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ADDRESS:
1750 South Brentwood Blvd., Suite 210
Saint Louis, Missouri 63144
PHONE:
314.FOSTER.3 (314.367.8373)
800.FOSTER.3 (800.367.8373)
FAX:
314.241.0715
WEBSITE:
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The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition, a proud member of the United Way, is a non-profit agency that strives to create permanency in every foster child's life by recruiting and supporting foster/adoptive homes in the Metropolitan community.
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| Coalition Staff
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| Melanie Scheetz - Executive Director
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1750 South Brentwood Boulevard, Suite 210, Saint Louis, MO 63144
o 314.367.8373 x2221
Melanie Scheetz and her husband are proud adoptive parents of two children, ages 15 and 13. Melanie has more than 22 years non-profit management experience in the areas of administration and development. She joined the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition as its Executive Director in 1999. During the past 11 years, the Coalition has recruited more than 1,150 new foster/adoptive families, and found adoptive homes for more than 300 hard-to-place children. Under her guidance, the agency developed the groundbreaking program, Extreme Recruitment.
Melanie has been honored with the North American Council on Adoptable Children’s 2006 “National Adoption Advocate” award; the 2007 Congressional “Angels in Adoption” award; and the 2008 “Women of the Well” award. She has a B.S. from Miami University.
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| Cisely Beard - 30 Days to Family Specialist
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1750 South Brentwood Boulevard, Suite 210, Saint Louis, MO 63144
o 314.367.8373 x2255
e ciselybeard@foster-adopt.org
Cisely joined the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition in December 2011 as a 30 Days to Family Specialist. She graduated with a Bachelor of Liberal Arts in Psychology from Southern Illinois University in 1999. As a 30 Days to Family Specialist, Cisely is responsible for finding safe, appropriate relative supports for children entering the foster care system.
Cisely’s fifteen years of child welfare experience includes specialized case management, foster/kinship parent training and licensing, and program development.
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| Jessi Brawley - Director of Communications
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1750 South Brentwood Boulevard, Suite 210, Saint Louis, MO 63144
o 314.367.8373 x2236
e jessibrawley@foster-adopt.org
Jessi Brawley joined the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition in June 2010. At the Coalition, she works in a variety of development areas including writing and producing newsletters & appeals, website support, media relations, social media management, special events, and graphic design. In addition, Jessi coordinates “A Place to Call Home.” In partnership with St. Louis’ NBC affiliate KSDK NewsChannel 5, over 55% of the hardest to place children who have been featured on this Emmy winning program have found forever families. Jessi graduated from Maryville University in 2007 with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology and Sociology. Prior to joining the Coalition, she was the Development and Communications Associate at CASA of St. Louis County. Jessi resides in St. Louis, where she grew up.
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| Erica R. Brooks - Crisis Intervention Specialist
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1750 South Brentwood Boulevard, Suite 210, Saint Louis, MO 63144
o 314.367.8373 x2253
c 314.452.4283
e ericabrooks@foster-adopt.org
Erica R. Brooks, a Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselor, joined the Coalition as a Crisis Intervention Specialist in January, 2012. She has spent the past 17 years proudly and passionately serving children and families involved in the adoption and the foster care system. Erica’s work history includes residential treatment, community mental health services, foster care case management, and resource family development. She earned a Bachelor’s of Art in Psychology from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. After a ten year hiatus, she returned to school to pursue a Master’s of Education in Community Counseling from the University of Missouri – St. Louis to follow her aspiration to assist in healing hurting children and families.
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| Gayle Flavin - Director of Program Implementation
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1750 South Brentwood Boulevard, Suite 210, Saint Louis, MO 63144
o 314.367.8373 x2228
c 314.614.2419
Gayle joined the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition to pursue her dream of helping children in foster care find permanency. After obtaining a BSW from the University of Missouri-Columbia, she returned home to St. Louis to obtain a Master of Social Work degree from the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University. During her graduate program, Gayle completed a practicum with the Coalition. Gayle returned to the Coalition in 2009 to work in the Extreme Recruitment program. Through Extreme Recruitment, Gayle helps children in foster care reconnect with their biological family and pursues all avenues to ensure permanency. As the program has grown, Gayle has become a trainer and consultant for sites throughout North America who are eager to replicate the program’s success.
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| Lisa Foehner - Director of Community Relations
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1750 South Brentwood Boulevard, Suite 210, Saint Louis, MO 63144
o 314.367.8373 x2235
e lisafoehner@foster-adopt.org
Lisa Foehner, a St. Louis native and foster care alumni, joined the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition as the Director of Community Relations in May 2012. Lisa comes to Coalition from Confluence Academy Charter Schools where she managed fundraising and grant writing, and the office of U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill where she handled constituent relations and community outreach. Foehner has a decade of experience working on a variety of public policy issues, marketing communications, and grant management. At the Coalition Lisa will work on a variety of tasks, including development, special events, grant writing, government relations and community relationship building. Lisa completed her bachelor’s degree in Communication Theory at the University of Missouri, and also holds a Master of Public Administration.
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| Debbie Genung - Director of Development
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1750 South Brentwood Boulevard, Suite 210, Saint Louis, MO 63144 o 314.367.8373 x2238
e debbiegenung@foster-adopt.org
Debbie joined the Coalition in early 2006 with six years of professional development experience and decades of volunteer fundraising. She is the staff liaison for the Junior Board (launched in 2006), and is responsible for grant writing and reporting, special events, individual, foundation, and corporate giving, Annual Appeal, and Fostering Hope (newsletter for donors and volunteers.) Debbie is the proud mother of four children and two “adopted” Spanish sons – brothers who lived with the Genung family the year they were each 12 years old.
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| Edna Green - Wendy's Wonderful Kids Recruiter
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1750 South Brentwood Boulevard, Suite 210, Saint Louis, MO 63144
o 314.367.8373 x2247
c 314.614.2413
Edna joined the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition in August of 2011 as an Extreme Recruiter. Beginning in the late 1980's, she began her work with families at St. Joseph's Home for Boys as a Child Care Worker (CCW). She has worked in the capacity as a Contacted Case Manager, Family Focus Case Manager, Family Advocate, briefly contracted with Probation & Parole as a case manager, mentor, and residential case manager. Her previous work experiences has prepared her for her position as a Wendy's Wonderful Kids Recruiter in that she is more able to go into the field and actively advocate and recruit for children in foster care - building stronger relationships with families, and providing permanency for children.
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| Barbara Kane - Director of Program Outcomes
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1750 South Brentwood Boulevard, Suite 210, Saint Louis, MO 63144
o 314.367.8373 x2226
Barbara Kane joined the Coalition in May 2008 after earning her Master of Social Work from the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University. At the Coalition, she has developed and maintained data management systems for 9 programs, collaborated with program staff to establish outcome measures and measurement tools, and managed the data collection and reporting for a Federal Adoption Opportunities grant awarded to the state of Missouri. Barbara also served as the liaison between the program site and the federal grant evaluators for the Adoption Opportunities grant to determine areas of focus for the evaluation and ensure accurate data collection. Additionally, she developed and implemented the Coalition’s Performance and Quality Improvement Plan through which she leads quarterly Case File Review and Outcomes Review workgroups for direct service programs.
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| Denise Kelley - Director of Programs
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1750 South Brentwood Boulevard, Suite 210, Saint Louis, MO 63144 o 314.367.8373 x2225
In 2001, the Coalition expanded services to foster and adoptive families through its Family Advocacy program. Since that time Denise has used a self-advocacy model to provide one-on-one case based advocacy to foster parents, adoptive parents, relative caregivers, biological parents, and child welfare professionals. Typical inquiries include assistance in navigating the child welfare system, policy/procedure clarifications, and finding community resources. Denise also coordinates the Coalition's foster and adoptive parent training enrollment for Missouri residence living in the Metro Area. Denise, in partnership with other Coaliton staff, work closely with MO Children’s Division and its private agency partners to stay current on specific child placement needs, the licensing process for foster and adoptive families, and supportive services for foster and adoptive families.
Prior to joining the Coalition team, Denise worked in the child welfare field providing crisis intervention services through the Intensive In-Home Services program and later as a foster care case manger. Denise holds a Masters in Social Work from Saint Louis University.
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| Carlos Lopez - Director of Investigations
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1750 South Brentwood Boulevard, Suite 210, Saint Louis, MO 63144 o 314.367.8373 x2240
c 314.614.2416
After serving 20 years in the St. Louis Police Department, Carlos Lopez joined the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition as the organization's first Family Connections Investigator. While with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, Carlos served as a patrol officer (11-years) and as a Juvenile Detective (9-years). While a Juvenile Detective, Carlos worked one on one with at risk youth specifically regarding gang prevention, detection and intervention. He was also a part of the Truancy Initiative, which was a highly successful multi-agency program decreasing truancy in the St. Louis area. Carlos' investigation skills combined with his experience in serving children and families has helped facilitate successful reconnections of foster children with birth family.
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| Tiffiany Lovelace - Educational Specialist
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1750 South Brentwood Boulevard, Suite 210, Saint Louis, MO 63144
o 314.367.8373
e tiffianylovelace@foster-adopt.org
Tiffiany Lovelace is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a diverse background working with children and families in the educational system, child welfare system, and in medical settings. She joined the Foster Adoptive Care Coalition in February 2012 as an Educational Specialist. Tiffiany has worked for Our Little Haven as a Program Director of Foster Care Services, CASA of STL County as a Case Advocacy Supervisor, St. Louis City Children’s Division as a Social Service Worker, and Kirkwood School District/BJC as an Educational Support Counselor. She comes to the Coalition with over 12 years experience in foster care services, crisis intervention, counseling, case management, program management, school social work, and medical social work. Tiffiany is very passionate about helping children and families learn to navigate systems and advocate for themselves to access services and resources.
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| Talisa O'Brien - Interim Director of [RE]FRESH
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1710 South Brentwood Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63144
o 314.367.8373 or 314.881.0331
Talisa joined the Coalition in January of 2013 as the [RE]FRESH Interim Director. [RE]FRESH is the Coalition’s fashion forward resale boutique that supports the work of the Coalition. After 22 years of managing a salon and spa that she owns with her husband, Cary; she decided to make a career change and venture out on her own. As the Interim Store Director, she oversees the daily operations of running the store and working with volunteers to make the boutique a success. Outside of [RE]FRESH, she is kept busy by her four daughters and their activities. Talisa received her BA in Communications and English and the University of Missouri, Columbia.
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| Russell Smith - Special Investigator
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1750 South Brentwood Boulevard, Suite 210, Saint Louis, MO 63144 o 314.367.8373 x2224
Russell Smith is the Coalition’s second investigator. Russell served for 30 years with the St. Louis Police Department and retired as a Lieutenant. During his long career, Russell served as an investigator in the Departments’ Sex Crime Section, Fugitive Unit and Internal Affairs Division. During the last years of his career, Russell also was one of the Police Departments’ Scene Commanders of the Hostage Unit (S.W.A.T) and during his tenure in this position he successfully directed many intense incidents. Russell brings to the Coalition a wealth of investigative and communication skills, a vast knowledge of the St. Louis community and a close working relationship with the various law enforcement agencies - all of which has proven to be extremely valuable in reconnecting foster children with their birth family.
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| Nickie Steinhoff - Director of Training & Support
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1750 South Brentwood Boulevard, Suite 210, Saint Louis, MO 63144 o 314.367.8373 x2235
Nickie Steinhoff joined the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition as the Director of Training & Community Support in December 2009. She brings more than 10 years of experience in child welfare, including case assessment and management, crisis intervention and permanency planning. Most recently, she was the Director of Advocacy Services at CASA of St. Louis County, where she lead advocacy efforts, volunteer training and supervision, and program development. She has provided child advocacy training to national audiences, and served on the National CASA volunteer curriculum development committee. Nickie has a Bachelor’s degree in social work and a Master’s degree in professional counseling and is currently an adjunct professor of sociology at Fontbonne University. Nickie and her husband are the proud parents of two children, one of whom is adopted.
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| Cindy Ysaguirre - KidStore Manager
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Tyler Presbyterian 2109 South Spring Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63110
o 314.773.KIDS (314.773.5437)
Cindy, a proud mother of two and a a grandmother of four, is a part-time employee responsible for managing the daily operations and volunteer staff of the KidStore. She also performs internal audits for the Little Wishes program.
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| Trish Taddeucci - Educational Specialist
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1750 South Brentwood Boulevard, Suite 210, Saint Louis, MO 63144
o 314.367.8373 x2232
c 314.614.2420
e triciataddeucci@foster-adopt.org
Trish joined the coalition this past September as an Educational Specialist working with our Crisis Intervention Team. With over 15 years of diverse teaching experience in the St. Louis area in both public and private schools, Trish has a rich understanding of the complexities of school operations and students’ needs. Trish graduated from The University of Tulsa with a BA, and she completed a Masters in Educational Administration at UMSL. It was Trish’s last three years of professional experience, however, that drew her to the coalition. As a classroom teacher with The Division of Youth Services working with incarcerated youth, she witnessed fist hand the profound difference a love of learning can have on a young person’s life path. She is committed to supporting our families and schools in developing a caring, personalized approach to education to instill a love of learning in all of our children.
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| Jo Anne Zarky - 30 Days to Family Specialist
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1750 South Brentwood Boulevard, Suite 210, Saint Louis, MO 63144
o 314.367.8373 x2237
e joannezarky@foster-adopt.org
Jo Anne Zarky joined the 30 Days to Family Team in September, 2012. At the Coalition, Jo works as a Case Manager for the 30 Days to Family™ program which helps search for safe, appropriate relatives/kin within 30 days of a child entering the foster care system. Prior to joining the Coalition, Jo hadover 15 years experience in the child welfare system. She has worked in residential care, as children’s services case manager, a foster and adoptive licensing specialist, and a Deputy Juvenile Officer. Jo earned her Psychology, Criminal Justice degree from Southwest Missouri State University. She resides in Webster Groves with her husband and five children.
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| Holly Wamser - Crisis Intervention Specialist
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1750 South Brentwood Boulevard, Suite 210, Saint Louis, MO 63144
o 314.367.8373 x2239
Holly joined the Coalition as a Crisis Intervention Specialist in December 2012. She has spent the past 18 years empowering children and families to reach their goals. She has worked in a variety of settings including specialized foster care case management, residential, and working with individuals with developmental disabilities. She is also pursuing a BS in nursing and has worked in the health care setting. She has the unique mix of experiences and skills to provide families with a holistic approach. Holly earned a Bachelor’s of Art in Psychology from University of Missouri – Columbia and a minor in Business Administration from Maryville University.
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