HopeTree Shines Light on Foster Care Awareness Month: Urges Community Action in Becoming Foster Parents

Home > HopeTree Shines Light on Foster Care Awareness Month: Urges Community Action in Becoming Foster Parents

SALEM, Va. (May 15, 2024) – As May marks Foster Care Awareness Month, HopeTree Family Services is calling attention to the critical need for foster parents and inviting individuals and families to explore the rewarding journey of fostering a child in need. With thousands of children across the nation longing for stable and loving homes, HopeTree is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of foster care and empowering communities to make a difference.

Foster Care Awareness Month serves as an opportunity to highlight the significant role that foster parents play in the lives of vulnerable children and youth. According to recent statistics, there are over 5,000 children in the foster care system in Virginia alone, and the need for caring and supportive foster families continues to grow.

“Every child deserves a safe and nurturing environment where they can thrive and reach their full potential,” said April Estrada, Director of Foster Care at HopeTree Family Services. “Foster Care Awareness Month is a reminder of the urgent need for more individuals and families to step forward and open their hearts and homes to children in foster care. By becoming a foster parent, you have the power to make a profound and lasting impact on a child’s life.”

HopeTree Family Services, a leading nonprofit organization specializing in foster care and adoption services across Viriginia, is committed to supporting and equipping individuals and families throughout their foster care journey. Through comprehensive training, ongoing support, and personalized resources, HopeTree strives to ensure that every foster parent feels empowered and prepared to provide a stable and loving home for children in need.

“Choosing to become a foster parent is a life-changing decision, and we are here to guide and support you every step of the way,” added Estrada. “Whether you’re considering fostering for the first time or have prior experience, HopeTree Family Services offers the resources and expertise to help you navigate the foster care system and make a positive difference in a child’s life.”

Individuals and families interested in learning more about becoming a foster parent with HopeTree Family Services are encouraged to visit www.hopetreefs.org/foster-care or to call 540-389-5468 for more information. By opening your heart and home to a child in need, you can be a beacon of hope and stability during their time of uncertainty.

Join HopeTree Family Services this Foster Care Awareness Month in making a difference in the lives of children in foster care. Together, we can build brighter futures and create a world where every child knows the love and support they deserve.

About HopeTree Family Services
HopeTree Family Services, the premier faith-related human services organization in Virginia, offers a wide range of ministries for at-risk children and youth and their families across the state. Programs include Therapeutic Foster Care, Therapeutic Group Homes, Developmental Disabilities Ministry, HopeTree Academy, and Family Centered Treatment. Visit www.hopetreefs.org for more information.

Media Contact
Chris Dodd, Director of Marketing & Communications
HopeTree Family Services
p. (540) 389-5468 ext. 2190
e. chris.dodd@hopetreefs.org

HopeTree Appoints Paxton to Vice President and Chief Operations Officer

Home > HopeTree Appoints Paxton to Vice President and Chief Operations Officer

SALEM, Va. (April 16, 2024) – HopeTree Family Services, a leader in mental and behavioral health services, has appointed Randi Paxton as Vice President and Chief Operations Officer. In this role, she is responsible for leading the agency’s programs and services lines that include Therapeutic Foster Care, Therapeutic Group Homes, Developmental Disabilities Ministry, HopeTree Academy, and Family Centered Treatment. Paxton will work with countless internal and external teams to improve and implement changes to increase efficiency and productivity.

Paxton has 22 years of experience working with youth, adults, and families in residential and community-based settings. Before joining HopeTree, Paxton served in a variety of leadership roles in a community-based mental health organization for the past seventeen years, most recently as Executive Director. In addition to her leadership experience, Paxton has worked as a clinician working with high-risk populations, primarily children and families.

“We conducted an exhaustive search for our VP & COO and I could not be happier with Randi’s appointment,” said Jon Morris, President and CEO of HopeTree. “We ultimately chose Randi because of her strengths in balancing the goals of developing people and strong teams while producing growth and quality outcomes that improve the lives of those we serve. Randi is not only a great fit to our current culture, but she will help us build and improve our culture moving forward.”

“Through my career I have devoted my life to helping underserved populations and improving the communities I have lived in,” said Paxton. “I believe that the core of human decency is kindness and compassion, but also serving as the foundation for strong leadership and strong organizations. That’s why my focus will be working with each of our programs to strengthen our services and their quality, ultimately supporting our goal to be the premier faith related human service provider in Virginia.”

A Roanoke native, Paxton holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from James Madison University. She previously served on the Board for the National Alliance on Mental Illness for six years, and on the Board of Directors for the Virginia Association of Community Based Providers for a total of eight years. Passionate about advocating for those who cannot advocate for themselves, Paxton believes it takes everyone’s involvement to change the landscape of human services to ensure that vulnerable populations have the resources needed to be successful in life.

HopeTree Appoints Estrada to Director of Foster Care & Adoptions

Home > HopeTree Appoints Estrada to Director of Foster Care & Adoptions

SALEM, Va. (April 5, 2024) – HopeTree Family Services, a leader in mental and behavioral health services, has appointed April Estrada as Director of Foster Care & Adoptions where she will be responsible for ensuring the Foster Care program operates in accordance with all licensing and best practice regulations and must ensure that all offices have consistent practices led by leaders who embody the mission and core values of HopeTree. Estrada will work with internal and external teams to improve and implement changes for HopeTree’s Foster Care program with a focus to increase efficiency and productivity.

Estrada has nearly 30 years of experience in foster care and human services, working with youth, and families in residential and community-based settings. Prior to joining HopeTree, Estrada served as the Foster Care Director at Impact Living Services where she started the foster care program. In this role she managed all operations and admissions, wrote policies and procedures, onboarded foster parents, and implemented electronic records for all the organization’s programs.

“I am so excited for April to join our team and be the next leader of our Foster Care Program,” said Jon Morris, President and CEO of HopeTree. “She not only has tremendous passion for serving children and families, but she has a proven track record of leading and growing foster care programs and she is a trusted leader and voice in child welfare across the Commonwealth.”

Estrada admires HopeTree’s dedication to living out the mission and core values and feels that it is easily discernable to anyone in the community who interacts with the organization. “Whether it’s their services, programs, or the people, I have always had deep respect and appreciation for HopeTree,” said Estrada. She says that she is excited about being part of a culture that focuses on enhancing the lives of clients, communities and staff through servant leadership, intentional relationship building, striving for excellence, being good stewards of what we are given and being accountable to each other and others they serve. “Cultivating relationships is the most important thing any of us can do to bring health and healing to any situation. HopeTree gets that.”

Estrada holds a Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology from Radford University. She has served as past president of the Virginia Association of Licensed Child Placing Agencies, along with serving as a member of Governor Youngkin’s Safe and Sound Task Force, the Floyd County Family Assessment Planning Team, and the Piedmont Region Child Fatality Review Team.

HopeTree Honored As 2023 Nonprofit of the Year

Home > HopeTree Honored As 2023 Nonprofit of the Year

SALEM, Va. (March 15, 2024) – HopeTree Family Services, a leader in mental and behavioral health services, is proud to announce that it has been recognized as the Nonprofit of the Year by the Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce. The prestigious award was presented during the Chamber’s 2023 Business Awards Breakfast, held March 15, 2024, at the Salem Civic Center.

The Nonprofit of the Year award recognizes organizations that have demonstrated outstanding commitment to serving their community and making a positive impact on the lives of others. HopeTree Family Services was selected not just for their contributions to the City of Salem, but the positive impact on the 1,000’s of lives they have served. A nomination from a long-time HopeTree employee said “HopeTree truly cares about the people they serve as well as their staff. My opinion is that it is one of the best places to work and I am blessed to be here.”

“We are incredibly honored to receive this recognition from the Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce,” said Jon Morris, President and CEO at HopeTree Family Services. “This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff, volunteers, and supporters who work tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of the children, adults, and families we serve.”

The Annual Business Awards Breakfast is the Chamber’s most celebrated event honoring local heroes, community members, and winners for small and large business, regional business, and nonprofit organizations of the year in Salem and Roanoke County. These businesses demonstrate an interest and involvement with the general community through support of area not-for-profits, community causes, business development activities, and/or volunteering. They are in alignment with Chamber values by actively supporting the advancement of business in the community as well as active participation in the Chamber.

Johnnie Nash Retirement Cookout

Home > Johnnie Nash Retirement Cookout

After 40 incredible years of dedication, hard work, and countless memories, Johnnie Nash is retiring! Thank you to everyone that joined us on Tuesday, March 12 for his celebratory cookout to honor his remarkable career!

HopeTree Appoints Cox As Director of Family Centered Treatment

Home > HopeTree Appoints Cox As Director of Family Centered Treatment

SALEM, Va. (March 8, 2024) – HopeTree Family Services, a leader in mental and behavioral health services, has appointed Maggie Cox as Director of Family Centered Treatment (FCT). In this role, she is responsible for growing the FCT program and its reach across Virginia through collaborative work with the different Departments of Social Services, CSA localities, and referring organizations.

Family Centered Treatment (FCT) is a well-supported in-home trauma-focused family therapy model designed to find simple, practical, and holistic solutions for families faced with disruption or dissolution of their family. This may be due to external and/or internal stressors, circumstances, or forced removal of their children from the home due to youths’ delinquent behaviors or parents’ harmful behaviors. The focus is to either strengthen and preserve children within their home or to bridge by successful reunification back into the home.

Cox brings a wealth of knowledge, having nearly 10 years of experience in the child welfare system in the public and private sectors. Cox is not a stranger to working with children and families and is excited to further her reach by expanding FCT across Virginia.

“I am so happy to be a part of HopeTree and the innovative and immersive program that FCT brings to families in need,” said Cox. “I feel strongly that collaborating with the Family Centered Treatment Foundation will bring the positive change to the families and children that we serve in a way that has not been seen across the state.”

“Maggie is an advocate of trauma informed and culturally responsive treatment for families and recognizes the importance of creating healthy communities through empowering families through relationship,” said Dr. Challen Mabry, Chief Clinical Officer at HopeTree. “Under Maggie’s leadership we are excited for her intentional cultivation of practitioners who will provide life changing services to Virginia’s families receiving FCT.”

Cox is a graduate of Liberty University, earning a Master of Arts in Human Services Counseling. She has worked for Pulaski County Department of Social Services as well as most recently at Intercept Health as a Treatment Foster Care Supervisor. In addition, she has volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

HopeTree Promotes Updike To Chief Compliance Officer

Home > HopeTree Promotes Updike To Chief Compliance Officer

SALEM, Va. (January 9, 2024) – HopeTree Family Services, a leader in mental and behavioral health services, has promoted Shannon Updike, LCSW to the position of Chief Compliance Officer. In this role, she is responsible for the agency’s compliance, risk, quality, and privacy efforts to include compliance with HIPAA laws. In addition, Updike oversees HopeTree’s accreditation processes and the performance, training, and outcomes of the Electronic Health Record.

Updike has nearly 20 years of service with HopeTree Family Services and holds experience in youth services, building strategic partnerships, and community outreach. Most recently, she served as HopeTree’s Program Director for Therapeutic Foster Care and Adoption Services. In this role she brought synergy to all foster care offices throughout Virginia and cultivated leaders through the program. Updike was also critical in implementing into the foster care program Trust-Based Relational Intervention^®, an attachment-based, trauma-informed intervention that is designed to meet the complex needs of vulnerable children.

“I am so excited about Shannon’s promotion to Chief Compliance Officer. Not only did she do a great job as our Director of Foster Care, but she has been supporting many areas of our compliance program for years,” said Jon Morris, President and CEO of HopeTree. “She truly earned this promotion. I’m looking forward to seeing her growth in this new role.”

“HopeTree Family Services has been my professional home for the past 18 years and I am excited to continue my journey as the Chief Compliance Officer,” said Updike. “My focus will be working with each of HopeTree’s programs to strengthen our services and their quality, ultimately supporting our goal to be the premier faith related human service provider in Virginia.”

A Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Updike holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from Longwood University and earned her Master of Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University. In addition to her role with HopeTree, Updike serves as the private provider representative on the State and Local Advisory Team, a private provider representative with the Chesterfield and Henrico Family Assessment and Planning Teams, a member of the Virginia Association of Licensed Child Placing Agencies, and with the Central Virginia Partnership of Youth.

HopeTree Appoints Director of Therapeutic Group Homes

Home > HopeTree Appoints Director of Therapeutic Group Homes

Brandon Rose, LCSW to oversee organization’s therapeutic group home cottages and development of the daily living program.

SALEM, Va. (August 1, 2023) – HopeTree Family Services, a leader in mental and behavioral health services, has appointed Brandon Rose as Director of Therapeutic Group Homes. In this role, Rose is responsible for working with the therapeutic group homes team to enhance the development of the daily living program within each group home cottage while ensuring that the residents’ needs are met.

A Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Rose has more than 10 years of client centered practice and management experience in a clinical setting. Throughout his career, Rose has a proven ability to forge sustainable relationships with education professionals, community partners, and the most vulnerable populations. Prior to joining HopeTree, Rose was a Regional Clinical Program Coordinator with Intercept Health where he assisted in building and developing teams, improved on and implemented program policy, assisted with managing multiple community based programs, supported and nurtured staff, clients, and other management team members. In addition, he has experience with developing electronic health records, training crisis prevention and intervention, and as an outpatient therapist.

“I am so appreciative and humbled by this opportunity to continue doing what I love,” started Rose. “We never know why one door may close, but there is certainly always another door that opens in the right season. Here at HopeTree, we have the chance to help open that door for so many youth that may not have had that opportunity before.”

“Since joining HopeTree, Brandon has demonstrated immense leadership in his development of a collaborative, passionate, and dedicated team that serve our youth,” said Dr. Challen Mabry, Chief Clinical Officer. “He is a valuable community partner, collaborating care and going the extra mile, even in the most challenging of cases where resolution or maintaining placements have seemed impossible. Brandon is an invaluable part of the leadership at Hopetree and I am humbled to serve alongside him.”

Rose is a graduate of James Madison University, earning a Bachelor of Social Work degree, and the University of South Carolina, where he earned a Masters of Social Work. Currently, Rose is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker through the Virginia Board of Social Work and certified for the Board of Social Work Approved Licensure Supervisor, as a Crisis Prevention Intervention-Instructor (CPI), Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and Therapeutic Options TOVA.

HopeTree Presents HopeGrows Fundraising Event

Home > HopeTree Presents HopeGrows Fundraising Event

SALEM, Va. (July 12, 2023) – HopeTree Family Services, a leader in mental and behavioral health services, is delighted to announce its highly anticipated annual fundraising event, HopeGrows, taking place on Thursday, September 7 at The Taubman Museum of Art in downtown Roanoke. This premier event will bring together philanthropists, community leaders, and compassionate individuals who share a common goal of elevating HopeTree’s programs while making a positive impact on those they serve.

Date: Thursday, September 7

Time: VIP Reception – 5:30 PM | General Admission – 6:30 PM

Venue: Taubman Museum of Art, 110 Salem Avenue SE, Roanoke, Virginia, 24011

Guests attending HopeGrows can look forward to an enchanting night of unforgettable experiences. The event will feature:

Master of Ceremonies Jenna Zibton: WSLS 10 news anchor Jenna Zibton will serve as the evening’s master of ceremonies. Jenna has been pivotal for WSLS 10’s ’30 Days of Hope’ program that brings awareness to the successes and challenges of foster care and adoption. Every November since 2017, Jenna has featured children who can be adopted across Virginia, telling their stories along with those of families touched by the foster care system.

Keynote Speaker Tori Hope Petersen: Tori Hope Petersen is the bestselling author of ‘Fostered’ and a sought out national speaker, inspiring audiences to be resilient, suffer well, and change the world with what they have, right where they are, by loving the people in front of them. Tori is a leading advocate in foster care, and has been featured on Good Morning America, Essence, and many other publications sharing her story about being a former foster youth and overcoming to serve others. Tori has equipped and empowered countless churches, organizations, and people to serve the underserved. She also founded the Beloved Initiative, a nonprofit where in community people learn how to become professional lovers of people.

Live Entertainment by Flat Five Jazz: Flat Five Jazz is a modern jazz combo based out of Lynchburg, Virginia. A menagerie of backgrounds and influences create a unique, yet beautiful soundscape that is both pleasing and engaging.

Silent Auction: Bid on exclusive items and experiences generously donated by our partners and sponsors. Every contribution made through the auctions will directly benefit HopeTree’s programs.

We are grateful to our event sponsors, whose unwavering support has made HopeGrows possible. Their commitment to HopeTree’s mission and dedication to transforming lives demonstrates the power of collaboration in effecting real change.

Individuals and organizations interested in attending HopeGrows are invited to visit our website at hopetreefs.org/hopegrows for more information and ticket purchases. Limited sponsorship opportunities are also available for those who wish to contribute to the success of this significant event.

HopeTree Appoints Chief Compliance Officer

Home > HopeTree Appoints Chief Compliance Officer

Jessie Woods to oversee organization’s compliance measures, accreditation processes, and Electronic Health Record operations.

SALEM, Va. (July 5, 2023) – HopeTree Family Services, a leader in mental and behavioral health services, has appointed Jessie Woods as Chief Compliance Officer. In this role, she is responsible for the agency’s compliance, risk, quality, and privacy efforts to include compliance with HIPAA laws. In addition, Woods oversees HopeTree’s accreditation processes and the performance, training, and outcomes of the Electronic Health Record.

Woods brings a wealth of knowledge and nearly 20 years of experience in youth services, building strategic partnerships, and community outreach. She has served as the Chief Executive Officer for the YMCA of Pulaski County. Woods came in to her CEO role with the YMCA during the height of the pandemic closures. She expanded to area elementary schools for afterschool care in tandem with school closings due to COVID, expanding the YMCA’s licensed spots from 75 to more than 300.

Woods also spent nearly 15 years at Family Preservation Services, beginning work as a Therapeutic Day Treatment Counselor at Critzer Elementary School in Pulaski and ultimately to the organization’s Director of Program Development. While there, she served as the first staff on the state team to coordinate, train, and consult for the TDT program state wide, serving more than 200 schools.

“I have a passion for serving others and organizations focused on youth, so coming to HopeTree was a natural fit,” said Woods. “My goal is to work with our staff to continue collaboration and education to ensure a safe and compliant approach to care and services across the state.”

Woods is a graduate of Virginia Tech, earning a Bachelor of Science in Human Development, and Radford University with a Masters of Social Work. Currently, she serves on the First Steps of the NRV Leadership Team, and the New River Valley Community College Human Services Advisory Counsel.