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.
Favorite Bible Verse: 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline."
Education: I graduated from Clemson University with a Bachelor's degree in health education and promotion, and minored in Spanish and psychology. I got to study abroad for 6 weeks in Seville, Spain and loved it! I just completed my Masters of Social Work from the University of South Carolina, and focused on helping individuals in recovery.
Responsibilities: My main roles will include recruiting foster families, providing case management and service coordination to current foster families, and working with DSS to ensure our foster families receive placements.
Favorite Bible Verse: Zephaniah 3:17: “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
Favorite Adoption Story: Less than a year after starting with Nightlight, I received a phone call from an expectant mom who wanted to make an adoption plan for her unborn child. On my way to meet with her for the first time, she called to notify me she was in labor and heading to the hospital. I am not typically in the delivery room, but this sweet expectant mom asked for my support and she was a trooper throughout her entire delivery. Each hospital experience is unique and special, but this one is especially dear to my heart as I watched this little one enter the world! It is an experience that is rare for me, and I have a special relationship with everyone involved with this precious adoption story!
Education: Chelsea holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Georgia, in addition to a B.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences with a major in Human Development and Family Science.
Responsibilities: Chelsea ensures compliance with state laws and regulations, and overseas the home study program, domestic adoption program, and foster care program in the Georgia office
Favorite Bible Verse: Psalm 27:13-14 “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”
Education: Masters in Social Work from Baylor University
Responsibilities: Assisting in the development of the foster care program for Nightlight Christian Adoptions. Responsible for recruitment of foster parents as well as case management and service coordination for children in foster/foster adoptive homes.
Favorite Bible Verse: Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
Favorite Adoption Story: It was my first year as an adoption social worker after graduating with my MSW. This family was infertile due to the wife being born without a uterus. Very special family. They had waited so long and I worked and worked with them to take a step into domestic adoption so they could have a chance at adopting a newborn baby (what they wanted). They adopted their first little girl, but she was taken after 6 months. This was heartbreaking, but we continued to work through it together. They got a second placement of a baby girl named Miracle. She never told anyone until the day of adoption that she had a book of names for the kids she was going to have. Her first choice for a baby girl name was "Miracle." When this baby girl was placed and already had this name she knew this was a blessing from God, but she didn't want to jinx it. However, the day of signing she cried and let it out and I just felt blessed to have been part of their journey through such a huge desire to become a mother.
Education: I graduated with my MSW in 2018 from University of Southern California. I got my BS in Sociology in 2015 from California Baptist University. I am currently studying for my Law and Ethics to get my hours to become a LCSW. I have a background in behavioral health (wraparound).
Responsibilities: I will be responsible for recruiting foster parents as well as case management and service coordination for children in foster/foster adoptive homes.
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: Romans 12:21 “do not be overcome by hate but overcome hate with love”
Favorite Adoption Story: The story of my nephew who was adopted by his step-father when he was 10 years old. He was so happy to finally have the same last name.
Education: University of South Dakota where I received a BA in psychology.
Responsibilities: Assist and advocate for families interested in providing Foster Care during the initial certification process all the way through to reunification or adoption.
Favorite Bible Verse: Matthew 6:34 - Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Education: I have my Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences with a major in Human Development and Family Science from the University of Georgia. I will complete my Master’s degree in Social Work in August 2023 from Campbellsville University.
Responsibilities: I am responsible for the application proceedings for all programs, collection of all required documentation, and collaborating with necessary staff and clients throughout the home study approval process. I am also a part of the inquiry team that works with families who are deciding which program would be the best fit for them. I additionally work with families in the post adoption/placement phase to ensure they receive the support they need as they complete their adoption journey.
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 Adoption Story: One of my first cases as a foster care case manager was with a newborn baby girl. Her biological parents were very young and had several barriers preventing them from being able to parent her well. She was brought into foster care and placed with a brand new foster family. The foster parents, though nervous, partnered with her biological family from the beginning of the case. Over the course of the case the foster parents were able to build a partnership relationship with not only their little girls’ parents but her grandparents and many extended family relatives as well. Eventually, her biological parents decided they were unable to parent but wanted their little girl to stay in her foster home as her adoptive placement. It was through building such a beautiful, and difficult, relationship that the biological family came to know and trust the foster family enough to want their little one to stay with them forever. The little girl is now 3 and has been adopted for over a year but her biological family is still active and present in her life! The relationship these two families, who really now are one, has built is beautiful and messy and one of my favorite stories to have been a part of!
Education: Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences with a major in Human Development and Family Science from the University of Georgia.
Responsibilities: Ensuring that state requirements are met by our office and foster parents; providing case management for individual children and families; conducting match meetings with each family
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: 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.
Foster Family Recruitment and Retention Specialist
georgia | foster-care
Our Agency Expert:
Sarah Beth
Foster Family Recruitment and Retention Specialist
Email Address:sarah.wright@nightlight.org
Favorite Bible Verse: Micah 7: 7-8 "But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me."
Education: Bachelor of Science in Sociology with a concentration in Medical Sociology from Kennesaw State University
Responsibilities: I work closely with Nightlight's prospective and current Foster Parents to best equip and maintain their ability to love and serve the children within our Foster Care Program; I also work with state agencies and community partners creating relationships to expand our Foster Care Program.
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.
