Saint Francis Ministries CEO William Clark recognized the latest Employees of the Quarter during Thursday’s Town Hall Meeting: Tereasa Mansfield, Foster Care Homes Parent Navigator, and James Viele-Assman, QA Specialist.
We asked them a few questions so we can all get to know them better.
We’ll start with Tereasa:
- What’s your job title, and were you hired for that position? I am the Foster Parent Navigator. Yes, I was hired for this position.
- In which state/office do you work? I am part of the Community Engagement Team in Texas.
- When did you start at Saint Francis, and what attracted you to it? I started working for Saint Francis Ministries in August 2022. I knew several people working for the organization and was attracted to the values they portrayed. The role of Foster Parent Navigator, working alongside partners to increase capacity, was also very attractive.
- What is your favorite aspect of Saint Francis as an institution, as a culture? My favorite aspect of Saint Francis is the respect and compassion for everyone involved in foster care, whether it’s the children, their families, the foster families, or any of the people working together to make a difference. Everyone is honored as part of the social safety network around the children.
- What do you like most about your job? I love meeting people at the beginning of their journey as caregivers. As a former foster parent myself, they remind me of the excitement I felt at that stage. It’s a contagious feeling.
- What do you find most meaningful about working for SFM? I find the work of the overcomers the most meaningful. I love witnessing the celebrations and hearing the stories. Most of my work is with caregivers, so I love hearing about foster or kinship families who overcome challenges to maintain a placement. I am proud of the parents who get to bring their children home. I am equally proud of the youth who age out and find a way to succeed. All the people doing the work to overcome trauma and incredible odds are my heroes.
- What’s your favorite activity in your spare time? I love to garden and read, and to read in the garden!
And here’s James.
- What’s your job title, and were you hired for that position? Quality Assurance Coordinator
- In which state/office do you work? I work in Wichita, but also work with Arkansas, Texas, Kansas, and Indiana from home.
- When did you start at Saint Francis, and what attracted you to it? I started in 2019. I really admired the work the agency does and had three family members who worked for SFM. They only had positive things to say about the work they did.
- What is your favorite aspect of Saint Francis as an institution, as a culture? The openness in communication is my favorite aspect of the culture that has been built in recent years.
- What do you like most about your job? I really enjoy working with a bunch of people from different states and the challenges that come with it.
- What do you find most meaningful about working for SFM? Being able to support our programs so they can help keep families together in the home. They do all the hard work, and it’s awesome to see their successes.
- What’s your favorite activity in your spare time? I enjoy going to concerts and reading in my spare time.
The following comments are excerpted from their nomination forms:
- “Tereasa consistently demonstrates the mission and values of SFM through her initiative, integrity and servant leadership. In her role as Foster Parent Navigator, she consistently goes above and beyond by turning ideas into action, improving processes, strengthening partnerships and collaborating across teams to achieve meaningful results. Integrity is one of Tereasa’s greatest strengths. She is fair, transparent and thoughtful in her work with foster care providers, carefully balancing referrals while considering each agency’s unique needs and preferences. This quarter, she successfully launched the Bring Me Home rural foster care recruitment initiative. She continued to step in wherever needed, bringing creativity, professionalism, and a solutions-focused mindset to every project.”
- “James consistently demonstrates professionalism and integrity through his unwavering support of prevention programs across SFM. Known for his reliability, collaboration, and positive attitude, he transforms complex data into meaningful, user-friendly information that strengthens decision-making, improves program quality, and supports staff success. His calm, patient approach and willingness to help have earned the trust and respect of his colleagues. This quarter, James made a significant impact by developing accurate reports, creating customized tracing tools, and providing timely data analysis that enhances service delivery. Beyond his technical expertise, he fosters strong relations and consistently goes above and beyond. His dedication, attention to detail, and lasting contributions make him an exceptional employee.”
Each SFM Employee of the Quarter receives a plaque and a cash award.
