Kim has been a social worker for 19 years connecting people and groups to community resources. She believes the church should put love into action by caring for those in need, while meeting practical needs. She worked for 3 years in a faith-based adoption agency and has managed nonprofit organizations including a food bank, women’s shelter and a pregnancy resource clinic. Her greatest accomplishment is knowing that her 3 children have decided to follow Jesus. Kim is excited to be a founding board member of Antelope Valley Foster Friends

Stephanie is a wife and mom to three kiddos. She has lived in the Antelope Valley for over 20 years. Recently, she's become committed to taking care of her health and coaching others in efficient ways to do the same. In doing so, she has had more energy to give her all to her husband, kids, and serving opportunities. Foster and adoption ministries have been a passion for her and she enjoys serving others who are active foster caregivers. Stephanie is thankful for the diverse ways to support foster children and their families which is why she decided to support Foster Friends and their mission to give as much support to foster families as they can.

SUPPORT DIRECTOR

Nicole has always had a passion for children, and began by serving in her church's special needs classroom. She then received her credential from Azuza Pacific University and became a moderate/severe special education teacher for 3+ years. She is now a mother of two wonderful kiddos. She has supported friends first-hand who have gone through the foster care process from certification, placement, and all the way through adoption. She is a licensed Respite Provider for foster families and enjoys being able to serve foster parents with a much-needed break. Nicole is thankful for AVFF's desire to fill in the support gaps that are often lacking for foster parents

Jennifer, along with her husband Chris, have been involved with children’s and youth ministries for over 20 yrs. In 2015, they started their foster journey sponsoring several foster children monthly, but felt the call to do more and decided become foster parents themselves. In 2016, they welcomed their first foster child and felt the desperate need for support in the system as they tried to navigate it alone, while advocating  for the children in their care. They fostered 2 additional placements in 2016, and in 2017, were placed with medically fragile triplets, whom they adopted in 2019. In 2022, Jennifer and Chris welcomed their 6th child and could no longer foster due to their home being at capacity. However, Jennifer continues to support others with their foster journeys and is grateful to still serve the foster community as a member of Antelope Valley Foster Friends. 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Kate became committed to foster care in 2011 as a pediatric ICU nurse where she saw firsthand the effects of trauma on foster children. Fast forward 6 years (2017)and three kids later, Kate and her husband Philip became foster parents in Kern County, California and began welcoming foster children into their home. In 2020, they fostered a baby boy for over a year in LA County while navigating reunification with his birth mother. During this time, Kate and Phil welcomed their fourth child and realized just how little practical support the state gave to foster caregivers who needed help balancing foster care among life events. Having experienced firsthand the joys and the heartaches of foster care as they’ve navigated the struggling child welfare system across two counties and three agencies, they’re determined to stand in the gap that they deeply felt as foster parents and are committed to a life of serving others. They believe foster families are an oftentimes underappreciated asset to the community. They started AV Foster Friends as a practical solution that is committed to serving foster parents so they feel supported and encouraged.