Yakima
I have lived in Yakima for the past eight years. I have been married for ten years, I have a 17-year-old adopted daughter, a 13-year old biological daughter, and two adult step-children. I graduated with my BSW from Heritage University in May of 2018. My family is the most important thing to me. I take pride in my job and sincerely enjoy the work that I do, but my family will always come first.
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I currently live in Yakima, WA with my husband and our two pets. I enjoy reading, going to the movies, hiking, and spending time with friends and family. For fun I like to take vacations (usually to the beach), attend concerts, and go on date nights with my husband.
I see Foster First making a difference in the community by spreading the word about the need for foster parents and the need for understanding of trauma and the effect it has on a young person’s behavior.
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I attended CWU 30 + years ago and then lived in Oregon for many years. I served 4 years as a Director of Children’s Ministries at a large church in Oregon. I worked for Child Welfare for many years and then had opportunity to come back to Washington and work for Foster First.
My passion is to see children become stable and either return to their parents who have had their lives restored or go to a foster family who will love and care for that child and make it their forever home.
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I grew up in the Tri-Cities, the youngest of two boys. I was always involved in sports. I have always been around kids of parents that put their own demons first before the welfare of their children, due to my mother being an addict. For the first 25 yrs. of my life I was in and out of programs to help my mother try to kick Heroin. Those situations opened my eyes at a young age to what is really important. Family is something that a lot of people take for granted and I feel strongly that every child deserves the opportunity to be in a good home with loving parents.
Foster First is so much more than a job, I get to connect with the youth and I truly care and want to help in any way possible
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Wenatchee
I currently have three passions that take up most of my time outside my work. They are spending time with my family, hiking and nature, and training and competing with my Imperial Jitz Jujitsu team.[/melinda_vc_team_member]
I received a bachelors in Social Science and a master’s degree in Organizational Human Resources. I worked as a Behavioral Intervention Specialist from 2006-2011. I had the honor to work with BRS youth directly to ensure these youth stayed on track behaviorally in school and in the home environment. During this time, I was working towards my bachelors and I received my bachelors in 2011. I worked as case manager from 2011-2015. In 2015 I had the honor to work for the State of Washington as a Child Family and Welfare Social Worker. However, my passions has always been working directly with BRS foster youth and foster families because I can be a part of witnessing youth become confident, goal oriented, and self-assured just by encouraging bonding within the foster home and showing support to the youth.
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Board Members
We are thankful for the dedicated service and leadership that the men and women of our board provide in support of our mission and vision.
Each of these individuals is passionate about foster children and families. They each serve pro bono.