Salina-based Saint Francis Ministries is expanding its reach and services. According to the agency, the Arkansas Division of Children and Family Services has awarded them a contract to provide in-home family preservation services for 15 counties in Arkansas’ northern Ozark and Mississippi Delta areas.
The counties include the communities of Pocahontas, Mountain View, Melbourne, New Helena, Monticello and Forrest City. The initial contract began Feb. 1 for a six-month period, with one-year options for renewal over the next six years.
Saint Francis has hired Nicole McCauley, LCSW, as director of the Arkansas program. McCauley most recently served as director of Methodist Family Health’s in-patient Dacus Psychiatric Residential Treatment Center, in Bono, Ark. Saint Francis will begin with three local, Arkansas-licensed clinicians as the program is implemented and more will be added as the program expands.
“Saint Francis is excited for the opportunity to advance our mission of providing healing and hope to more children and families, and to share our expertise in family preservation in more communities around the country,” said Saint Francis President and COO Tom Blythe. “We’re also extremely pleased to be partnering with the Family Centered Treatment Foundation of Virginia to implement the evidenced-based therapy model they have developed.”
The Foundation’s Family Centered Treatment (FCT) model is a comprehensive therapy approach designed for families in crisis who face the forced removal of children from their home or the dissolution of their family due to external or internal stressors and circumstances. It is a home-based treatment devoted to preserving the family structure and reducing the need for foster care and other out-of-home placements. The model has been refined based on research, experience and evidence of effectiveness to create best practices for child welfare and family services.
“FCT has been demonstrated to be an extremely effective therapeutic method for stabilizing traumatized youth and families,” Blythe said. “Saint Francis has long been recognized for its extensive experience working with families and youth who move between the child welfare, mental health and juvenile justice systems. We are eager to couple that knowledge with the FCT’s therapeutic approach to help improve outcomes for Arkansas families.”
Since 1945, Saint Francis Ministries has been dedicated to the needs of children and youth. We advocate for them and work to protect them. We do our best to ensure that every child we serve gets a chance at a happy and fulfilling life. As a non-profit, faith-based organization, we place great stock in the value of both traditional and non-traditional families. We believe strong families make children’s lives better.
What began as a home for boys on the Kansas prairie is now a multi-faceted child and family services ministry serving over 31,000 people in Kansas, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Illinois, Texas, El Salvador, and Honduras with a broad range of programs and services.
Those interested in employment opportunities with Saint Francis’ Arkansas office should visit: https://saintfrancisministries.org/careers/
