Hi Lites 1 EUSSI • 1 EMULOV
EQUINE THERAPY
SEIRTSINIM SICNARF TNIAS • 1202 GNIRPS
STORIES OF HEALING & HOPE
HEALING THROUGH HORSES
75
How the Saint from Assisi helped a horsewoman find her dream job.
YEARS A REVITALIZED MINISTRY CHARTS A NEW WAY FORWARD
FOR KIDS & COUNTRY SOCIAL WORKER PULLS DOUBLE-DUTY DURING PANDEMIC
CONTENTS 01
Christmas for Kids
www.SaintFrancisMinistries.org
03
Art Therapy
William J. Clark
05
Foundation & Grant Team
07
Texas Donor
09
I Am Saint Francis
19
Fatherhood FIRE
23
Trauma Treatment Evolves
29
New Chief Financial Officer
Contributing Writers
31
Coming Through The Storm
FOUNDATION TEAM
33
New Corporate Home
35
Did You Know?
38
President's Message
SAINT FRANCIS MINISTRIES 110 W. Otis Ave., Salina, KS 67401 785-825-0541
Interim President & CEO
EDITORIAL BOARD Morgan Rothenberger Editor-in-Chief
Shane Schneider Associate Editor
Jackie Hynes Graphic Designer
Beth Cormack Marketing Assistant
Pamela Cornwell Cheryl Rathbun
Deanna Knapp Interim Director
Lauren Dalhaus Grant Developer
Tiffany Lamb Associate Director of Development
Cher Richards Associate Director of Development/Donor Relations
STORY IDEAS hilites.ezine@st-francis.org
FOLLOW US
VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 1
Thank You to Our Donors When Words Are Not Enough Relationships & Core Services Creates Haven for Texas Youth Making a Difference Expansion of Services The Long-Term Effects Lora Winchell
COVID-19: Universal Pandemic Saint Francis Settles at Otis Ave. Child Welfare & Turnover The Power of You
ON THE COVER
11 15 25
75 Years
Charting A Way Forward
Equine Therapy
Healing Through Horses
Kids and Country
Social Worker Pulls Double-Duty
www.SaintFrancisMinistries.org
SPRING 2021
Editor's Note Welcome to the first electronic Hi-Lites publication! Hi-Lites has been around for years as a quarterly printed magazine, but to save dollars and to be good stewards of Earth's resources, we've gone online. We're excited by the opportunity to share stories about child welfare, needed systemic changes, difficulties and successes, and, most importantly, the people who make a difference. Those people come from throughout our communities, from within our organization, from other providers and stakeholders - literally from everywhere. People laid the first foundational "stones" of Saint Francis 75 years ago, and today they shape us, change us, challenge us, cry and laugh with us – and they are why we are here. You are our people, and we appreciate this chance to talk with you and to learn from you. Please feel free to reach out with story ideas, questions, and insight (hilites.ezine@st-francis.org). We are always learning! We're glad you're here!
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
A provoking thought
Sometimes you gotta
create what you want to be a part of.
~ Geri Weitzman
Christmas for Kids makes wishes come true Thanks to the generous support of business sponsors, churches, and individuals, Saint Francis Ministries’ annual Christmas for Kids money and toy drive once again fulfilled holiday wishes for thousands of children and families in our care. In 2020, the program raised $51,000 in cash and $91,000 in gifts-in-kind – enough to
By surprising them with a gift on Christmas, we remind them that they are loved and valued. If you supported Christmas for Kids with either cash or a present, you made the holiday extra special for a child in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Nebraska, or Arkansas. Thank you for making this program so meaningful for children
provide presents for more than 1,000 children in our care.
and for helping make this world a gentler place.
Although not a large program, Christmas for Kids has a big impact. Many of the children we serve come from low-income and at-risk homes – and some of those children have never celebrated Christmas or received presents of their own under the tree.
1
Salina, KS Cheryl Rathbun and Bill Clark pose with their favorite Elf at the Great Plains Manufacturing toy drive.
Thanks to our donors! SLEIGH | $500 - $999
REINDEER | $250 - $499
Bennington State Bank
Auto Mart
Kid to Kid
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Central Care Cancer Center
Koehn Law Firm
Boot Hill Casino & Resort
Concordia Lutheran Church Foundation
Mowery Clinic, L.L.C.
Frank's Plumbing
CYO - Catholic Youth Organization
Rotary Club of West Sedgwick County
Elliot Law Office, PA
Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia
Madison Avenue United Methodist Church My Lawn
Ellis County Bar
New Gottland Lutheran Church - WELCA
Emprise Bank
Orchard Community Church
Heartland Credit Union
Vintage Faith Church
G & G Inc.
Millwood Realty
Uptown Cheapskate Watson Electric, Inc
Kansas Department for Children & Families
ELF | $100 - $249 Allen & McDowell Law, LLC Ames Law, PA Bamford Fire Sprinkler Co., Inc. Beta Sigma Phi Preceptor Pi Boxum & Associates Insurance Agency Emprise Bank Five Below, Inc.
Land Title Services, Inc. Lifetime Dental Care Mike Berkley Family Foundation Moore Development Corp. Roofing Services Unlimited
United Steel Workers Local 12788 - Dist. 11
Ross Stores, Inc.
Waddles Heating & Cooling, Inc.
Friends Church
Saint Jude's Episcopal Church
Klaus Masonry, LLC
St. Augustine's Episcopal Church St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Royal Neighbors of America
Junction City Breakfast Optimist
Smoky Hill Construction
Phil's Karts
Foot Locker, Inc. Frisbie Construction Co., Inc.
Seward County Farm Bureau
Salina Interparochial Credit Union
Warren Davidson Trucking, LLC CONTINUED ON PAGE 39
Salina Scales Sales & Service, Inc. www.SaintFrancisMinistries.org
2
Art Therapy When Words Are Not Enough
Miss Erika, I give you consent to tell everyone that I started bawling during art therapy because I want them to know how it made me feel that I was able to be honest with my emotions. This young man, a resident at the Saint Francis Ministries Qualified Residential Treatment Program, or QRTP, in Salina, also gave permission to his art therapist Erika Poling to share his artwork. It’s a gift
with his mother, and the anger that consumes him, shown in a drawing of himself with red eyes. Importantly, it also laid out the coping skills he has been learning to manage that anger. At the top, he
Poling takes seriously because in art therapy, the art created holds the
wrote that he doesn’t want his sister to witness the fighting.
sanctity of a diary entry. She shares nothing without express permission.
meet. The teacher might say we’re all going to learn perspective drawing, for instance,” she said. “In art therapy, we’re not looking at that at all. We’re not trying to meet a particular end goal for everyone. It’s more about the process, not the product.” In her role as art therapist at Salina West, Poling helps the youth there work through their feelings using art tools. Many of them have been through
Art therapy, Poling explained, is completely different from an art class.
This boy’s artwork laid out his feelings about fighting
“There’s an end goal in art class that you’re trying to
3
ERIKA POLING Art Therapist
traumas that most people can’t understand.
Art therapy works with all ages, she said, and can be a
“Our goal is to say ‘what is it
beautiful tool to help address emotions. It’s not
inside of you that needs to express it that way,’” Poling said. “We’re really aimed at the therapy goals underneath the process.” One of the benefits of art therapy is that it builds insight, she added. “A lot of times someone might put something down on paper and it’s the art therapist’s job to say, ‘Hey, do you know that when you draw about your depression you actually stop breathing or you actually start to shake your fists a little bit? So what’s happening in your body?’”
always straightforward. “They might use metaphors to share what’s going on,” Poling said. “If there’s a bear in hibernation in the cave, then we can talk about the bear so that we don’t have to talk about them and still also work through their feelings. Like why does the bear go into hibernation, how long does he stay there, what does it take for him to come out? It’s a safe way to explore different feelings.”
As an art therapist, Poling works with youth, ages 6 to 18, who come to the
For Poling, art therapy is her calling, and she is honored to work with children and families as they pick up paintbrushes or pencils or sit in front of a sewing machine.
residential treatment facility, and also sometimes incorporates families into the program.
“It’s just this raw way for people to get their heart and their soul visually out,
Watch Erika talk about Art Therapy In Action
so that someone can meet them where they’re at, and we can validate them and effect change,” she said. “It’s very powerful.”
www.SaintFrancisMinistries.org
TANGIBLE EMOTIONS A 16-year-old girl at Salina West had been through a tremendous amount of trauma, said art therapist Erika Poling. She was separated from her entire family, including her siblings. “She said one metaphor that really stuck to her was she felt like she was a hero, like a soldier who had just gone through so many battles,” Poling said. “We decided to make a comfort object, which is a stuffed animal or pillow that you see many of the kids carry on campus here. She made hers to look like an American flag and an image of herself on the front to look like a soldier who has overcome so much.” Along with the images, the girl wrote notes to family members to put inside and also put in essential oils. “It was a private diary to help her feel proud of herself and just comforted from all the losses that she had,” Poling said.
4
Foundation & Grant Team FOCUSES ON RELATIONSHIPS & CORE SERVICES
hen it comes to grant writing and grant development, few can approach the level of expertise Deanna Knapp brings to the table. With years of experience in the field writing for nonprofits, businesses, universities, government agencies, and foundations, she
W
virtually created Saint Francis Ministries’ grant department.
Since coming here in 2016 to serve as senior grant
Saint Francis' programs and services. It makes sense that Interim President and CEO and Chief Development Officer William Clark would ask Knapp to serve as interim director of the Saint Francis Foundation as the nonprofit ministry works to renew and
Our role within the Foundation is to help those who care about these vulnerable children, adults, and families discover ways to directly and positively impact their lives.
refocus its fundraising and development efforts for 2021. “There are so many vulnerable children and
development advisor, Knapp and her team successfully acquired hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants to help support a wide range of 5
adults out there who desperately need a place where they are the focus, where people deeply care about them and are willing to make sacrifices to assure
Lauren Dalhaus Grant
Developer
Tiffany Lamb Associate of
Deanna Knapp Interim
Director
Development
Cher Richards
Director,
Associate
Foundation
Director
Development
/
of
Donor
Relations
their safety, care, and healing,” said Knapp. “Our role within the Foundation is to help those who care about these vulnerable children, adults, and families discover ways to directly and positively impact their lives.”
The departure late last year of two members of the executive team in the wake of mismanagement allegations didn’t help either. Now that Saint Francis has successfully navigated the crisis and charted a renewed vision
and residential services. These services cover foster care, psychiatric residential treatment facility at Salina West, IDD services, and family-centered therapy and other programs designed to keep children from entering foster care in
She has a formidable task. Last year’s COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent
for its future, it’s up to Knapp and her team to develop relationships to ensure that vision remains
the first place. These core services refocus development efforts on programs that lie at the
pandemic drastically changed the ways development professionals
viable for a long time.
heart of the Saint Francis mission – to provide healing and hope to children and
do fundraising. Social distancing and quarantine requirements severely limited their ability to build relationships with donors.
working with leadership to identify 2021 goals and priorities that support SFM’s three core services of prevention, out-of-home,
The Foundation is currently
www.SaintFrancisMinistries.org
families. Working with Knapp in this essential task is her
continued on page 37 6
D nor
Creates Haven for Texas Youth
S
aint
organizations and met
Francis
with him, sharing stories
Ministries’ donors don’t come in one size,
shape or color. They aren’t all former foster children and many have never had any connection with the
of the challenges young people face when they enter foster care and how useful overnight bags, which contain things like hygiene products, books and blankets, can be.
child welfare system. They aren’t one religion, or one profession, and they
“Our case management supervisor told a
certainly don’t all agree on politics.
story about the girl we had in our office the day before and needing specialized
Instead, they gather together in support
hair care products, as she was African-
of Saint Francis because they are people
American, and that those products were
who recognize the needs of the
expensive,” said Erin Baxter, community
vulnerable and know they can make a
engagement advisor. “Then, the director
difference in small and large ways.
of CASA told another story about a teen who wanted Nikes to fit in. In essence, the
Recently, a donor who prefers to remain
group explained how helpful overnight
anonymous reached out to our Texas
bags are – but they don’t always have
team and asked to meet to learn about
everything we actually need for the kids
the needs of foster children. We pulled
our care.”
together some of our partner 7
The donor listened and then donated
to donors who help us build hay barns
$25,000 to the three organizations at the
and new programs – is that every piece
table. He added $15,000 to help Saint
matters.
Francis furnish rooms in the building where children and teens wait before they
We could not successfully bring healing
are moved to a new
and hope to children and families without
placement. The rooms
the support of
have been rather bare, and Saint Francis had recently made an Amazon wish list for games and bean bags and other things to make the room
community –
“This gentleman’s heart was moved by the needs and the real stories of youth in our care”
more inviting for kids.
through prayers, gifts, in-kind donations, advocacy, and, of course, becoming foster and adoptive parents.
“This gentleman’s heart was moved by the needs and the real stories of youth in our care,” Baxter said. “We’re so grateful for his support and his heart for children, just as we’re grateful for the many community members who have been buying the items off of our wish list. It’s not just about transforming rooms but about showing the kids in our care that they’re worthwhile and deserve nice things.” The lesson we are taught continually at Saint Francis Ministries – from the donor in Nebraska who sewed and gave hundreds of masks to employees to
Want to help? If you’re interested in supporting Saint Francis Ministries’ programs, please click here or call 800-423-1342 ext.1912.
individual donors who give $5 a month
www.SaintFrancisMinistries.org
8
Healing & Hope
I am Saint Francis “I AM SAINT FRANCIS”
they do it. How does it fulfill them and
No doubt about it, 2020 was a difficult year – for many reasons. Along with the rest of the nation, the employees of Saint Francis Ministries struggled to cope with political and social uncertainty as well as an unprecedented pandemic of global proportions. Then, during the waning months, Saint Francis was confronted with a leadership crisis.
make them better people? Why do they feel impelled to give so much of themselves to help children and families, to provide healing and hope in this troubled world? And now, we’re sharing those stories with you.
OUR HOPE. Yet, these challenges do not define us. Saint Francis has faithfully served children and families for 75 years. We have a long history of honorable and dedicated service to those most in need of our help. And, throughout the years, this work has been achieved through the compassionate, professional efforts of our people – social workers, family and kinship support workers, therapists, drivers, and administrative staff. Everything we strive to accomplish as a ministry depends upon them, along with our donors, stakeholders, and friends. That’s why we initiated a conversation. We asked our employees about their work – what it means to them and why
9
Our hope is that this conversation will illuminate the difficult yet rewarding work that engages and challenges Saint Francis frontline workers daily. We hope to learn why child welfare work is such a meaningful vocation for those who choose it as a career. And finally, we hope to shed some light on what it means to say, “I am Saint Francis.”
Kathy Carter
Education Coordinator
Liza Schneider Kinship Support Worker
"I wish that people knew there are a lot of hardworking people behind the scenes. Behind the name is not only what they see and what they hear, but there are a lot of us that are really fighting for our families and for our families to have justice."
Josh Trost
Independent Living Case Manager
Making a difference everyday www.SaintFrancisMinistries.org
10
Way F rward I
f you’re around Saint Francis Ministries Interim CEO William Clark very often, you’re going to hear the word integrity. For Clark, the concept of integrity is simple: Do the right thing at the right time for the right reason, even when no one is watching.
Clark stepped in to lead Saint Francis in late October 2021 when allegations of financial mismanagement were made against the organization’s top leaders through a whistleblower report to the Board of Directors. An independent investigation substantiated the allegations, and Clark
immediately gathered a leadership team to stabilize and guide Saint Francis Ministries. “Financially, Saint Francis was in a difficult position, and the team needed to take immediate action,” Clark said. “Since October, Saint Francis and the employees who work here
SERVICE PILLARS & STR ST PREVENTION OUT-OF-HOME RESIDENTIALS 11
have faced numerous challenges. I appreciate the
The organization’s leaders have worked closely with
1,600 employees who have partnered with us to build a
state partners to ensure productive relationships and To build a
sustainable, solid way forward and who remain committed to the mission of our organization – bringing healing and hope to children and families. Together, we have worked to determine the best ways to support our mission.”
strategies to continue their work in each state are in place. Currently, Saint Francis offers a wide spectrum of services from family preservation to foster care to residential care for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, in Arkansas, Kansas,
In the nearly six months since, Saint Francis has stabilized its financial situation, all the while maintaining the strong work the organization does to care for those we serve.
RATEGY
PHASE I
Nebraska, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas.
strategic plan, CONTINUED >
Moving forward with a strategic and well-thought-out plan is important to our success.
STABILIZATION FY21 - FY22 | NOV '20 - JUN '22
PHASE II INTERNAL INVESTMENT FY23 - FY24 | JULY '22 - JUN '24
PHASE III MODERATED GROWTH FY25 - FY26 | JULY '24 - JUN '26
www.SaintFrancisMinistries.org
12
Saint Francis leaders focused on protecting the
management of state contracts
technology system and strategic plan
three core service pillars of the organization’s work:
Changing internal financial processes to
development. In FY 2023, the focus will turn toward
Prevention, Out-of-Home, and Residential.
enhance oversight and security Strengthening governance for the Board of Directors
internal investment, such as buying new computers and other needed items. The next year, Saint Francis will look toward moderated growth.
Difficult decisions came as leadership made tough
Saint Francis is not defined by what has happened in the last six months. It is defined by the caring, principled individuals who spend their time and their hearts in service. choices, including the closure of International Ministries and Migration Ministries work. While the challenges facing the organization are not over, Clark said Saint Francis is stabilizing and has addressed the most urgent concerns. In addition, multiple processes and procedures have been put into place, including:
Establishing an open and transparent communication process with employees Close collaboration with partners to communicate and problem-solve challenges The organization’s focus throughout fiscal years 2021 and 2022 will be on continuing the stabilization process, Clark said, which includes addressing
Restructure of the
employee engagement,
leadership team to better support
updating the information
13
“Moving forward with a strategic and well-thoughtout plan is important to our success,” Clark said. “The leadership team does not work alone in determining direction. We are seeking employee input in a variety of ways, and we will communicate with our many stakeholders as well. In social services, it is often said that one organization cannot make a difference without the support of the community that surrounds it. We know that to be true.” Even with the challenges, the last six months at Saint Francis have reinforced the commitment of the organization’s staff to the work they do. “It is often through trials and difficulties that we see the best of people,
and I am grateful to say that this has been the case at Saint Francis,” said Greg Meissen, chairman of the Board of Directors. “Through uncertainty created by the pandemic, leadership changes, and financial difficulties, the organization has continued to faithfully serve clients. “That is the Saint Francis Ministries I’ve been connected with for more than three decades,” he added. “Saint Francis is not defined by what has happened in the last six months. It is defined by the caring, principled individuals who spend their time and their hearts in service. Today, we remain focused on the work of our roots that were planted 75 years ago, and we are always looking forward to how we can better serve
New Leadership William J. Clark
Trish Bryant
Interim President and CEO
Vice President, Residentials
Matt Stephens
Cristian Garcia
Vice President of Programs, North
Cheryl Rathbun
Chief Clinical Officer
Tracy Hervey
Vice President, Human Resources
Holly Dean-Osborne
Director of Corporate Risk Management
vulnerable and at-risk children and families.”
Vice President of Programs, South
Lora Winchell
Chief Financial Officer
John McDowell
Vice President, Information Systems
Raymond Nunweiler
Exec. Dir. for Support Operations
Morgan Rothenberger
Exec. Dir. Marketing & Comm.
Through uncertainty created by the pandemic, leadership changes, and financial difficulties, the organization has continued to faithfully serve clients.
www.SaintFrancisMinistries.org
14
EQUINE THERAPY
HEALING THROUGH HORSES How the Saint from Assisi helped a horsewoman find her dream job.
R
aised a Baptist,
Even then, Angela had
discovered she was amply
Robert Price
started thinking about
qualified. She applied
didn’t quite
slowing down. After a
without telling her family,
get the whole
lifetime immersed in the
and a few days later,
saint thing. So, when he
world of horses and
human resources called to
and his wife, Angela, came
horsemanship, including
schedule an interview.
across a statue of St.
17 years as a farrier, she
Francis at their local lawn
had started to think
“Now, I’m freaking out,”
and garden center in
seriously about retirement.
said Angela. “I’ve worked
March 2020, he knew little
Physically taxing, it’s not
for myself for 17 years,
about the Saint from
the type of work one can
what on earth am I
Assisi. Yet, the statue
easily continue without
thinking? Am I really
intrigued him – even more
making some
qualified to do this? Is this
so after Angela shared
adjustments. So, after
going to be a disaster?”
what she knew about
years of working for
Francis and why he
herself, she wondered
Supportive, Robert urged
seemed to matter to so
what her life might look
her to do the interview.
many people.
“‘OH, MY GOSH,’ I THOUGHT. I HAD A SIGN BEFORE I EVEN KNEW IT WAS A SIGN.” “He had this funny look on
look like once she decided
his face, and his eyes
to call it quits.
looked like they were about to tear up,” recalled Angela. “He reached down, scooped up the statue,
Then in July, her daughter told her that Saint Francis
HORSE WOMAN FINDS DREAM JOB
Ministries was looking for
and said, ‘You’re going to
someone to supervise its
think I’m crazy, but I feel
equine therapy program.
like we’re supposed to
Angela went online to
have this.’”
check out the job and
www.SaintFrancisMinistries.org
16
staff therapists in equine
"...I feel blessed to be a part of that every day."
psychotherapy sessions. She also teaches horseback riding to youth in Saint Francis care at Salina West. She calls it her dream job.
She didn’t have to accept
“So, I’m sitting there,
the position. Or, if they
looking at that statue, and
give her a pass, she’d be
the scene from March
no worse off than before.
flashes in my head,” she said. “’Oh, my gosh,’ I
“The second I saw that statue of Saint Francis in the parking lot, I felt that I was meant to be here,” said Angela. “Just being in a position to help these
“So, I started praying,” said
thought. 'I had a sign
Angela. “I said, ‘I just want
before I even knew it was
a sign. That’s all I want.’
a sign.'”
can do this and that
‘whatever happens,
All her anxiety
… well, that’s life-
happens.’ That was not
disappeared immediately,
what I wanted to hear.”
and during her interview –
The day of her interview,
before a panel of three
Angela hopped in her
interviewers – she felt
truck and drove from her
perfectly comfortable. She
farm in Falun to Salina
answered every question
West, home to Saint
with ease.
But all I ever heard was
Francis Ministries’ equine therapy program. Nervous
When Robert called later
and still wondering
to ask her how it had
whether she was crazy for
gone, Angela answered, “I
even applying for the job,
really want this job.” And
she searched for an open
she got it.
space in the visitor parking lot. It was already full of
Now, Angela conducts
cars, but she finally found
equine-assisted learning
the only open spot in the
and experiential therapy
entire lot – right in front of
groups for youth
the campus statue of St.
struggling with trauma
Francis of Assisi.
and works closely with
17
kids understand that they someone believes in them changing. I feel blessed to be a part of that every day.”
HOW YOU CAN HELP
$185
GENERAL CARE Provides one month’s worth of general care for one horse (mineral supplements, hoof care, de-wormer, stall maintenance).
$200
DENTAL CARE & VACCINATIONS
HORSES & SAINT FRANCIS GO WAY BACK Horses have been part of the landscape at Salina West almost from the beginning. Long before there was anything called “equine therapy,” Saint Francis saw the therapeutic value in spending time around horses and learning how to care for them. Multiple generations of “Saint Francis Boys” and their successors at the residential treatment facility have fondly recalled their experiences down at the horse barn. These days, equine therapy is a sanctioned treatment tool used to help children recover from complex traumas. Horses are exceptionally good at mirroring human emotion, which in turn helps youth learn to deal with their own emotional struggles. Our 15 horses are essential therapeutic partners in helping children find healing and hope following trauma.
Provides a year’s worth of dental care and vaccinations for one horse.
$200 HAY
Provides one month’s worth of hay for all of our horses.
$285
FLY PROTECTION Provides a year’s worth of fly protection for one horse.
SALINA WEST EQUINE THERAPY MAIL
P.O. Box 1342 Salina, Kansas 67402-1342
DONATE ONLINE Click Here
GET TO KNOW US Learn more about our residential treatment programs at Salina West. www.SaintFrancisMinistries.org
18
“It has been truly awesome to see the parents who completed the Fatherhood classes and hear their stories of how they mended bridges within their families and community that were once thought to be forever broken. I tell each one of the parents who takes these classes that they must be willing to sacrifice who they are for what they can become.”
Fatherho
FIRE
Those words from Steve Turner offer just a glimpse into the empowering changes that can occur during fatherhood programs offered by Saint Francis Ministries. Turner, a facilitator, has been teaching fatherhood classes for several years. Fatherhood FIRE was made possible by a $4.9 million
five-year grant from the Administration for Children and Families. It enabled Saint Francis to expand its fatherhood program offerings and to reach beyond Kansas, to offer classes in Nebraska and Texas. Todd Hadnot, who leads the initiative, said FIRE will make an immeasurable
first fatherhood initiative, our organization began looking more at the father’s involvement. There’s really a lot of data showing that when there are involved fathers, kids just tend to do a lot better in life, period.” Hadnot said it’s wonderful to see fathers learn better ways to connect with their children.
difference not just for fathers, but for families.
“A lot of times, parents think you have to have a lot of money to do things with
“When kids come into custody, there traditionally is a big push to get moms to be involved,” Hadnot said. “About five or six years
your kids,” he said. “What we found out is these kids are happy just to get in the car, go to Burger King or McDonald’s, get fries and
ago, when we began our
go to the park and run
ood
E
around. They just really want to have their father involved in their lives.” Cheryl Rathbun, chief clinical officer, agreed. “Dads are so important. Saint Francis knows that fathers have an invaluable impact on their children’s physical, social, emotional, spiritual and financial wellbeing,” she said.
"Fathers have an invaluable impact on their children’s physical, social, emotional, spiritual and financial well-being." fathers, not their mothers. And daughters grow up learning how to be treated by men from their fathers, not their mothers.” The expanded Fatherhood FIRE program offers a variety of classes that support fathers and families. One of the new
with families who aren't connected to Saint Francis’ state contracts. Referrals can come from other community-based organizations, the courts, churches, and others. “As long as they are at risk of losing their kids or having problems with their kids, we can help them,” Hadnot said.
“We engage the fathers
things added to the program is more education and work with fathers who have been involved in domestic violence, Hadnot
and help them understand
said.
classes went online, a
the importance of their role because they often think they’re not important too. Sons grow up learning how to treat women from their
The new ACF grant also allowed Hadnot to include case management. This means his team can work www.SaintFrancisMinistries.org
During the COVID-19 pandemic, fatherhood successful move that allowed even more fathers to join because they didn’t CONTINUED > 20
TODD HADNOT
Director, Fatherhood FIRE
have to be near an inperson class, said Trish Bryant, vice president of residentials. “Distance learning has removed traveling barriers that many of our fathers had living in rural areas or who don’t have transportation,” she said. “We plan to continue offering
some classes virtually, even after it’s safe for us to gather together again.” Turner is grateful for the opportunity to offer more support to fathers. “So many times, we see people in our communities that have given up on themselves because they
Fatherhood FIRE is supported by the Administration for Children and Families of the United States Department of Health and Human Services as part of a financial assistance award totaling $4.9 million over five years with 100 percent funded by ACF/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACF/HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit the ACF website, Administrative and National Policy Requirements.
cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel, mainly because they cannot see the light within themselves. We are now able to give those individuals the resources that can enable them to look within themselves and see a person that can be and will be someone they can be proud of,” he said.
Cheryl Rathbun shares the importance of fathers
GET TO KNOW US To learn more about Saint Francis Ministries’ Fatherhood FIRE programs, visit our website!
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www.SaintFrancisMinistries.org
22
UNDERSTANDING LONG-TERM EFFECTS TRAUMA TREATMENT EVOLVES By Cheryl Rathbun, LSCSW
Chief Clinical Officer
“With an eye toward evidence-based care, we have moved from a ‘trauma-informed’ to a ‘trauma-responsive’ stance.”
T
rauma can result from a single accident, such as the death of a parent or child, a car wreck, or viewing someone getting hurt. Or it can manifest as what we call “complex trauma,” exposure to multiple traumatic events over time, often of an invasive, personal nature and resulting in challenges with shame, trust, selfesteem, identity and emotion regulation. 23
Saint Francis has recognized the need to understand trauma and its impact on emotional development since the mid-1970s.
Then in the 1990s, the Centers for Disease Control conducted a study that examined the effects of childhood abuse and neglect on later life health and wellbeing.
Identification of traumainformed care began more than 45 years ago when doctors began taking trauma into account when
This was followed by Dr. Bruce Perry’s Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics
diagnosing and treating Vietnam War veterans.
in 2006, a treatment tool developed through his
Their focus on physical and mental traumas led to the identification of posttraumatic stress disorder.
work with children, especially those involved in the child welfare system. Although
originally designed for children, NMT can also be applied to anyone who has suffered trauma while their brain is
We are getting better at understanding how the trauma history impacts the client developmentally in the social, emotional and
developing, including adults with histories of abuse,
behavioral domains.
neglect or other adversities.
Saint Francis employs a variety of therapeutic
In the 1970s, Saint Francis was part of an organization
tools to support the behavioral and mental health needs of children at home and in treatment at Salina West, the ministry’s residential facility. Group, art and equine therapies are among essential tools as Saint Francis therapists and clinicians keep abreast of the most recent research.
These days it’s no longer a question of if we should incorporate trauma in our work, but how and what treatment we should incorporate. that used a series of differential assessments that helped clinicians identify where the child’s development was arrested and guide the staff in selecting the best treatment plans. Trauma assessments change the focus from responding to symptoms and disorders to increasing skills and regulating emotions.
With an eye toward evidence-based care, we have moved from a “trauma-informed” to a “trauma-responsive” stance. Saint Francis strives to stay connected with current studies and practices to produce assessments that will inform case and treatment planning. We partner with organizations involved in research and participate in research.
www.SaintFrancisMinistries.org
LEARN MORE Saint Francis trauma expertise is used throughout the organization, in all services. Learn more about our work!
CHERYL RATHBUN Chief Clinical Officer
Children with complex trauma histories may develop chronic or recurrent physical complaints, such as headaches or stomachaches.
-National Child Traumatic Stress Network
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SAINT FRANCIS’ OWN PULLS
DOUBLE DUTY
IN THE ARMY RESERVES SGT. DONALD HOLLIDAY
Around this time last year, COVID-19 was mostly an ominous-sounding word hinting at a danger that the world was just beginning to discover. As the numbers climbed, healthcare workers watched anxiously and prepared, while scientists scrambled to learn more about this disease. In March 2020, none of us were sure what the virus was capable
Topeka, Kansas. Mobilized as part of the Urban Augmented Medical Task Force, they spent nearly four months in Texas, New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts providing
Into this risky and uncertain
behavioral mental health support to civilian patients and front-line healthcare workers in local
situation moved the 1908th Medical Detachment of the U.S. Army Reserve, based at
hospitals. One of those soldiers was Sgt. Donald Holliday, a behavioral health social worker
of.
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I’m doing something bigger than myself. I like that I’m not the focal point, and what I do in the Army and at Saint Francis go hand in hand. and an employee of Saint Francis Ministries. “We helped hospital staff set up restricted areas and cover their shifts, since many of them were positive cases themselves,” Holliday said.
needs, keeping in contact with their families about what was going on because of quarantines and restrictions. I helped provide for the mental needs for patients, staff and our own team members.”
he was not obligated to also keep up with his “day job.” Yet, to do otherwise was unthinkable. “As a former athlete, I’m competitive, so I wanted to make sure that my job and
“We were able to go in and assist in properly setting up
Holliday and the rest of his unit put in many long days,
responsibilities at Saint Francis wouldn’t be lacking as a result of my military
and disposing of PPE (personal protection equipment) to help restrict the spread of virus. More specifically, I was able to
but he did his part while simultaneously maintaining his Saint Francis caseload. Throughout the deployment, he continued
responsibilities,” he said. “It wouldn’t be fair to the families I serve or to my coworkers. Fortunately, I had great support from my
support the patients and
to provide care for his
supervisor and co-workers.
civilian staff of the hospital with behavioral health
clients. He didn’t have to. As a reservist on deployment,
The courts also helped
www.SaintFrancisMinistries.org
CONTINUED > 26
SAINT FRANCIS’ OWN PULLS
DOUBLE DUTY
IN THE ARMY RESERVES SGT. DONALD HOLLIDAY
by allowing me to appear by Zoom. It was tricky
master’s in social work from Catholic University of
in their shoes and keep them safe, keep them
sometimes, considering the time changes, but I was
America and later worked at the Kansas Department
engaged and let them be their own advocates
happy to be afforded the opportunity to serve my time with the military and not have my job with Saint Francis negatively affected.”
for Children and Families before joining Saint Francis, where he works in the Junction City office as a licensed permanency specialist.
because at the end of the day, it’s their life.” He’s grateful that he has been able to apply his behavioral health education and skills to his military career as well. Both his
The desire to serve comes naturally to Holliday. Even
“I work in Independent
as a middle school student, he often gave away his last $5 to homeless people on the streets of Kansas City,
Living in the West Region,” Holliday said. “My clients are 16 to 21 years old and normally still in foster care.
work with Saint Francis and in the Army support his urge to serve.
Kansas. So, he knew when he left for Butler Community College on a
The court has deemed that adoption or reintegration are no longer viable options
“I'm doing something bigger than myself,” he said.
football and vocal music scholarship, he wanted a career in which he could help others. An encounter
for them, so I assist them with getting prepared to live on their own because at 18, they have the option of
with cognitive development in a psychology course eventually led him to see
being released from the court. I help them develop a plan so they can get a roof over their head and gain
social work and behavioral health as career path for
stability, get their high school diploma or GED. It’s
“I like that I’m not the focal point, and what I do in the Army and at Saint Francis go hand in hand."
serving the most vulnerable. He earned his
challenging; there’s no cookie cutter approach to this. I just try to put myself
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They’re both service; they’re both giving to other people. So, for me, that’s fulfilling.”
Holliday’s chief satisfaction, however, lies in seeing his clients succeed.
not being able to have that human interaction – the hug, the handshake, the physical embrace. We need
“The young people I serve are not just a number or a court case. They’re human
each other. As humans, we need each other.”
beings. Some come from rough backgrounds, they
For exceptionally meritorious
have trauma and they’ve been through a lot. Sometimes, they act out. But there are reasons behind those surface behaviors. They are just as intelligent, just as worthy, just as hopeful … and they have just as much potential as anyone else. I love my job. It’s very rewarding, especially when you successfully discharge a youth, when you watch them get their diploma, when their services are in place, and I know I’ve done everything I could to help prepare them for adulthood.
service while assigned to task force, Silver Dragon, Sgt. Holliday was awarded the Air Force Brigade General Challenge Coin.
WE RAISED
$9,497.23
This is awarded to soldiers who are recognized for exceptional service beyond their assigned orders and duties. He was also awarded the United State Army Certificate of Achievement Award, a United States Army Accommodation Medal, the State of Massachusetts Emergency Service Ribbon, and
THANK YOU to Saint Francis Ministries donors who helped us blast through all past fundraising during the annual Greater Salina Community Foundation Match Madness event!
the State of Massachusetts
GSCF sponsors this event for
Humanitarian Award.
nonprofits who have endowment funds at their organization. Funds raised go into the endowment and then a matching fund pool of $200,000 is split amongst participants. Those dollars are available immediately for the organization to use. This year, Saint Francis chose to have dollars raised go to Salina West, our youth residential services.
“Human relationships are so important. That’s one thing we’ve seen with this coronavirus pandemic by
If you want to learn more about the program and its many ways of helping at-risk youth, check out our
GET TO KNOW US Learn more about Saint Francis Ministries’ Independent Living program. www.SaintFrancisMinistries.org
Facebook Live event, held on March 25. 28
Lora Winchell
MEET SAINT FRANCIS MINISTRIES' NEW CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Lora Winchell’s enthusiasm and energy for problem solving have found a home at Saint Francis Ministries, where she has served as chief financial officer since August 2020. Digging her way through a problem, considering different angles and collaborating with everyone on her team brings Winchell tremendous satisfaction. “I must quickly understand the problem being presented, use my knowledge, and help to solve it,” she said. “It’s always fun and rewarding!” Winchell began her college career as a finance major at Kansas State University. But accounting classes drew her more strongly than finance, and after an
I like problem solving. As an accounting leader, the job is 100% about solving problems. 29
internship in each profession and getting a dual degree, she was sold. She joined a public accounting firm in Denver, Colorado, and “never looked back.” As a leader, Winchell prefers a hands-on style
and enjoys working directly with her team as much as possible.
position at Saint Francis. It was meant to be. Seriously, I am happy I said yes. What a wild ride!”
firm. Lora Winchell defines these attributes,” Clark said. “She has set an incredible example for all of us to
“I like new and innovative ways of doing things, and if
Within six weeks of
follow. I am proud to call her a Saint Francis
you don’t know or understand the work, then
accepting the position at Saint Francis, Winchell
teammate. Lora has made an incredible impact on our
it would be difficult to advance and find
made a whistleblower
efficiencies,” she said. “I spend a lot of time in the weeds but also thinking big picture.” Winchell most recently worked at Hunter Health in Wichita, Kansas, as CFO. She was led to Saint Francis by “a feeling.” “An acquaintance was doing the recruiting for this position, and I told her I had always wanted to work in child welfare,” Winchell said. “But I was super happy where I was at Hunter, and after the interview process, I decided I didn’t want to take the job and start over at a new organization. “But when I got the call, I said yes. I truly surprised myself and everyone around me,” she said. “I just felt a strong pull to take the
What does your team hear you say frequently? Work smarter, not harder. report to the organization’s Board of Directors that resulted in the departure of top executives. A strong sense of ethics and honesty made her uncomfortable with what she was seeing within days of starting the work. Her report and willingness to step forward have changed the trajectory of Saint Francis, said Interim CEO William Clark. “True leaders lead – at all times and in all situations. Even when faced with adversity, true leaders stand www.SaintFrancisMinistries.org
organization in a very short period of time. Simply put, she makes a difference. ” Winchell is married to Casey Winchell, who is also a CPA. They have two children, Jacob, 7, and Lucy, 5. Their house is full of furry friends, with two dogs and two cats.
LORA'S MOTTO:
80% of success is just showing up. 30
COMING THROUGH THE STORM COVID-19: UNIVERSAL ADVERSITY BY PAMELA CORNWELL, LCMFT Clinical Director
This has been a universal adversity on a scale most of us have not experienced in our lifetimes.
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I am guessing that no one reading this piece has been untouched by the pandemic. Some of us have lost jobs or have children who suddenly could no longer attend school, or we’ve been thrown into a scramble trying to figure out how to do the work we still have within a “shelter in place” condition. This has been a universal adversity on a scale most of us have not experienced in our lifetimes.
So how do we find ways to be resilient and emerge from this adversity intact, and even better than before? We reach out and connect with each other. “Psychologists define resilience as the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant sources of stress—such as family and relationship problems, serious health problems, or workplace and financial stressors,” according to The American Psychological Association. Building resilience is important in adults and children. Research has shown that resilience isn’t just an individual characteristic, but it’s built also through strong relationships and networks. “We can nurture and build our resilience through a wide variety of interactions with people in our personal and professional lives,” according to the Harvard Business Review's The Secret of Building Resilience. “These interactions can help us to shift or push back on work demands and alter the magnitude of the challenge we’re facing. They can help crystalize the meaningful purpose in what we are doing or help us see a path forward to overcome a setback – these are the kinds of interactions that motivate us to persist.” A support network can offer empathy and make you laugh, even when you’re feeling frustrated or stuck. They can help us shift perspective and remind us that we are not alone.
Building resilience comes from the connection with this support network, the interactions with family, friends, and colleagues. If you are struggling, as many are after a year that pushed us all, please reach out.
Krista Robinson Human Resource Specialist, Salina, Kansas
IF YOU NEED HELP SAMHSA’s National Helpline 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for those struggling with mental health or substance use issues
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255
If you’re in Kansas and need access to mental health services, Saint Francis Ministries offers Telehealth throughout the state and in-person help in some areas. Call 1-800-423-1342 to learn more!
www.SaintFrancisMinistries.org
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SAINT FRANCIS SETTLES
INTO NEW CORPORATE HOME Saint Francis Ministries' new headquarters in Salina, Kansas, allows the organization to consolidate multiple offices.
S
hortly after the 2019 merger of Saint Francis Ministries and St.
John’s Military School, leadership decided to move the ministry’s Elm Street headquarters, where it had been for more than 60 years, to the St. John’s 40-acre campus on Otis Street. Saint Francis staff completed the bulk of that move in August 2020. After the successful relocation, Raymond Nunweiler and his team are focused on transforming what once was a military school into a corporate headquarters capable of accommodating the administrative and program needs of a multi-state nonprofit — as well as supporting the community it calls home. “At the time of the merger, we leased several buildings in town and we owned others,” Nunweiler said. “We wanted to get out of those leases to lower costs and improve organizational efficiency.” Nunweiler, executive director for support operations, worked with facilities coordinator Mark Giles and the rest of their department to craft a plan that ensured the move proceeded as
33
smoothly as possible, despite enormous logistical challenges. Each step occurred in close consultation with senior leadership, directors, staff and contractors to avoid any disruption of work or services. Yet, the project entailed much more than simply moving desks, file cabinets and people. “One of the first things was to evaluate the electricity in the building, as well as the plumbing,” said Nunweiler. “Our data folks alone needed more electrical capacity than what was available in their space. Once that was done, we had to evaluate our HVAC system. All these were old systems and incapable of keeping up with the number of people that we would have in here. Updating the HVAC system required we redo the roof. So, we had a lot going on.” “We started construction around March (2020),” Giles added, “so we had electricians, plumbers, HVAC people and flooring people all here at the same time while we were trying to move people in. It took lots of coordination to put it all together.”
Construction crews usually operated just a step ahead of the movers. Often, the flooring crew would finish a floor in the morning so staff could move in that day. “We really didn’t hit any snags,” Nunweiler said. “The coordination effort was massive, but our people were so agreeable. We met with supervisors and directors, showed them their spaces and floorplans, and they did a great job helping to put it together.” The new headquarters offers ample space and features that will serve Saint Francis well in the decades ahead, but it’s those facilities Saint Francis can share that have leadership and employees most excited. Since the St. John’s campus was a residential military school, several buildings house dormitories and recreational spaces. Saint Francis Ministries has partnered with multiple local organizations to share these spaces as a service to the community. One of those partnerships is with Kansas State Polytechnic, which needed extra dorm space during the fall 2020 semester to house students in single-occupancy rooms due to COVID restrictions. The facilities department redesigned the showers and updated the rooms to accommodate students and meet KSU standards. Saint Francis also expanded the parking lot to make room for the extra vehicles. The organization also has a partnership with Kansas Wesleyan University that enables their criminal
continued on page 37
Raymond Nunweiler, executive director for support operations, discusses a project with Mark Giles, facilities coordinator, at Saint Francis’ Otis Avenue corporate offices in Salina, Kansas.
“WE WANT TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS ALWAYS SUPPORTED US, BUT WE ALSO WANT OUR MORAL COMPASSES TO BE ALIGNED.”
www.SaintFrancisMinistries.org
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CHILD WELFARE & TURNOVER High employee turnover is common in child welfare, with turnover rates estimated at 20 to 40%, according to the Casey Family Programs. To put it in perspective, a healthy turnover in other fields is generally considered to be below 10%. Turnover is the rate at which employees leave the workforce and are replaced. Although the turnover rate discussion can be complex – some people focus on turnover of top performers vs. turnover of low performers, for instance – there is little doubt that turnover occurs at an unusually high rate in child welfare.
Numerous studies have pointed to work stress as a primary cause for child welfare turnover, which often comes from the high workloads associated with carrying large numbers of cases. But the reasons people leave jobs are varied, and some studies have found that caseload is actually a small percentage of the issue. Multiple concerns exist because of high turnover, the most important of which is the impact it has on serving children and families. The development of stable relationships has an important impact on client care
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and success. The Child Welfare League of America estimated in 2010 that, in general, when a case transfers between workers, permanency for the children of the case is delayed by six months. In addition, turnover is expensive for child welfare organizations, many of which are nonprofit like Saint Francis Ministries or operating on tight budgets. In a 2017 report, Casey Family Programs said that “every time a caseworker leaves, the cost to the child welfare agency is 30–200 percent of the exiting employee’s annual salary.”
Multiple studies, of course, have been and are being done to determine the best ways to support child welfare workers so they can continue to do the work that most of them would like to be doing. Positive correlations have been found between retention and supportive, quality supervision. Burnout, according to the National Child Welfare Workforce Institute, is often the reason employees leave. Burnout is impacted by caseload size, negative organizational climate and job stress, NCWWI said.
“Every time a caseworker leaves, the cost to the child welfare agency is 30-200 percent of the exiting employee’s annual salary.”
CLICK HERE To learn about Secondary Traumatic Stress and how it impacts child welfare turnover.
This summary by Casey Family Programs, shows 36 factors associated with turnover, the result of a deep dive into 22 studies with public service child welfare caseworkers. (See the full study.)
www.SaintFrancisMinistries.org
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Foundation
Corporate Home
Foundation team comprised of Cher Richards, Associate Director of Development/ Donor Relations; Lauren Dalhaus, Grant Developer; and Tiffany Lamb, Associate Director of Development. Like Deanna, each brings unique community connections and ample
justice students to use the Otis campus firing range for their firearms instruction and safety courses.
experience to the job. More importantly, each sees their work as fundamentally child and family advocacy.
ministry can partner with local organizations that serve the community.
continued from page 06
“Child welfare is enormously important, and I have immense respect for social workers, therapists and field staff who do that work,” Dalhaus said. “It’s an honor to be able to tell donors their stories and hopes for their programs. Helping others get excited about and invested in the ways Saint Francis is making lifechanging interventions every day is incredible.” You can help support these programs and the essential work of frontline social workers by contacting the Foundation at (800) 423-1342 ext. 1912 and speaking with Knapp, Richards or Lamb. Get to know us by visiting us online. . 37
continued from page 34
A youth flag football league uses the campus football field, and the Salina Wrestling Club and Smoky Valley Home Educators use the gymnasium for wrestling practice and basketball games. Saint Francis is also considering other ways in which the
Nunweiler said these relationships support the mission of Saint Francis to provide healing and hope to children and families. “We try to work with as many as we possibly can within reason. We want to support the community that has always supported us, but we also want our moral compasses to be aligned. We’re very deliberate about that in our planning and in the partnerships we form.”
THE POWER OF HOPE The mission of Saint Francis – providing healing and hope to children and families – is both transformational and inspirational. Individuals across the Saint Francis footprint provide a daily message of hope for those around them, both inside and outside of the organization. The power of hope, the power of just one person can truly change the world. Though Saint Francis has remained focused on serving those in need, we have also found ourselves walking through the “valley” as an organization in recent times. Yet, in the midst of our own trials, we have found that our team members have remained committed and steadfast to the service of others. Efforts to move positively forward and stabilize Saint Francis are now coming to fruition. Today we have men and women throughout Saint Francis who are hopeful about the future and are actively seeking ways to share this vital message. Yes, Saint Francis is filled with hope, just as we are filled with the power of hope through our faith. Isaiah 40:31 tells us, “But those who hope in the Lord will soar on wings like eagles….” May we all strive to fill others with hope – and change the world around us for better. Until next time… God bless,
WILLIAM J. CLARK INTERIM PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
www.SaintFrancisMinistries.org
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