Valerie and Emily working closely to ensure a smooth and coordinated handoff.
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