As a proud graduate of Eastern Michigan University, Travia holds a master’s degree in social work. Her educational foundation, combined with over 15 years of dedicated service, serves as a cornerstone for the comprehensive and compassionate approach she brings to her work.

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Travia brings a robust background, having worked in the criminal justice system. Her experience spans diverse age groups, including children, young adults, and adults, addressing the complex interplay of mental health and substance use disorders. Navigating the complexities of these issues with expertise, compassion, and a proven track record, Travia makes a positive impact.

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Guided by unwavering spiritual principles, Travia finds purpose and meaning in supporting individuals on their mental health journey. Beyond her professional endeavors, her heart lies in spending cherished moments with her family, creating a harmonious balance that fuels her passion for both personal and professional fulfillment.

Jong has her Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from Grand Valley State University and has worked as an accountant in the last 10 years in non-profit, marketing, and the automotive industry.

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Having worked with the youth in her church for many years, Jong cares about young people and is excited to offer her work skills to help The New Foster Care in their mission to impact the lives of those with foster care experience.

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Outside of work, Jong enjoys being outdoors, trying new recipes, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. One of her joys is being “Auntie Ong” to 19 nieces and nephews!

Shannon currently serves as the Director of Law and Policy for The New Foster Care. Shannon served as the Executive Director of TNFC for over three years beginning in 2021. In her current role, Ms. Urbon advises the Executive Team and Board of Directors on child protection law and policy and, in partnership with the Founder, leads TNFC’s efforts to advocate for a transformative change in the child protection system. Shannon also serves as an advocate for TNFC’s Participants counseling them on legal issues and connecting them to appropriate community resources. 

 

Shannon obtained her Bachelors in Organizational Behavior from the University of Michigan and her Juris Doctorate from Michigan State University College of Law. She has focused her legal career in public interest law, specializing in child abuse and neglect cases. As a young lawyer, Shannon pursued private practice while working as a volunteer attorney with the Washtenaw County Office of the Public Defender Juvenile Abuse and Neglect division. In 2013, she accepted a staff attorney position with the Detroit Center for Family Advocacy. In this role, and later as Executive Director of the Center, Shannon advocated on behalf of parents and caregivers facing legal challenges relating to the child protection system. Ms. Urbon continues this mission in her current position with TNFC. She is a zealous and passionate advocate for those facing the uncertainty that is the child protection system and works tirelessly to improve this system from within.    

As TNFC's Development and Compliance Director, Sarah has the privilege of working to fund TNFC's future and help TNFC stay committed to our values. 

 

Sarah is a 1998 Graduate of the University of Toledo College of Law and has twenty-five years of experience as a social justice attorney. Sarah spent the first fifteen years of her career litigating complex civil cases, including obtaining several published opinions from the Court of Appeals and Sixth Circuit. She is best known for arguing the interlocutory appeal in Moldowan v City of Warren 578 F. 351 (2009) obtaining the first precedent that rape victims could not be civilly sued by their perpetrator.  

 

Since 2012, Sarah has also served as Executive Director of several non-profits, published dozens of articles on poverty law, and spearheaded dozens of successful fund-development campaigns for projects as diverse as a community garden to the development of a legal clinic serving survivors of sexual assault. Sarah has also been an active public policy attorney, either drafting or weighing in on dozens of bills to improve the legal system for persons in poverty. Sarah is a recognized expert in trauma-informed lawyering, housing law, human trafficking, domestic violence, and homelessness and has provided over 100 State and National training in her career, including presentations to the Anne E Casey Foundation, the Center for Disease Control, the National Legal Aid and Defender Association and the State Bar of Michigan. The Governor twice appointed Sarah to the Campus Taskforce on Sexual Assault, and she currently serves as a governor-appointed member of the Juvenile Justice Committee as well as on the State Bar of Michigan Family Law Council. Sarah was also an elected member of the Detroit Continuum of Care and currently serves on the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness Board of Directors, serves as a public policy fellow for Sahiyo, and is an adjunct contracts instructor for Oakland University.  Sarah's decades of work are inspired by her deep Catholic faith, including her belief that we are called to serve in persona curalis.

Elizabeth holds a bachelors in Psychology from Central Michigan University, a masters in Counseling from Oakland University, a Post-masters Certificate in Business Leadership from Oakland University, and is pursuing a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision at Oakland University. 

 

In the clinical realm, Elizabeth has achieved several specializations as a trauma practitioner and is trained in methodologies such as EMDR. As a leader, Elizabeth embraces authentic and situational leadership to move through the complexities of human work. 

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Outside of her role with TNFC, Elizabeth serves on several professional organization’s boards, provides clinical supervision and consultation, and engages in research focused on social justice and leadership. 

 

When not working, Elizabeth finds the most meaning in time with her family, usually at an ice rink. 

Meet Stephanie, a young woman with a passion for design and social media management. Stephanie’s experience in the design industry began during her time in college, where she majored in Media and Communication Arts. She then went on to work as a freelance designer, creating visual content for various clients in different industries.

 

In addition to her design work, Stephanie also has experience in social media management. She has managed social media accounts for small businesses, helping them to increase their online presence and engagement.

 

While Stephanie enjoys creating visually appealing designs and managing social media, she has always felt a strong desire to use her skills to make a difference in the lives of underprivileged populations. She believes that design and social media can be powerful tools for creating positive change.

Christian Layfield has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Eastern Michigan University. Her professional career has included working with at risk teenagers and young adults. She has spent over 6 years in child welfare assisting these young adults with enhancing their independent living skills to ultimately be self-sufficient once they have aged out of the system. 

 

The most rewarding part of working in this field is witnessing the individuals personal grow from the beginning to end of being in the program, as well as when they finally see how Great they truly are for themselves! 

 

Outside of work, Ms. Layfield enjoys spending quality time with her son, family and friends.

Emily obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Ferris State University. Her professional career has consisted of over three years working in child welfare, with most of her time spent working with teens and young adults in foster care. She supported and assisted these youth with building and strengthening the skills needed to become successful and independent adults. 

 

Emily believes that the most rewarding part of working in this field is when she can witness the youth obtain goals that they once thought were unobtainable. 

 

Outside of work, Emily can be found spending time with her friends, family, and golden retriever Bella! 

 

Fun Fact: Emily loves lacrosse, she played in high school and college and now coaches!

Jodee obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Ferris State University and her Masters of Science in Criminal Justice and a Masters of Science in Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysis from Michigan State University. 

 

Jodee has previous experience working with at-risk youth and has worked with teenagers and young adults who are working to gain their independence. Jodee has also worked with youth who have aged out of the system. She has experience teaching youth life skills and obtaining the needed skills to reach their goals. 

 

Jodee has a passion for working in the field. She loves to see youth and young adults reach their goals and watch them grow as an individual. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her family and dogs.

Tiffany McNeil obtained her associate degree from ITT- Technical Institute in Criminal Justice in 2013. She also obtained her bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Arizona Global Campus, (formerly Ashford University ) in 2020. In her professional career she worked with at risk youth at Spectrum Juvenile Justice Services from 2015-2017, providing mentorship and trauma related therapy services to teenage boys with an effort to help reduce recidivism. She recently worked for an independent living program (ILP) for 5 1/2 years, helping teenage girls transition into and independent lifestyles by providing resources and a multitude of services to help enhance their life skills. As an advocate for youth who are in the Foster Care system as well as those who have aged out, she is passionate about making a difference in the lives of youth and young adults. 

 

Tiffany believes that the most rewarding part about working with our youth is helping them thrive to be successful. The youth are our future by providing them with direction, support and motivation will help them to transition into the lives they want to live. 

 

Outside of work, Tiffany has a love for cats, and she enjoys spending time family and friends as well as with her cat "Storm" who is 7 years old. She also enjoys doing DIY projects at home, playing board and trivia games, writing poetry and plays about things she never experienced and creating her own animated stories.

 

One of the quotes that she lives by is a two letter, ten-word phrase, " If it is to be, it is up to me.

Julianna received her bachelor’s degree in physiology and psychology from Michigan State University in 2020. She is currently working on a master’s degree in counseling from Central Michigan University. Julianna has a passion for understanding the needs of others and helping to implement a plan to alleviate those concerns. 

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Julianna has previous experience working with children and families in the foster care system to help the parents reunify with their children. Julianna also has experience in mental health, specifically working with clients who are in a mental health crisis. 

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Julianna has two cats that she adores, Kitty and Tito. A fun fact is that Julianna used to be a competitive swimmer and water polo player.

Gabriella Mallory has been an Advocate and Ambassador with The New Foster Care for several years. Her Professional aspiration is to graduate from Wayne State University School of Social Work with a Master’s Degree in Social Work, and a concentration on Policy and Legislation.

 

Gabriella has skills in mentoring, advocacy, and public speaking from both personal and professional experiences.

 

Gabriella also is a board member with the Michigan Board of Education Policy Action Network. 

 

She describes her current role with The New Foster Care as rewarding; this work allows her to provide assistance and support to young adults while establishing connections with Bridge Participants.

As a first-generation college student, Brooke Heslip received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Michigan State University in 2024 after previously completing a separate bachelor’s degree in media and information in 2018. She currently is working on a master’s degree in social work through the University of Denver’s online program, with a focus on mental health and trauma. With her education, understanding of the effects of trauma on the human brain, and empathetic nature, Brooke is passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of those she works with.

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Brooke has experience working as a Parent Educator through a foster care service called Foster Care Supportive Visitation. In this role, Brooke supervised and educated parents on child development, gentle parenting, and mental wellness topics to aid the parents in reunifying with their children and improving their personal outlook for the betterment of themselves and their families. In addition, Brooke has volunteered as a group facilitator for a children’s bereavement program called Ele’s Place. 

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In her free time, Brooke enjoys spending time with her husband, their two dogs and two cats, and her close-knit friend group. She can often be found at concerts, music festivals, art exhibits, or exploring new places. 

Joy is an accomplished professional with a passion for assisting and supporting others in reaching their goals. She graduated from Northern Michigan University in 2007, earning a bachelor’s degree in English Studies. Since then, Joy has accumulated over 15 years of valuable experience in administration and property management, providing crucial support to industry leaders across various sectors.

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Joy has a strong desire to make a positive impact on the lives of young adults that have experienced the challenges of the foster care system. As a prior ward herself she understands the obstacles they face firsthand. She believes assisting them navigate their circumstances creates hope for a better future. 

 

In her spare time, Joy enjoys exploring her creative side through writing and reading. She believes that literature and storytelling have the power to inspire and connect people on a deeper level. She also loves spending time with her two children and spouse in nature, enjoying art and roller skating. She can usually be found in the local library’s Manga section appreciating all things Anime.

Sharneisha Morris is a dedicated Peer Support Specialist with a passion for helping people. With a BA in Mathematical Economics from Wayne State University, she has always been drawn to roles where she can make a difference in the lives of others. During her college years, she worked as a peer mentor for foster care youth for two years, a role that deeply resonated with her and steered her towards her current position with TNFC as a peer support specialist.

 

She's passionate about volunteering and has spent considerable time assisting at food and clothing pantries. Her dedication to community service extends to advocating for safety equipment, ensuring that everyone has the means to lead a healthy and secure life. She believes in the power of individual actions to create a better world, one person at a time. Currently, Sharneisha is focused on expanding her knowledge in mental health to better serve those in need. In her personal time, she enjoys indulging in anime and gaming, and cherishes the moments spent with her beloved fur baby, Sheba.