[vc_row disable_element=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1606849065607{margin-top: 80px !important;}”][vc_column width=”3/4″][melinda_vc_team_member img=”11559″ txt_align=”text-left” brand_colors=”true” grid_id=”vc_gid:1610471256892-f8d6ae1f-990d-3″ title=”Brenda Sipes, M.Ed, LMHC” job=”Executive Director” css=”.vc_custom_1566318295945{margin-bottom: 90px !important;}” envelope=”mailto:[email protected]”]
I have been with Foster First (CRG) for over 10 years. I have over 25 years’ experience working with disadvantaged populations. The last 13 years have been in the Foster Care arena.
I was born and raised in a small town in Colorado and my hobbies include making pottery, black powder shooting and spending time with my family.
What I love about my job is being able to make a difference in the life of a child, and helping them be successful. I believe our agency Foster First assists children to have direction in their lives and shows children that they are capable, valuable and a priority.
[/melinda_vc_team_member][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_empty_space height=”80px”][vc_column_text]
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1606849096033{margin-top: 100px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Yakima
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1559933834627{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;padding-bottom: px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″ offset=”vc_col-md-4″][melinda_vc_team_member img=”11416″ txt_align=”text-left” brand_colors=”true” grid_id=”vc_gid:1610471256893-fb3c2b16-f581-0″ title=”Amanda Cashion, BSW” job=”Case Manager” css=”.vc_custom_1566318258647{margin-bottom: 90px !important;}” envelope=”mailto:[email protected]”]
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.
[/melinda_vc_team_member][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″ offset=”vc_col-md-4″][melinda_vc_team_member img=”11417″ txt_align=”text-left” brand_colors=”true” grid_id=”vc_gid:1610471256894-bd3f63e6-827a-0″ title=”Rosie Perez, MSW” job=”Licensing Supervisor” css=”.vc_custom_1566333264330{margin-bottom: 90px !important;}” envelope=”mailto:[email protected]”]
[/melinda_vc_team_member][/vc_column][vc_column offset=”vc_col-md-4″][melinda_vc_team_member img=”11426″ txt_align=”text-left” brand_colors=”true” grid_id=”vc_gid:1610471256894-5997ce6b-6834-9″ title=”Josh Botsford, M.Div” job=”Case Manager” css=”.vc_custom_1601999718758{margin-bottom: 90px !important;}” envelope=”mailto:[email protected]”]
[/melinda_vc_team_member][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1559933842627{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;padding-bottom: px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″ offset=”vc_col-md-4″][melinda_vc_team_member img=”11418″ txt_align=”text-left” brand_colors=”true” grid_id=”vc_gid:1610471256894-8adec950-85cf-6″ title=”Megan Bush, A.A” job=”Compliance Specialist” css=”.vc_custom_1566333375959{margin-bottom: 90px !important;}” envelope=”mailto:[email protected]”]
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.
[/melinda_vc_team_member][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″ offset=”vc_col-md-4″][melinda_vc_team_member img=”11716″ txt_align=”text-left” brand_colors=”true” grid_id=”vc_gid:1610471256895-0934e1ac-f3d0-10″ title=”Greg Reichenberger, B.A.” job=”Licensor” css=”.vc_custom_1566318224677{margin-bottom: 90px !important;}” envelope=”mailto:[email protected]”]
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.
[/melinda_vc_team_member][/vc_column][vc_column offset=”vc_col-md-4″][melinda_vc_team_member img=”11853″ txt_align=”text-left” brand_colors=”true” grid_id=”vc_gid:1610471256895-72dac1a5-e0f4-0″ title=”Maria Ciriaco” job=”Case Aide” css=”.vc_custom_1604434507143{margin-bottom: 90px !important;}” envelope=”mailto:[email protected]”][/melinda_vc_team_member][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1559933855229{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;padding-bottom: px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″ offset=”vc_col-md-4″][melinda_vc_team_member img=”11852″ txt_align=”text-left” brand_colors=”true” grid_id=”vc_gid:1610471256897-23712b92-2691-3″ title=”Rosa Murillo” job=”Case Manager” css=”.vc_custom_1604434478400{margin-bottom: 90px !important;}” envelope=”mailto:[email protected]”][/melinda_vc_team_member][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″ offset=”vc_col-md-4″][melinda_vc_team_member img=”11424″ txt_align=”text-left” brand_colors=”true” grid_id=”vc_gid:1610471256896-8f3387d0-26be-4″ title=”Mark Burnett” job=”Case Aide” css=”.vc_custom_1566333740625{margin-bottom: 90px !important;}” envelope=”mailto:[email protected]”]
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
[/melinda_vc_team_member][/vc_column][vc_column offset=”vc_col-md-4″][melinda_vc_team_member img=”11854″ txt_align=”text-left” brand_colors=”true” grid_id=”vc_gid:1610471256896-ef6cc189-a71c-10″ title=”Shaudow Escalera” job=”Case Aide” css=”.vc_custom_1610471277298{margin-bottom: 90px !important;}” envelope=”mailto:[email protected]”][/melinda_vc_team_member][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Wenatchee
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1559933882437{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″ offset=”vc_col-md-4″][melinda_vc_team_member img=”11600″ txt_align=”text-left” brand_colors=”true” grid_id=”vc_gid:1610471256898-f623d492-97b7-4″ title=”Tim Steffler, B.A” job=”Case Manager / Supervisor” css=”.vc_custom_1602001671953{margin-bottom: 90px !important;}” envelope=”mailto:[email protected]”]I grew up in Grant County but more specifically Ephrata, Washington. I moved to Texas a couple years after graduating from high school where I was basically a live in nanny for my aunt. I went back to college and received my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology.
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][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″ offset=”vc_col-md-4″][melinda_vc_team_member img=”11419″ txt_align=”text-left” brand_colors=”true” grid_id=”vc_gid:1610471256898-369fa42d-122f-3″ title=”Deanne Blum, M.A” job=”Program Manager” css=”.vc_custom_1566318276235{margin-bottom: 90px !important;}” envelope=”mailto:[email protected]”]
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.
[/melinda_vc_team_member][/vc_column][vc_column offset=”vc_col-md-4″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1559933882437{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″ offset=”vc_col-md-4″][melinda_vc_team_member img=”11851″ txt_align=”text-left” brand_colors=”true” grid_id=”vc_gid:1610471256899-0dc6fc96-294f-10″ title=”Estephanie Hernandez” job=”Direct Care Staff” css=”.vc_custom_1604434265113{margin-bottom: 90px !important;}” envelope=”mailto:[email protected]”][/melinda_vc_team_member][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″ offset=”vc_col-md-4″][melinda_vc_team_member img=”11855″ txt_align=”text-left” brand_colors=”true” grid_id=”vc_gid:1610471256899-3bb1bf09-a575-10″ title=”Mireya Bahena” job=”Direct Care Staff” css=”.vc_custom_1604434316223{margin-bottom: 90px !important;}” envelope=”mailto:[email protected]”][/melinda_vc_team_member][/vc_column][vc_column offset=”vc_col-md-4″][melinda_vc_team_member img=”11847″ txt_align=”text-left” brand_colors=”true” grid_id=”vc_gid:1610471256899-3c8862c3-9d05-7″ title=”Emily Viveros” job=”Direct Care Staff” css=”.vc_custom_1604434358409{margin-bottom: 90px !important;}” envelope=”mailto:[email protected]”][/melinda_vc_team_member][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1559933882437{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″ offset=”vc_col-md-4″][melinda_vc_team_member img=”11848″ txt_align=”text-left” brand_colors=”true” grid_id=”vc_gid:1610471256900-5ea6b1d2-b80f-1″ title=”Minerva Zayas” job=”Direct Care Staff” css=”.vc_custom_1604434390574{margin-bottom: 90px !important;}” envelope=”mailto:[email protected]”][/melinda_vc_team_member][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″ offset=”vc_col-md-4″][melinda_vc_team_member img=”11849″ txt_align=”text-left” brand_colors=”true” grid_id=”vc_gid:1610471256900-6c74f83b-5bf1-10″ title=”Hailey Barham” job=”Direct Care Staff” css=”.vc_custom_1604434415645{margin-bottom: 90px !important;}” envelope=”mailto:[email protected]”][/melinda_vc_team_member][/vc_column][vc_column offset=”vc_col-md-4″][melinda_vc_team_member img=”11850″ txt_align=”text-left” brand_colors=”true” grid_id=”vc_gid:1610471256900-fa3ccde8-97b6-3″ title=”Marlene Curiel” job=”Direct Care Staff” css=”.vc_custom_1604434440136{margin-bottom: 90px !important;}” envelope=”mailto:[email protected]”][/melinda_vc_team_member][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
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.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1559933882437{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/4″ offset=”vc_col-md-3″][melinda_vc_team_member img=”11591″ txt_align=”text-left” brand_colors=”true” grid_id=”vc_gid:1610471256901-c1aab3e3-3d37-4″ title=”Curt Bell” css=”.vc_custom_1559936983825{margin-bottom: 90px !important;}”][/melinda_vc_team_member][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][melinda_vc_team_member img=”11594″ txt_align=”text-left” brand_colors=”true” grid_id=”vc_gid:1610471256901-ac97baeb-d959-6″ title=”Russ Roberts” css=”.vc_custom_1559937063841{margin-bottom: 90px !important;}”][/melinda_vc_team_member][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][melinda_vc_team_member img=”11590″ txt_align=”text-left” brand_colors=”true” grid_id=”vc_gid:1610471256902-480dc7b9-1dd4-6″ css=”.vc_custom_1563479232869{margin-bottom: 90px !important;}” title=”Therese Murphy”][/melinda_vc_team_member][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][melinda_vc_team_member img=”11593″ txt_align=”text-left” brand_colors=”true” grid_id=”vc_gid:1610471256902-8a342362-5052-6″ css=”.vc_custom_1563479247023{margin-bottom: 90px !important;}” title=”Carmen Wilson”][/melinda_vc_team_member][/vc_column][/vc_row]