Trust, Connection, & Transformation

Home > Trust, Connection, & Transformation

TBRI® in Action at HopeTree Academy

Christopher Morris, an Education Supervisor at HopeTree Academy, has spent his career building relationships with students. His recent connection with a young boy from HopeTree’s residential program underscores how personal care and intentionality can change lives. With the support of Dr. Challen Mabry, Chief Clinical Officer of HopeTree Family Services, Morris exemplifies the profound impact of Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI®) in fostering connections and empowering youth.

A Troubled Start

The student, a 12-year-old with a history of foster care disruption, struggled with emotional regulation and social connection. After a challenging weekend, he refused to attend school. Despite efforts from clinicians, he remained withdrawn, raising concerns about his mental health and well-being.

Dr. Mabry, familiar with the boy’s positive rapport with Morris, reached out for assistance. Morris didn’t hesitate. “I walked over to the cottage, sat beside him on the sofa, and started a conversation,” Morris recalls. Their shared background—both having roots in the same community—sparked a bond. “We talked about where we grew up, and his face lit up. That connection deepened our relationship.”

What is TBRI®?

TBRI® is an attachment-based, trauma-informed intervention that is designed to meet the complex needs of vulnerable children. TBRI® uses Empowering Principles to address physical needs, Connecting Principles for attachment needs, and Correcting Principles to disarm fear-based behaviors. While the intervention is based on years of attachment, sensory processing, and neuroscience research, the heartbeat of TBRI® is connection.

TBRI® is designed to meet the complex needs of children who have experienced adversity, early harm, toxic stress, and/or trauma. Because of their histories, it is often difficult for these children to trust the loving adults in their lives, which often results in perplexing behaviors. TBRI® offers practical tools for parents, caregivers, teachers, or anyone who works with children, to see the “whole child” in their care and help that child reach his highest potential.

The Power of Showing Up

Instead of pressuring the boy, Morris offered understanding and support. He encouraged the child to return to school, framing it as a choice: “If you won’t do it for yourself, do it for me.” The approach worked. The next day, the boy came to school, smiling and carrying an unopened Dr Pepper, a meaningful gesture for someone with few personal possessions.

“He shared the soda with me, which meant a lot,” Morris says. “It wasn’t just a drink—it was a symbol of trust and gratitude.” Dr. Mabry highlights the importance of these small yet transformative moments. “Chris modeled connection over compliance, showing the student that he mattered. That’s what TBRI is all about—building trust and meeting kids where they are.”

Beyond Academics

Since that day, the student has thrived, attending school consistently and forming healthier relationships. Morris continues to provide individualized support, greeting students by name and prioritizing their needs. “No matter what I’m doing, it’s not as important as what a student needs at that moment,” he says.

Dr. Mabry emphasizes that creating connections doesn’t require a professional degree. “Chris’s willingness to sit with the boy, listen, and share a moment made all the difference. It’s a reminder that anyone can play a role in transforming lives.”

A Philosophy in Practice

Morris’s dedication stems from his belief in the transformative power of relationships. After over three decades in public education, he has embraced TBRI as a guiding framework. “I’ve learned that connection is key,” he says. “If students know you care, they’re more likely to respect boundaries and work through challenges.”

For Morris, this philosophy extends beyond his professional life. “The boy reminds me of my own son,” he shares. “That personal connection drives me to show up and support him, just as I would for my family.”

A Model for HopeTree

Morris’s actions serve as a powerful example for HopeTree Academy staff, who gather daily to reflect on TBRI® strategies and celebrate successes. “Chris’s involvement demonstrates the importance of modeling the behaviors we want to see,” says Dr. Mabry. “He’s not just an administrator—he’s in the trenches, making a real difference.”

Through the combined efforts of HopeTree Academy and HopeTree Family Services, students like this young boy are finding stability, connection, and a sense of hope. It’s a testament to the power of intentional relationships and the belief that every child deserves to feel seen, valued, and supported.

Read Caring Times – Winter 2024

Branches of Hope: The Aftermath of Hurricane Helene

Home > Branches of Hope: The Aftermath of Hurricane Helene

The remnants of Hurricane Helene recently uprooted a beloved pecan tree on our Salem campus, revealing memories that stretch back more than six decades.

For years, our Salem, Virginia campus has been home to countless children, adults, pecan trees, and, inevitably, squirrels. While the people and squirrels have come and gone, one pecan tree stood resilient—until this September.

Pecan tree on HopeTree Family Services Salem campus uprooted due to Hurricane Helene remnants. — Remnants of Hurricane Helene uproots pecan tree on Salem campus on Friday, September 27, 2024.

On Friday, September 27, the remnants of Hurricane Helene swept through Southwest Virginia and our campus felt its impact. The mighty winds uprooted a pecan tree that stood proudly in front of, what used to be, Carpenter School located next to Kessee Chapel. One alum who spent two years there recalls this tree vividly; in fact, it inspired his long-lasting nickname Squirrel.

Jackie Dee Cunningham arrived at HopeTree Family Services (known as the Virginia Baptist Children’s Home at the time) in 1959 with three of his siblings. The last time he lived with his mother was in 1951 when he was just three years old. “I was really, really hurt,” Jackie recalls. “I ran away several times, but I finally realized I wasn’t running toward a home. If I had one, I wouldn’t have been sent away.”

Shortly after his arrival, Jackie noticed oval-shaped objects falling from the towering tree and covering the ground in front of his new, temporary home. Curious, he asked around and learned that these objects were actually pecan nuts.

“I had never seen anything like it,” Jackie recalls. “I’d seen walnuts before, but this was the first time I’d ever heard of a pecan.” He quickly discovered he could eat these newfound treats, and he indulged.

“I went ballistic and ate all I could find,” Jackie said. He began gathering, cracking, and storing the nuts in whatever he could, ultimately filling shoe boxes and jars tucked under his bed. But soon, Jackie faced a common dilemma: other children wanted his tasty treats, and he wasn’t quite ready to embrace the saying, “sharing is caring.” To protect his precious pecans, he began hiding them.

“I had to move my pecans outside,” Jackie recalls. “I put them in bushes and hedgerows, but they remained safe in containers.” His efforts didn’t go unnoticed, ultimately leading to his new nickname, Squirrel. “It was a unanimous choice based on my behavior. One day, someone said, ‘you’re just like a squirrel,’” Jackie remembers.

The nickname stuck and to this day, Jackie receives letters from HopeTree Family Services addressed to Squirrel. “It’s a name of endearment, and I’ve always thought of it as a special title from the years I spent at the Virginia Baptist Children’s Home.”

During his time at the Home, the large tree that provided delicious snacks right outside Jackie’s window became a refuge and a way to connect with other students and staff. The few times he had guests or visited an adult’s home, he would offer them the only gift he had pecans.

“I enjoyed the fact that I was doing something constructive for my own enjoyment as well as other people’s enjoyment,” Jackie said. “That tree was like a friend to be honest.”

After Helene’s destruction, HopeTree Family Services saved a section of Jackie’s beloved tree and gifted it to him. He plans to have his wife, an artist, paint a picture of a squirrel and a pecan on the wood to forever celebrate his time in Salem.

Jackie’s love for pecans and his connection to this organization have endured for the past sixty years. While the tree that helped him make this campus a home no longer stands, the memories and connections it fostered remind us that hope is everlasting.

Jackie Dee Cunningham pictured as a young boy

HopeTree Academy Graduation 2024

Home > HopeTree Academy Graduation 2024

Please join us in congratulating HopeTree Academy’s graduating seniors! Graduation was held on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 and we are so proud of these students and what they have accomplished. We also want to recognize Charlie Smith as the first winner of the Warren C. Watson, Jr. Scholarship and Dee Ann Smith as she retires from HopeTree Academy!

Whether they are joining the workforce or continuing their education, we wish each of them well on their future endeavors as they venture out into the world. Congratulations to Nick Robertson, Charlie Smith, and Nick Sparks!

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 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.