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

Melissa is a registered nurse serving students with medical needs within a local school district. She is passionate about supporting children and families through compassionate care and advocacy. Outside of work, Melissa enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons, reading the Bible, attending church with her family, and visiting botanical gardens. She also has a love for animals and serving her community.

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

Yesenia is a founding member of the Foster Friends Support Group and serves on the board with a deep commitment to supporting foster youth and families in the Antelope Valley community. As a foster parent, Yesenia provides a trauma-aware, loving, and supportive home for teens, grounded in patience, structure, and consistency. Her experience as a caregiver, combined with her educational background, allows her to advocate effectively for youth while also modeling the kind of safe, nurturing environment every child deserves. Through her leadership with AVFF, Yesenia continues to strengthen community partnerships, support foster families, and champion trauma-informed approaches for youth impacted by trauma and instability.

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. 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 and children so they feel supported and encouraged.