Jamie Finn

Jamie Finn is the author of the bestselling book, Foster the Family, and Filled: 60 Devotions for the Foster Parent’s Heart. She is the founder and President of Foster the Family and founder of the Filled Gathering. Her popular social media accounts offer a glimpse into the real life of a foster parent and provide encouragement to tens of thousands of foster and adoptive parents. Jamie is the mother to 7 children through foster care, adoption, and birth. She lives in Sicklerville, New Jersey, with her husband, Alan.

JEANNIE CUNNION

**Jeannie Cunnion** is a bestselling author of several books and Bible Studies. Her work has been featured on outlets such as The TODAY show, Fox News, CBN, and a host of popular podcasts. Jeannie holds a master’s degree in social work and she is the co-founder of The 509 Foundation. She and her husband, Mike, live in Greenwich, Connecticut, with their five boys. Connect with her at JeannieCunnion.com.

Meredith Brock

Meredith Brock is the wife of Mack Brock and a mother of 3 children through foster care, adoption and birth. She is the CEO of Proverbs 31 Ministries and occasionally serves authors as a literary agent. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives with her family in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Austin Ludwig

Austin Ludwig is a self-produced artist, speaker, and advocate for foster care, based in Atlanta, Georgia. After enduring fifteen years of abuse and trauma, Austin spent his formative years in the foster care system, aging out at 18. Amidst the brokenness of his past, Austin experienced the transformative love of Jesus, finding healing and restoration through the gospel. Over the past 12 years, Austin has dedicated his life to full-time ministry, using his testimony to fuel his recording artistry, writing, and speaking engagements. After years of pastoral ministry, he now focuses on his music career while also serving on staff with the WinShape Foundation, partnering with WinShape Homes to equip local churches in their mission to care for children in foster care. Austin lives in Atlanta with his wife of five years, and together, they are dedicated to serving God through both their personal and professional lives.

**RENEUT VAN DER RIET**

Raised in a military home in apartheid-era South Africa, Reneut sensed a call to pastoral ministry in high school and pursued theological training in the Washington, DC, area—where he met and married his wife, Brooke. After serving in California, they planted Mosaic Church in Winter Garden, Florida, in 2002 with a vision to meet both spiritual and tangible needs locally and globally.
Alongside Brooke, Reneut has adopted four of their eight children from Axum, Ethiopia, a journey that led to founding Axum Coffee Company and Love Made Visible—initiatives supporting justice and orphan care. He is currently developing The ReStory, a platform inviting others into the freedom found in Christ. When not teaching or leading, Reneut is likely in the garden, zip lining with his kids, or making Saturday waffles.

Geoffrey Nelson

Geoffrey Nelson, based in Waco, Texas, lives with his wife and two sons and has been dedicated to Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®) since 2015. His journey began at the Methodist Children’s Home, where he became a TBRI educator and practitioner, launching a career focused on supporting children and families.Over nearly a decade, Geoffrey has applied TBRI principles in diverse settings, including Residential Treatment Centers, foster care and adoption agencies, schools, and corrections.Geoffrey is passionate about creating meaningful change for individuals of all ages. Inspired by Dr. Karyn Purvis’ words, “I don’t care if they are one, or 100. People all need the same kinds of stuff”, he continues to champion the transformative impact of TBRI in his personal life, work and community.

**CLAIRE ROBINSON**

Claire Robinson is a mom of six who had her children removed and placed into foster care 5 years ago. That day changed Claire's life. She was able to successfully bring her children back into her home 9 months later and has since continued to share her testimony of how she was supported well in the process of overcoming addiction and changing the direction of her life.

Melissa Corkum

Melissa Corkum is a sought-after speaker and author specializing in blocked care and strategies to overcome burnout and chronic stress. A TEDx speaker, co-author of Reclaim Compassion, an adoptee, and adoptive mom, she brings a blend of lived experience and expertise to her work. She is the CEO and founder of RISE to Regulation. Offstage, Melissa enjoys social dancing and savoring the half-popped kernels at the bottom of the popcorn bowl.

LINDSEY PHILLIPS

Lindsey Phillips is a foster parent with years of experience in her personal journey and helping other families work towards reunification. She is an advocate for reunification in the state and has advocated for foster care for over 7 years now. In addition to her work with foster care she has 15 plus years of experience working in the business profession with a variety of leaders. Lindsey spent two years supporting those in poverty overcome a variety of challenges.

Sandra Flach

Sandra Flach is mom of 8 children, 5 through adoption—2 diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. She encourages and equips foster and adoptive parents through her weekly Adoption & Foster Care Journey Podcast and blogs at SandraFlach.com. She is a certified facilitator of the FASCETS Neurobehavioral Model, teaches FASD workshops, and leads the Hope for the FASD Journey online support community. Sandra is co-founder of Justice For Orphans and Director of Adoption & Foster Care Resources at JFO. She’s author of Orphans No More—A Journey Back to the Father and will soon release her newest book, Soul Care Saturday—52 Devotions to Encourage Adoptive & Foster Parents. Sandra and her husband Wayne have been married 38 years. They reside in upstate NY where they love to spend time in the Adirondack Mountains.

TAMEKIA SWINT

Tamekia Swint is a wife, mom, hair stylist, and Licensed Hair Braiding Instructor who lives and breathes all things hair. In 2010, she founded Styles 4 Kidz (S4K), a nonprofit providing textured hair care services, resources, and education to children in transracial adoptive, foster, and biracial families.

Passionate about helping kids feel confident and proud of how they look, she’s building a nationwide community that celebrates esteem-boosting hairstyles and belonging. Her advocacy for inclusive hair care has been featured on Good Morning America, Windy City Live, and The Kelly Clarkson Show.

Born and raised in Chicago, she’s committed to making a difference—one hairstyle, one child, one family at a time. Learn more at www.styles4kidz.org.

jackie Darby

In 1963, Jackie was abandoned as a newborn in a Seoul, Korea garbage dump, where she was discovered by a missionary nurse. Scarred from rat bites and rejection, she was placed in an orphanage and became eligible for adoption. Meanwhile, God was preparing a family—a U.S. couple with five biological children who had tragically lost three previously matched adoptees. On the day of President Kennedy’s assassination, they received one final call: a baby girl needed a home. After prayer and heartbreak, they said yes. That baby was Jackie.
Raised in rural Illinois, Jackie eventually followed a calling to global missions. She and her husband Randall have spent nearly 30 years in Guatemala as founders of *Start With One Global*. They've raised two children on the mission field, housed 17 teens, and led ministries for women exiting prostitution. Today, they focus on empowering local leaders to build gospel-centered, self-sustaining community initiatives.

Aixa de López

Guatemalan mom to four: Two of which came through the miracle of adoption.
Graphic designer, published author/illustrator and public speaker. She serves as board member with Christian Alliance for Orphans and also with Alianza Cristiana para los Huérfanos.

Ryan & Kayla North

Ryan and Kayla North are Co-Founders of One Big Happy Home, where they equip parents, professionals, churches, and educators to create safe, nurturing environments for children. They provide practical, trauma-informed strategies to address behavior, attachment, and healing, all rooted in empathy and evidence-based care.

They host The Empowered Parent Podcast for those raising children with trauma histories and Better Together, a marriage podcast offering honest conversations and practical encouragement for couples.

Learn more at onebighappyhome.com and follow them on social media @onebighappyhome.

Madison Ziegenbein

Madison's heart for adoption comes from her mother's story of being adopted and an overseas internship through an orphanage in Bolivia. In her role at Pathways for Little Feet, she supports adoptive and foster families in navigating the path to bringing children home and providing resources for parents for success. Madison holds a degree in marriage and family studies from Abilene Christian University and has over eight years of non-profit experience. After serving in local church ministry for years with her husband, Travis, they are dedicated to encouraging families along their journey. She always seeks to learn more from industry partners, families, and research. When she’s not working, she enjoys spending quality time outside with her husband and three daughters.

Talia-rae farrow

Talia-Rae is a bio/foster/adoptive sister to over 65 kids. She is currently the eldest of 10 kids. Over the years, her family has welcomed kids from newborn to age eighteen. She loves sharing about her experiences as a bio child in a foster/adoptive family, and hopes that she can help other bio kids feel seen and understood. She also endeavours to help parents know how to support their bio children as they are on mission together as a family. She has just recently taken the classes to become a foster/adoptive mom herself and is eagerly awaiting the day she starts to foster too! Follow along with her at @sister.to.many

christina barkley

Christina has been a foster mom for more than ten years in San Jose, California, and she serves as the Director of Learning and Development for Foster the City. She is passionate about empowering leaders, encouraging bio families in their journey towards reunification, building community within the local church, and helping foster families to feel seen, supported, and cared for. She loves to spend her free time hiking through the redwoods or playing at the beach with her family!

Katie Faris

Katie Faris is the author of four books including her new devotional, *Every Hour I Need You: 30 Meditations for Moms on the Character of God*. She is also a contributing writer to the Gospel Coalition and the Focused Pastor. As a speaker, she meets the challenges of parenting with personal, biblical reminders of God's provision and providence. A pastor's wife and mother to five, Katie lives with her family in New Jersey where they love day trips to the shore. To learn more, visit katiefaris.com.

Allison ezell

Allison Ezell is a Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant from Dallas, Texas, and the founder of Dwell Pediatric Sleep. She is also a wife and mom of four children - a biological son and daughter and two sons who joined her family through adoption. With a special passion for helping foster and adoptive families navigate sleep issues, Allison brings a unique angle to her sleep consultations, as she is able to bring a trauma-informed perspective to a field where it has long been desperately needed. Allison’s goal at Dwell Pediatric Sleep is to help families identify the root cause of their children’s sleep issues and offer practical, science-based solutions and sleep plans that actually work. Allison has a Bachelor’s degree in Communication, a Master’s degree in Education, and she spent many years as an educator prior to founding Dwell Pediatric Sleep in 2021.

susan paa

Susan Paa is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with her undergraduate and master's degree in social work. Susan has worked 15+ years in the field of social work primarily focusing on child welfare, including as a CPS caseworker, forensic interviewer, and serving child victims in the criminal court system. Additionally, Susan worked for a long term residential drug and alcohol treatment program working with adult addicts and their families. Susan is a proud foster and adoptive parent, having parented ten kids, who came to her home at different ages and stages. She lives in Denton, TX with her family.

jesse boykin

Jesse is a former foster mom to more than 50 children and the proud bio/adoptive mom of five. She serves as the New Jersey Branch Director for Foster the Family, where she is passionate about walking alongside new foster moms as they navigate their first year of fostering and supporting parents for the long haul. When she’s not advocating for families, you can find her reading memoirs or looking for the perfect find in local thrift shops.

jaci burgess

Jaci is a senior clinical counselor with WinShape Homes, serving foster children and families in the group home program. She is a licensed counselor in Tennessee and Alabama with over 16 years of experience, specializing in trauma and attachment in children and adolescents. Previously, she worked in community mental health, directed a child advocacy center in Alabama, and is a certified child forensic interviewer.

Married to her husband, Kevin, for 20 years, Jaci is a step, foster, adoptive, and biological mom to seven children, and their home remains an open foster home in Alabama. Her heart is to help create homes where children experience the unconditional love of Jesus through meaningful relationships.

nicole t. barlow

Nicole T. Barlow is a foster and adoptive mom of six, a TBRI Practitioner, and host of the Foster Parent Well Podcast. A longtime parent trainer, she equips caregivers with practical tools, gospel-centered encouragement, and the reminder that they are not alone. Drawing from her experience parenting five siblings adopted through foster care, she blends trauma-informed wisdom, real-life stories, and a deep reliance on Jesus. Through trainings, coaching, and ministry partnerships, Nicole’s mission is to strengthen those who stand in the gap for vulnerable children and to remind them that God meets them in every moment of the journey.

Desha davis

I’m Desha, wife of 21 years to my husband, Isaac, and mom to 9 kids. Isaac and I had four biological kids and have adopted three children from foster care. We hope to adopt our two foster boys in December. The brokenness of the system motivated me to be a part of the solution, and I became a Child Protection Service Worker for New Hampshire’s DCYF in 2022. It has been the hardest and most rewarding job I have ever had. It brings me so much joy working with children and families, and my unique perspective as a foster/adoptive mom has helped me better support the families I serve.

genee franics

Genee Francis is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor, dually licensed in Texas and Georgia, specializing in complex developmental trauma, attachment, relationships, and family systems. With over 20 years of experience serving children, adolescents, and adults, she joined WinShape Homes in 2019 and, in 2024, transitioned to the WinShape Marriage Team as Assistant Director of Content and Programming. Genee integrates her background in education, family ministry, and counseling to support couples in building strong, Christ-centered marriages. Outside of her work, she treasures her roles as wife and mother and enjoys traveling, interior design, event planning, reading, and creating meaningful “firsts” with her husband and their two sons..

elaine shenk

Elaine Shenk has over 30 years of personal and professional adoption experience. In her role at Matters of the Heart Counseling as the Practice Manager and Certified Professional Mental Health Coach, she meets with parents to offer support, a listening ear, and hope. She is passionate about honest and transformational conversations that encourage growth, bring connection and promote safety. She and her husband are the parents of four children who joined their family through adoption. Ranging in age from 25 - 35, they are no strangers to the thought of "parenting with a view of eternity!" Elaine and Christina Reese have co-authored Leveling Up: Adoptive Parents and the Adult Adoptee (CrossLink 2022) which will be for sale at the back of each of their workshops.