History
More than two decades of helping children thrive.
Francis Center started in 1997 when several Sisters of St. Francis saw a need for educational and emotional support for neighborhood children. They opened the doors of their home in Niagara Falls to nine inner city children, so they could help them improve their academic skills and explore the creative arts in a safe and loving environment.
As the program became more popular and more children needed the attention the Sisters provided, Francis Center moved to a new home on 24th Street. Today, the after school program that launched the center offers special attention and guidance to up to 30 children. Our focus is on helping the youngest school-aged children to have a strong foundation of skills and behaviors on which to build so that they can be successful students and kind, respectful friends.
Francis Center was directed by one of its original founders, Elizabeth Neumeister, OSF, with the help of staff and volunteers from throughout the local community. Upon Sister Betty’s retirement in 2022, Francis Center welcomed Mary Beth Smith, its first lay director.
Philosophy
Act Kindly
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
From the Prayer of St. Francis
As a program under the sponsorship of the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity, we trust in the goodness and providence of God, living the Gospel in our time with gentle courtesy toward all creation.
Our Mission
Francis Center is committed to providing a safe, respectful and welcoming environment and creative programs where children from low-income families can experience the joy of building community. We serve through our after school and summer enrichment programs for children.
Francis Center offers assistance to our community regardless of religious background. We teach the principles of goodness and kindness that are fundamental to Christian tradition.
Purpose
If you put food and shelter in the inner city, you will reap survival. If you put art and beauty and values there, you will reap soul. To develop fully human beings in this society we must provide more than food and shelter. We must give living skills, group skills, and the civilizing value of the fine arts as well.
— Joan B. Chittister, OSB —
Research has shown that Grade 3 is a pivotal point in academic development, and that if a child is not reading at or above grade level by the end of Grade 3, their future success is in jeopardy.
One in six children who are not reading proficiently in third grade do not graduate on time, a rate four times greater than that for proficient readers. (2012 CGLR study on How Third Grade Reading Skills and Poverty Influence High School Graduation)
We realized that many of the children in our low-income community were feeling the affects of family strife. They were not learning at an appropriate pace, and many were cited for aggressive behavior or difficulty relating with peers. Their parents couldn’t afford tutors to help their children, so we established Francis Center to provide the mentoring and discipline needed to get – and keep – these children on track during a particularly critical point in their young lives.
Teach wisely.
Results
We are very proud of the children in our after school program who, with guidance and support, have improved their grades so they have the opportunity for a better future.
The 2012-2013 Northwest Evaluation Association test results provided by the Niagara Falls School District showed that Francis Center students experienced:
100% improvement in Math
89% improvement in Reading
84% improvement in Language Usage
Additionally, our young participants acquired stronger social skills and learned appreciation for fine arts and music.
Whether part of our after school program, our summer day-camp, or any of the other activities we offer throughout the year, the children who attend Francis Center are enriched by a safe, peaceful environment in which they can learn, explore, create, and develop their social skills.
Change Lives
Our Staff
A few dedicated people, committed to changing lives.
Director Mary Beth Smith is a highly qualified educator with 25 years experience teaching and counseling young children in both public and private schools. She holds a B.S.Ed in Elementary Education from SUNY Fredonia and a M.S.Ed in School Counseling from Niagara University. She has based her philosophy of teaching on the idea that we must tend to the social-emotional needs of young children if we hope for and expect them to grow academically. This focus on the whole child, she believes, will result in the development of a well-rounded, confident and capable student who can grow to be a contributing member of their community.
Every teacher and volunteer who works directly with our children is vigorously interviewed and subject to a thorough background check through the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. The safety of our children is our first priority.
One thing that sets us apart from other after school programs is our hiring of qualified teachers, who are skilled in teaching early literacy and math and who know how to intervene when a child is struggling to learn. They do this in a way that fosters a growth mindset, rewards effort, and builds self-confidence in the children.