ABOUT

Since the age of 13, I have been involved with child welfare in one form or another. I spent my teenage years as a foster child, was later adopted, and was formerly a therapeutic foster parent for over 19 years.

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I have worked as a caseworker for 10 years, a program manager for a private foster care agency for over 5 years, and as the Director of Counseling for a non-profit organization for over 10 years. I spend a lot of time coaching parents, training, providing Guardian ad Litem services, and court mediation services to families.  I also train for the ADAMHS board as well as other community partners. I have also had the honor of training clinicians for the Center for Adoption Support and Education in the area of adoption competencies. 

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I have a favorite non-profit charity I support: Naomis Heart Mission which provides missionary services to impoverished children and families in the Philippines who are in desperate need of food, clothing, medical care, educational services, and other items. 

 

I currently hold a Masters' degree in Counseling and specialize in the areas of Reactive Attachment Disorder, ADD, and trauma- related issues. I am a licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor III for the State of Ohio, and a Certified Trauma and Resilience Practitioner (Clinical level) through the National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children.