In her role with TNFC, Shannon serves as the Executive Director. She provides trainings to partner agencies, the community and those involved in the child protection system on a variety of topics impacting child welfare cases. Shannon obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan in 1999 and, after engaging in a business career in New York City, she obtained her law degree from the Michigan State University College of Law in 2008. 

 

Shannon began her legal career as a volunteer attorney in the child abuse and neglect division of the Washtenaw County Public Defender’s Office where she represented parents and children in child abuse and neglect cases. She went on from there to serve as a staff attorney, and later as Executive Director, for The Detroit Center for Family Advocacy, advocating on behalf of parents and caregivers facing legal issues that impacted a child’s entry into, or exit from, foster care. 

 

Shannon brings her experience and zealous and passionate advocacy for those facing the uncertainty that is the child protection system to TNFC’s clients. She works tirelessly to improve the child welfare system from the inside. In her spare time, Shannon is an avid reader, voracious consumer of podcasts, and mother to two cats whom she adopted from the mean streets of Brooklyn.

As the Associate Executive Director for The New Foster Care, Shannon plays a pivotal role in shaping the organization's future. With a wealth of experience and a passion for our mission, she leads the charge in evolving our comprehensive programming and driving strategies and processes that align with our agency's core mission.

 

Shannon holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Michigan State University and a Master of Social Work degree from Eastern Michigan University. Her educational background, combined with over twenty-five years of dedicated service within Michigan's child welfare system, makes her a formidable force in our pursuit of better outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.

 

Driven by a deep-seated commitment to addressing the diverse challenges that affect our society, Shannon embodies the spirit of compassion and advocacy that defines The New Foster Care. Her leadership is instrumental in guiding us toward a brighter future for those we serve.

Porsche Carlisle is a dedicated and experienced Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) with an impressive track record of over 15 years working with at-risk youth. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and attended Wayne State University to obtain her Master of Social Work (MSW) degree.  She developed a valuable foundation for her work with at-risk youth and equipped her with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide comprehensive support to the youth she serves.

 

Outside of her career, Porsche has a passion for sports, particularly volleyball and football. She understands the value of sports in building character, teamwork, and discipline, and she often incorporates these principles into her work with young people. Her love for sports also extends to her personal life, where she may be found cheering on her favorite teams or actively participating in games herself.

 

Porsche is not just a professional and a sports enthusiast; she is also a loving and devoted parent. She is the proud mother of twins, a girl and a boy, who are incredibly active and keep her on her toes. Porsche's experience as a parent undoubtedly enhances her ability to connect with the families she works with, as she can relate to the joys and challenges of raising active and energetic children.

For the last 15 years, Nancy has worked with families and community leaders providing support and advocacy to families impacted by Child Welfare and the Court System.

As an advocate for families, she has traveled across the country training both community and state leaders on how to engage families and create supportive services.

 

She has been an office administrator at heart since she can remember, she takes an immense amount of pride in being a support system to her team. She has worked as Administrator, a Legal Assistant, and a Church Administrator for the past 10 years.

Attorney Elizabeth Hohauser received her undergraduate degree in English Education from Michigan State University in 1993. She taught middle and high school for a few years before starting Law School at the University of Detroit Mercy in 1996. Liz’s son was born during her second year of law school and Liz fondly remembers feeding him graham crackers in the back of the room when childcare options fell through.

 

Liz graduated from UDM with honors in 1999. Liz’s background in and love for education has found its way into her career, she co-chairs the Law Related Education Committee of the Oakland County Bar Association, and helps to put on a yearly law conference for high school juniors and seniors.

 

Family is and has always been the most important thing in Liz’s life. She has three children who continue to teach and challenge her to be better than she was yesterday. She is very close with her siblings and parents. In summers, she hosts her nieces and nephews for a week of “cousin camp” at her home. They have campfires and play games and swim in the pool. Cousin camp is one of the highlights of the year for Liz and her family. Liz has 2 dogs, 1 cat and 3 chickens.

Alvin Bates earned his Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Business from Western Michigan University. Following his undergraduate studies, Alvin gained valuable experience working at the Kalamazoo County Juvenile Home. This pivotal role allowed him to engage directly with at-risk youth, witnessing firsthand the challenges they faced within the judicial system. It was this experience that ignited Alvin's desire to effect meaningful change and support young individuals who often find themselves entangled in the legal process. His experience at the Juvenile Home fueled his aspiration to attend law school. 

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Alvin earned his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Wayne State University Law School. During his time there he developed the skills and knowledge needed to advocate for the rights of young people and work towards preventing their involvement in the judicial system.

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With a foundation in Criminal Justice, a grounding in business principles, and a legal education from Wayne State University Law School, Alvin is well-prepared to make an impact in the field of youth advocacy and justice reform. His mission is to be a voice for those who are often marginalized, and work to create a more equitable and compassionate society for the next generation.

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!

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!

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.

Brett has a master's degree in Christian Ministry from Liberty University, and a bachelor's degree in Communications from Madonna University. His professional career includes eight years in Pastoral Ministry primarily serving students in middle school and high school, along with young adults who have just started in college or in their career. His passion is to do everything in his power to come alongside all of the young adults he serves to meet any needs they may have, and to help them build upon their strengths so they can thrive in all that they do. Two of his favorite bible verses that he lives by each day are Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." 

 

Brett is married and he has a 16-month-old son who brings so much joy to his life. Outside of work he enjoys spending time with his family, hiking, and all things fitness. 

Meet Marc: A passionate, motivated, and dedicated individual with over 15 years of I.T. experience working in the Child Welfare industry.  Marc loves collaborating with clients, building, and maintaining client relationships, identifying organizational challenges, developing, implementing, and maintaining, solutions, and consistently delivering on-time premium product and/or service in order to produce successful client and shareholder outcomes. 

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In addition to I.T. projects, Marc has extensive experience in Salesforce where he holds multiple certifications. He has worked as a Salesforce Consultant for the last several years working with multiple clients across multiple industries. Marc’s passion for I.T., Salesforce and the Child Welfare industry has driven him to create some revolutionary products in the nonprofit sector. 

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One of Marc’s greatest joys is his family. Marc is married to a beautiful and supportive wife. Together they have 4 of the most amazing children a person could ask for. He says his family is responsible for making him want to be a better person every day. 

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Marc makes it his mission to continue applying himself and his skills towards making a positive impact in the lives of children across the globe.

Jodee obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Ferris State University. She is currently working on a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice and a Master’s degree 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.

Terrance obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Saginaw Valley State University. His professional career has consisted of working with multiple at-risk populations in foster care and adoption, adult mental health and juvenile rehabilitation. He has worked assisting both adults and youth through various growth and development programs emphasizing an outreach of support, leadership, advocacy and education seeking to serve as a pillar of encouragement for those looking to set and accomplish their goals. 

 

He has spent twelve years working in Mental Health and Foster Care all throughout Michigan “Give your best effort, execute and live with the result” Terrance feels this field of work is beneficial due to having the opportunity to have a direct impact on the progressions and successes of those he is fortunate enough to work with. Terrance hopes to coordinate a social life skills mentorship for adults in at-risk groups and communities.  

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Fun Fact: Terrance loves bowling and participates in between 3-6 bowling leagues per year. 

Keeli Lackey has a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Ferris State University. Her professional career has included work with children, families, and at-risk populations. She has worked assisting teenagers and young adults to learn the importance of setting a grounded foundation for their future regardless of their past or current situation. Sometimes the future can mean a year from now or goal setting for the next week. 

 

She has spent over 15 years in child welfare working in both the foster care and delinquency systems in Wayne County. Ms. Lackey is often found sharing wisdom during speaking engagements and volunteering in the community. 

 

Fun Fact - Ms. Lackey loves old school hip hop and has met over 15 old school rappers.

Meet Sabelle: A global entrepreneur, well-being coach, and passionate advocate for women and children. With a diverse background spanning three continents, Sabelle founded Beautifully Woman LLC, leveraging 25 years of experience to empower women's authenticity.

 

From corporate success to passionate service through direct sales, Sabelle's journey transformed when she unexpectedly welcomed her third child in 2019. This inspired her to launch the WOW Movement, offering support to mothers and raising awareness about attachment, postpartum well-being, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).

 

Enrolled in transformative programs and driven by a love for continuous learning and a passion for books, Sabelle's mission is unwavering: live a life of connection and compassion, nurture women, promote children's well-being, which she believes will ultimately create a happier world. Success for her is making a difference in someone’s life. 

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.

Rose excels in communication and is passionately committed to making a positive impact. Her dedication extends to empowering others to become advocates for themselves. As a Child Passenger Safety Technician, she devotes her weekends to volunteering at local car seat checks. Her goal is to ensure parents leave well-informed about car seat safety, leaving with increased confidence, and making sure children are safer than when they arrived.

 

In moments of relaxation, you'll find Rose either baking cherished family recipes or finding solace in a cup of tea and a cozy blanket.

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.