Saint Francis Community Services proudly announces the expansion of its foster care support services into Western and Central Nebraska. The community-based family services provider will open two regional offices in the state later this month -- serving Kimball and Scotts Bluff counties and surrounding communities in the western part of the state, as well as Grand Island, Kearney, North Platte, Hastings, Broken Bow, and surrounding communities in the central region. Saint Francis also added Renee Pardue and Samantha Minne to its staff as Foster Care Supervisors, who will manage the offices. Saint Francis received official licensing from Nebraska this week.

Saint Francis, which has offered foster care services – including reintegration, training, licensing, respite care, case management, and more – in Kansas and Oklahoma for nearly two decades, decided to expand into Nebraska because of the similarities it saw in rural demographics and to fill a need in the state. “We have a familiarity with rural areas that uniquely qualifies us to assume support services in Nebraska, particularly in the Western and Central parts of the state,” said Cory Rathbun, Vice President of Foster Care Reintegration at Saint Francis. “We hope with our support, we can generate much needed interest from those willing to be foster parents in these communities.”

Both Nebraska offices will accept at-risk children and youth many of whom have special and individual needs. Referrals will primarily come from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, but the Grand Island office may receive them from other agencies as well. Saint Francis Community Services will partner with the state to support families through the training and licensing process.

“We’re starting from the ground up,” Pardue said. “It’s exciting and stressful, but we have this huge opportunity to make a difference and help kids who really need it.”

“These kids are our future,” Minne added. “It’s up to us to teach them about life, morals, values and all the things that they need to be successful down the road. We need good, willing families to help break the cycle of neglect and abuse.”

Robert and JoAnn Golden, of Mitchell, Neb., were honored last year as Nebraska’s “Angels in Adoption” for their extraordinary contributions to children in need of homes. The couple plans to continue providing licensed foster care through Saint Francis. The Golden’s, who have two biological children, have fostered 20 children since 2002. They adopted seven of those children and are in the process of adopting for the eighth time. The washing machine is always humming, dozens of kicked-off shoes are piled at the door, and their grocery bill is, well, “you don’t even want to know,” JoAnn jokes. But, the chaos is rich in love and support. “I love all my children with all my being and all my heart,” she said. “I am honored to be their mom.”

Robert is an independent tool distributor while JoAnn owns and manages Golden Child Development Center in Mitchell. They encourage others to consider foster care because of the positive impact it can make in a child’s life. “Don’t be afraid,” JoAnn said. “That child who comes with special needs or problems is still just a child. A child who is scared, deeply hurt on the inside and just wants someone to care.”  

It’s hard to stop reading after just one story. Little Harligh, 12 years old, likes fishing and fixing things around the house; 2-year-old Ariauna enjoys coloring and cuddling; 14-year-old Lillian, a spelling bee whiz, is also an aspiring artist. These children and dozens more are available for adoption and are featured on Saint Francis Community Services’ new website – www.st-francis.org -- which recently debuted new navigation and features. The children’s names, photos, ages, and profiles rotate in a searchable database – giving prospective adoptive parents more information. The new website also offers more portals about foster care, adoption, residential facilities, and other services offered by Saint Francis; and, it provides private access to foster families. With a username and password, existing foster families can obtain immediate case information about a child in their care, or one who may be, including the child’s health or medical background, special needs, or medications.

Together, these new interactive web tools and others blend to provide a more efficient web experience and means of recruiting, said Mike Dobson, executive director of management information systems at Saint Francis, who oversaw development of the improved website.

“We wanted our new site to reflect our entity more accurately – as a children and community resource, faith-based organization,” Dobson said. “No other agency site is offering what we are on our site. This is cutting edge for the industry.”

The new adoption and foster care tools are already having an impact. In a matter of days after debuting the new functionality and aesthetics of www.st-francis.org, the site received twice the number of hits, an increase in phone and electronic inquiries from prospective foster care and adoptive parents, and a higher search engine rating. “It’s been really remarkable that a few new, interactive features would make such a big difference,” Dobson said.

The site also offers written and video testimonials from veteran foster families hoping to recruit new individuals. Archives of newsletters with agency news, as well as up-to-date calendar information for upcoming foster care training or other events are available as well. Individuals interested in working at Saint Francis can also find employment information. Those people who would like to make donations to the agency will also find estate planning guides and donor information.

“We wanted the site to be a resource – whether you’re looking for a job, information about foster care, or you’d like to make a donation,” Dobson said.

The website was designed and programmed by Saint Francis staffers. Visit the site at www.st-francis.org.

Kansas children in foster care are in need of safe, loving and supportive foster and adoptive families.

Saint Francis Community Services will be hosting an informational meeting for individuals interested in learning more about becoming a foster or adoptive parent.  The meeting will be held Thursday, February 23, 6:00 p.m., at the Hutchinson Library Auditorium, 901 North Main Street, Hutchinson, Kansas. 

Saint Francis Community Services will provide refreshments and answer questions about the process of becoming a foster or adoptive parent.  For more information, call 1-866-999-1599 or visit www.st-francis.org. 

Saint Francis Community Services (a provider of foster care, adoption, and family preservation services) will offer a free, 10 week course, Partnering for Safety and Permanence - Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting (PS-MAPP), for individuals interested in becoming foster parents.  The course begins March 1 and will be held every Thursday for 10 weeks from 6 to 9 p.m.  The training will be held at Saint Francis Community Services, 423 S.E. 10^th Street, Newton, Kansas. 

Individuals interested in becoming a foster parent are invited to attend the free course which is offered by Saint Francis Community Services, a community-based service provider, serving children and families since 1945.  PS-MAPP training is required by the State of Kansas for those interested in becoming foster parents.   The course provides information and skill development for prospective foster parents, helps potential foster parents gain a better understanding of the needs of children in foster care, helps families make informed decisions about fostering, and provides information on resources, parenting techniques, and support services available for individuals interested in becoming foster parents. 

To register for the free PS-MAPP foster parent training course or to learn more about becoming part of a professional team caring for Kansas children through foster care, call Saint Francis Community Services:  John Young, Foster Care Homes, 620-615-1063, or visit www.st-francis.org.  

The generosity of Great Bend businesses and organizations helped Saint Francis Community Services provide a joyous Christmas for 300 foster children and their families.

A grant from the Golden Belt Community Foundation’s Kansas Health Foundation Youth Endowment Fund provided for the rental of Camp Aldrich, food, decorations, and toys for a party.

Businesses in Great Bend sponsored toy drives and provided resources for the annual Christmas for Kids program of Saint Francis.

Coldwell Banker Sell Real Estate, Wal-Mart and Eagle Radio, all of Great Bend, hosted sites for shoppers to drop off toys. Superior Essex Corporation in Hoisington collected funds and shopped for children’s special requests for Christmas. Farmers Bank and Trust also continued their long-time support for Saint Francis and the children served by Saint Francis programs throughout Barton County.

Christmas for Kids demonstrates the impact of communities coming together to serve children and families. The variety of gifts and toys guaranteed that everyone received a gift and shared in the Christmas Spirit through the Camp Aldrich party.

Saint Francis thanks all the businesses and organizations that united the community to provide children and families a Christmas to remember. One Saint Francis worker received a call at 6 a.m. the morning following the party. The four children in the kinship foster home wanted to share their excitement about the party and the gifts they received. That call, to say thanks, is for everyone in the Great Bend area who made Christmas 2011 so special.