Foster Family Recruitment and Retention Specialist
south-carolina | foster-care
Our Agency Expert:
Alyssa M (SC)
Foster Family Recruitment and Retention Specialist
Email Address:alyssa.morgan@nightlight.org
Favorite Bible Verse: Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths.”
Education: Finishing BA in Human Development and Family Studies (May, 2023) with a minor in Psychology from Anderson University
Responsibilities: I work with potential and current foster families and walk with them through the licensing process, providing education and support. I also work to recruit foster families and expand the foster care program.
Favorite Bible Verse: Psalms 82:3 or 1 Corinthians 10:31
Favorite Adoption Story: I have had the privilege to be a part of 4 adoptions from foster care during my time at DSS. My favorite would be my 13 year old that found her adoptive parents after several stays in foster care, after 2+ years in the system.
Education: I have an associates of Criminal Justice and then a bachelors in interdisciplinary studies. I concentrated in psychology and have a minor in child advocacy.
Responsibilities: Recruitment of foster parents; case management and service coordination for children in foster/foster adoptive homes.
Education: BS in Organizational Management, Master's in Public Administration
Responsibilities: This position provides direct management and supervision responsibilities for Foster Care Advocates and all other employees/individuals in conjunction with the foster care program. The manager also provides case management and service coordination for children and families in foster/adoptive homes.
Favorite Bible Verse: Isaiah 40:31 “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Favorite Adoption Story: I’ve witnessed countless beautiful journeys, but one adoption story continues to move me deeply. It began with a foster family caring for two young children, pouring love and stability into their lives. Eventually, the children were reunified with their biological mother, and the foster family—gracious and supportive—maintained a warm relationship with her. But life took a heartbreaking turn. When the mother could no longer provide a safe environment, she reached out to the very family who had once loved her children as their own. By then, that foster family had relocated out of state. Yet without hesitation, they uprooted their lives and moved back to Oklahoma. It was so sudden and selfless that they found themselves paying a mortgage in the other state while renting in Oklahoma just to be able to foster the children again. The trauma the children carried was heavy. However, this family met it with unwavering faith, relentless prayer, and a love that refused to give up. Within a year, the children were adopted—wrapped in the arms of a family who had sacrificed comfort, stability, and convenience to fight for their healing. This wasn’t just an adoption. It was a resurrection of hope, a testament to what love looks like when it’s unconditional, and a reminder that sometimes, the most powerful force in the world is a family who says, “We’re not done loving you yet.”
Education: Bachelor of Science, Oklahoma State University
Responsibilities: The Foster Care Advocate is responsible for assisting in the development of the foster care program, including recruitment of foster parents as well as case management and service coordination for children in foster/foster adoptive homes. This employee also builds and maintains working relationships with agency staff and community organizations, including the local department of child welfare, private foster care agencies, and any other service provider for children in foster care and foster parents.
Favorite Bible Verse: Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Education: University of California at Berkeley, B.A in Social Welfare; University of Southern California, MSW; Capella University, PhD in Education with an emphasis on Post-Secondary and Adult Education
Responsibilities: Conduct monthly home visits as needed/required, prepare and update Adoption Home Studies, case management, advocacy and support of foster and adoptive families as needed.
Favorite Bible Verse: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Favorite Adoption Story: My favorite adoption story, is one that recently occurred in 2020, while I worked as an adoption specialist with SCDSS. I was advocating for a little girl on my case load since 2014, when she was 9 months old. After six years, several failed biological family placements, adoption presentations, and adoptive transitions, an adoptive family came forward, accepting all her medical needs. Once she was in the adoptive family’s home, this child made strides in all developmental areas, which was said to not be possible due to her trauma.
Education: Bachelors of Science in Experimental Psychology with a minor in Child Advocacy from the University of South Carolina- Upstate
Responsibilities: As the Renewed Hope Program Coordinator, I provide services to families looking to dissolve their adoption as well as advocating for and educating the second adoptive families for children within the Renewed Hope Program. Being a Foster Care Advocate, I am responsible for growing the South Carolina Healing Homes Foster Care program by recruiting new foster parents as well as case managing families that are currently licensed foster parents through our program.
Favorite Bible Verse: “The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.” Zephaniah 3:17
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Family and Community Services from Oklahoma Baptist University
Responsibilities: I am responsible for working with individuals who are interested in Foster Care. I assist families through the initial foster care certification process and then provide continued support once a child has been placed in a foster home. I will also be working to recruit new Foster families.
Favorite Bible Verse: Matthew 11:29, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Education: Master of Human Services; Bachelor of Science and Psychology: Human Services, both from Liberty University
Responsibilities: Providing services to foster parents and children in foster care, maintaining foster care placements, and assisting with recruiting/certifying foster care families
Favorite Bible Verse: Micah 6:8 “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Education: Bachelor’s in Science Family & Human Services, with a minor in Spanish from John Brown University; Master’s in Social Work from the University of Oklahoma
Responsibilities: Coordinating and supporting foster families through the certification process and foster care placements. In addition to supporting current foster families, my responsibility will be recruiting and coordinating future foster families.
Favorite Bible Verse: God said to Moses, "I am who I am." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel: 'I am has sent me to you.'" Ex. 3:14
Favorite Adoption Story: I have two favorite adoption stories, one is my family's story of adoption from foster care. We adopted our youngest daughter from foster care. God made it so evident that we were to adopt her, and He has remained faithful and true throughout the process. We are honored to be her parents. My 2nd adoption story is being an Auntie to two Nightlight Snowflakes adopted babies- my sister and brother-in-law adopted 14 years ago from Snowflakes and it has been a joy getting to share in that unique adoption experience.
Education: Masters in Social Work, California Baptist University and Bachelors in Sociology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte. I have prior experience with therapeutic, attachment focused parent coaching.
Responsibilities: As Executive Director, I supervise the employees, oversee the Foster Care Program and the Domestic Adoption Program, and run the day-to-day functions of the California office.
Favorite Bible Verse: Matthew 25:40 “And the King will answer them, ‘I assure you: whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.”
Favorite Adoption Story: I am constantly amazed by Foster Families and their willingness to minister to kids and families as they go through difficult times. My personal favorite is my aunt, who has fostered dozens of children and adopted 4 boys from the Kansas City Foster Care system. The way that they have overcome adversity and embraced our family as their own is something that I will always be inspired by!
Education: BSW from Colorado State University and Masters in Intercultural Studies from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
Responsibilities: I work with families in our Foster Care Program! I walk alongside the families starting with the Home Study process all the way through adoption finalizations and act as a bridge between the county and our families and advocate for them throughout the Foster process.
Favorite Bible Verse: Matthew 19:14: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Education: MSW, Certified Social Worker; School Social Work certificate
Responsibilities: Assisting in the development of the foster care program - the recruitment of foster parents as well as case management and service coordination for children in foster/foster adoptive homes
Favorite Bible Verse: Psalm 16:11 and Jeremiah 33:3
Favorite Adoption Story: My favorite adoption story is the story that brought my little cousin to our family from Samoa.
Education: BSW, IUPUI
Responsibilities: Assisting in the development of the Indiana foster care program; Recruitment of foster parents; case management and service coordination for children in foster/foster adoptive homes.
Favorite Bible Verse: Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Education: Masters in Public Administration and Nonprofit Management
Responsibilities: My responsibility is to assist in the development of the foster care program, as well as the recruitment of foster parents and providing case management and service coordination for children in foster and foster adoptive homes.
