HopeTree Names Staton Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer

Home > HopeTree Names Staton Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer

Trent Staton to lead growth, fundraising, and innovation efforts across Virginia.

SALEM, Va. (September 29, 2025) – HopeTree Family Services, a leader in mental and behavioral health services, has appointed Trent Staton as Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer (CSIO). In this role, Staton will oversee the organization’s comprehensive development efforts, including fundraising, marketing and communications, business development, strategic partnership development, referral networks, and grant writing. He will serve as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, driving strategic initiatives that strengthen HopeTree’s visibility, impact, and long-term growth.

Staton brings more than 12 years of nonprofit leadership experience to HopeTree, with expertise in strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, program expansion, and organizational growth. Most recently, he served as Director of Business Development at Children’s Home Society of North Carolina, where he led statewide partnership development, community relations, and sustainability strategies for new and existing services. Previously, he held leadership positions at Family Preservation Services of Virginia, overseeing operations across multiple Virginia regions.

Throughout his career, Staton has developed strategies that generated significant revenue growth, secured major partnerships, and advanced innovative services in child welfare, mental health, and family support. His leadership is based on a servant leadership model that values collaboration, being data-informed, and mission-driven, with a “no ego” policy that puts the needs of the community first in all things.

“My life’s calling is to help children, youth, and families experience stability and hope,” said Staton. “I was a youth who would have greatly benefited from support and services, especially from a faith-related organization, so this work is very personal for me.” Staton believes that when human service organizations and communities come together with intention and shared purpose, “together we can co-create spaces of healing that break the cycles of trauma and hardships that many experience, providing generational well-being that changes lives. HopeTree’s mission reflects that vision, and I am grateful to join in this work.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Trent Staton back to Virginia and to HopeTree Family Services as our first Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer,” Jon Morris, President and CEO of HopeTree, stated. “Trent’s business acumen, his proven track record in nonprofit leadership, and his commitment to servant leadership will be invaluable as we advance our mission and expand our impact across Virginia. We are excited to have his vision, energy, and passion to help us create new opportunities for healing, growth, and hope for the communities we serve.”

Staton is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in North Carolina and holds a Duke Nonprofit Management Certificate. He is completing his Master of Business Administration at Longwood University in October 2025 and earned a Master of Arts in Professional Counseling from Liberty University. Staton has also served as a community leader with the Children’s Alliance in Charlotte, N.C., and as an advocate for early childhood mental health and men’s mental health.

HopeTree Appoints Lewis to Director of Developmental Disabilities Ministry

Home > HopeTree Appoints Lewis to Director of Developmental Disabilities Ministry

SALEM, Va. (July 17, 2025) – HopeTree Family Services, a leader in mental and behavioral health services, has named Stephanie Lewis as Director of the Developmental Disabilities Ministry (DDM). In this role, Lewis will oversee strategic planning, program implementation, and daily operations across all DDM programs statewide. Her leadership will help ensure a person-centered, community-integrated approach that upholds the highest standards of compliance, quality assurance, staff development, and growth.

Lewis brings more than 12 years of behavioral healthcare and operations leadership experience to HopeTree. Most recently, she served as Director of Operations for Dream Builders ABA, where she led service delivery across multiple regions. Prior to that, she held leadership roles at the Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD), including Region Manager and Operations Manager. In 2022, Lewis was honored with the Founders Award at CARD for outstanding leadership.

“I’ve always had a heart for the adult population and a deep respect for person-centered work,” said Lewis. “Joining HopeTree felt like a natural alignment of values. I’m excited to build upon the strong foundation of the DDM program and champion a culture that uplifts the people we support, their families, and the staff who make this work possible.”

The Developmental Disabilities Ministry is a residential care program designed to support adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. The mission is to provide a safe and enriching home environment while fostering independence, personal growth, and a sense of belonging. The program includes 17 group homes while also providing sponsored residential and community engagement services throughout Virginia.

HopeTree’s Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Randi Paxton shared her enthusiasm: “We are thrilled to welcome Stephanie to the leadership team. Her combination of operational excellence, behavioral health expertise, and deep compassion for the people we serve makes her an ideal leader for our DDM program.”

Lewis holds a proven record of fostering inclusive, outcomes-driven environments that empower individuals and teams alike. She is passionate about expanding community-based support and ensuring every person with a developmental disability is treated with dignity, respect, and care.

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 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 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.