Board of Directors
Traci Baker, LMSW
Traci Baker is the Lead PAL (Preparation for Adult Living) Specialist for Region 1 with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. She is responsible for coordinating transitional living services for youth in foster care and foster care alumni ages 14-21 who reside in or are from Region 1. Her primary duties include referring eligible youth and young adults to the aftercare program; completing tuition and fee waiver letters and ETV Verification Forms for eligible youth; facilitating college tours, regional teen conferences, Aging Out Seminars, Welcome to PAL events, graduation celebrations, Christmas parties; attending Circle of Support and other permanency planning meetings; completing NYTD (National Youth in Transition Database) surveys; providing training to CASA volunteers, foster parents, CPS staff, child placement agency staff, and other community stakeholders; monitoring the regional PAL budget and expenditures; monitoring the PAL workload to ensure youth in foster care and foster care alumni are provided and are receiving PAL and Transitional Living services and benefits that they are eligible.
Traci has held quarterly meetings with four of the six institutions of higher education in Region 1 since 2010. She is a member of the West Texas A & M University Advisory Board. Traci is a member of the Foster Care and Education Committee Postsecondary Education Workgroup which is facilitated by the Supreme Court of Texas Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth, and Families. She serves on the Panhandle Coalition for Transition Services which promotes smooth transitions for students with disabilities and collaborates with other agencies to promote advocacy for these students. She is a member of the Panhandle Regional Collaboration which collaborates with Orphan Care Solutions to identify needs of youth in foster care and find solutions for these needs. One of the partnerships developed through this collaboration provides Care Packages on a monthly basis to foster care alumni attending post-secondary education.
Traci earned a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Texas Tech University and a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. She is a Licensed Master Social Worker. Traci has been with DFPS for 31 years and has worked as an Adolescent Case Worker and PAL Specialist.
Jamie Bernstein, J.D., Vice President
Jamie Bernstein is a staff attorney at the Supreme Court of Texas Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families (Children’s Commission). Ms. Bernstein has worked at the Children’s Commission since May 2014 and her primary focus is on the improvement of educational outcomes for children and youth in foster care. In this capacity, Ms. Bernstein provides support for the Children’s Commission Foster Care and Education Committee and its workgroups, including a Postsecondary Education Workgroup. Prior to joining the Children’s Commission, Ms. Bernstein represented children and youth involved in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems in New York, New York. Ms. Bernstein has a B.A. from Vanderbilt University and a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School.
Sheila Bustillos, President/Founding Member
Sheila Bustillos is a Ph.D. candidate in Multicultural Women’s and Gender Studies at Texas Woman’s University. She earned a M.Ed. in Counseling and Guidance with an Emphasis in Higher Education Administration from Texas State University-San Marcos and a BESS in Pre-Physical Therapy with a minor in Health and Wellness from Texas State University. Her dissertation, titled “Foster Care Parenthood: Exploring Multigenerational Involvement,” is a qualitative investigation of cyclical removals in the Texas foster care system focused on former foster care parenthood experiences.
In the past, Sheila has worked for The University of Texas at Austin as a Program Coordinator for a multi-million dollar National Science Foundation Grant and as a Program Coordinator for the Vice President for Student Affairs Office at Texas State University in Retention Management and Planning. Sheila was a co-collaborator of the first foster care support group at Texas State University while employed there and continues to research and support foster alumni in higher education as a supporter of the Texas Woman's University Frontiers Program.
Kathleen Christensen, Ph.D., Founding Member, Secretary
Dr. Kathleen Christensen led Austin Community College Student Services from 2003-2014, and is now retired. In 2005 she initiated the support program for students who aged out of foster care. The program remains strong in support from the Board of Trustees and in the dedication of the administration and staff and the needed resources. She is happy to stay active on the ER4T Board of Directors in encouraging and advocating for such support programs in higher education throughout Texas and nationally.
Dr. Christensen holds a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Educational Administration, a Master’s degree from the University of New Orleans, in Guidance and Counseling, and a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Northern Colorado in Education.
Debra Emerson, LMSW-AP
As the CPS State Director of Permanency, Ms. Emerson is responsible in the development of comprehensive CPS practices around the state and policies that best meet the permanency needs of children and families. Ms. Emerson is responsible for policy and programs associated with services to children, youth and their families; Fostering Connections; Permanency Care Assistance; Family Group Decision Making; Kinship Care; Foster Adopt Development: The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) and Transitional Living Services for Youth. Ms. Emerson interacts routinely with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services staff, representatives from various federal and state agencies, local communities, judges, external stakeholders, families, the general public, legislators and their staff, and national advocacy groups.
Prior to this assignment, Ms. Emerson was the State Division Administrator for Permanency; Program Administrator for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services in Houston, Texas. In this role, Ms. Emerson had oversight for approximately 4, 000 children in the Conservatorship of Harris County, the fourth most populated county in the nation. Ms. Emerson’s other professional experiences include being the CPS Initiatives Director for the Houston Region, the Program Director for the CPS Sexual Abuse Program for Harris County as well as the Program Director for programs responsible for physically abused and neglected children and their families.
Ms. Emerson started her career in CPS over thirty years ago as a sexual abuse caseworker and then as a field supervisor. Ms. Emerson also served as the Assistant Director of the CPS Regional Training Institute, training new caseworkers and supervisors.
Ms. Emerson She earned her Bachelors of Arts from Oregon State University and her Masters of Social Work from the University of Washington.
Monica Faulkner, Ph.D.
Monica Faulkner is a research associate professor and the director of the Texas Institute for Child & Family Wellbeing at the School of Social Work. She oversees multiple projects relating to foster care, child care and teen pregnancy prevention funded by state agencies, private foundations and the federal government. Her primary research interest is teen pregnancy prevention for foster youth and the welfare of teen parents in foster care. She teaches policy, human behavior in the social environment and child welfare related electives. In terms of professional experience, she has worked in both direct practice and clinical settings. She has worked as an advocate for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault at the Houston Area Women’s Center and as a case manager for children in foster care at the Austin Children’s Shelter. Faulkner also worked as a legislative aide for State Representative Garnet Coleman and served as chief of staff for State Representative Jessica Farrar. Faulkner has served on several boards including Latinas on the Rise in Houston and Adoption Knowledge Affiliates in Austin. She received a doctorate in social work from The University of Texas at Austin in 2010. She received a master’s degree in social work from The University of Houston, and a bachelor of liberal arts in government with a minor in Spanish and a bachelor of social work from The University of Texas at Austin.
Javier Flores, Ed.D.
Dr. Javier Flores currently serves as the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at Angelo State University. During his tenure Angelo State University has increased enrollment by 37%. Additionally, Flores has led initiatives leading to increase enrollment and graduation rates of first generation college students, students formerly placed in foster care, students from low socioeconomic families, and students from other under-represented populations. Prior to joining ASU, Flores spent 13 years at Howard College in Big Spring, where he served as dean of student services, vice president of student services and then provost. He also served 16 months as interim provost for Howard College’s SouthWest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf. Dr. Flores, a native of Sonora, Texas, earned his Bachelor of Arts in political science from Texas Tech University, his Master of Arts in educational management and development from New Mexico State University and his Doctor of Education in administration of higher education from Texas Tech.
Andy Homer
Andy Homer has served as Director of Public Affairs for Texas CASA since January of 2014. In that capacity he leads Texas CASA’s legislative advocacy efforts and works on a variety of public policy issues affecting the child welfare system.
Andy’s prior experience includes nearly ten years of service as a staff member in the Texas Senate, including as Chief of Staff. He also directed a Special Senate Interim Committee on Welfare Reform and drafted its report to the legislature. Andy served as Director of Government Relations for over a dozen years for the Texas Public Employees Association, a professional association for active and retired state employees. Andy has worked extensively on state budget issues, on health and human services policy issues, and has been deeply involved in a number of complex public policy issues.
Andy serves as a member of the Public Private Partnership, which advises DFPS on foster care redesign. He also serves as a volunteer advocate with CASA of Travis County. He has a B.A from Kenyon College in Ohio, as well as an MBA and a Master’s degree in Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin.
Christine Lynn Norton, Ph.D.
Christine Lynn Norton, Ph.D., LCSW, is an Associate Professor of Social Work at Texas State University. Dr. Norton helped found the FACES (Foster Care Alumni Creating Educational Success) initiative at Texas State University. She is the Foster Care Advisory Council Chair, the Faculty Advisor for the FACES Student Organization and was recently named the Foster Care Liaison Officer to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Along with developing and co-leading the FACES initiative, Dr. Norton has conducted peer reviewed research on foster care alumni in higher education and is also a lead researcher in adolescent and young adult mental health, with a focus on outdoor behavioral healthcare. She has presented nationally and internationally on her research in this area, and is a proponent of making therapeutic outdoor adventure experiences accessible to youth in foster care and foster care alumni in higher education. Dr. Norton utilizes a strengths-based, trauma-informed approach in both direct practice and program development with former foster youth. Dr. Norton has been on the Education Reach for Texans Advisory Board since its inception, and has presented on her work with FACES at numerous Reach Convenings. Dr. Norton earned a B.A. in Communication Studies from the University of Kansas, an M.S. in Experiential Education from Minnesota State-Mankato, an M.A. in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago, and a PhD in Clinical Social Work from Loyola University Chicago.
Keri Rogers, Ph.D., Founding Member
Keri Rogers, most recently served as the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for the Lone Star College System. She served as the Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs at Sam Houston State University from 2008-2012. In this position, she focused on success initiatives for various populations of students including former foster youth. She also served as an Associate Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, Director of the First-Year Experience, and Director of the Lowman Student Center and Student Activities at Sam Houston State University. Prior to working at SHSU, she served as the Director of the Jack B. Kelley Student Center and Director of Student Activities at West Texas A&M University and Coordinator of Leadership Development at the University of North Texas. She also has taught the first-year experience courses and graduate courses in higher education.
Dr. Rogers served as the vice president and treasurer of Education Reach for Texans and has twice served on the Higher Education Sub-Committee of the Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families of the Supreme Court of Texas. She is a past-president of the Texas Association of College and University Student Personnel Administrators, has served as a board member of the West Texas A&M University Alumni Association, is a 1997-98 graduate of Leadership Amarillo and Canyon and a 2003 graduate of Leadership Texas.
Dr. Rogers earned a B.S. in Secondary Education and a M.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies from West Texas A&M University and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of North Texas.
Brenda Sweeten, MSSW, LCSW
Brenda Sweeten is a Clinical Assistant Professor and the Director of Field Education program at the University of North Texas (UNT) Department of Social Work. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Baylor University and a Master’s of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, she has spent the majority of her career working as an advocate in the child welfare system and serving children and families involved in the judicial system. She continues to practice as a social study evaluator for step-parent and independent adoptions. Prior to joining academia, Professor Sweeten was the Program Director for CASA of Denton County, Inc. for twelve years before accepting a position as the Title IV-E Child Welfare Coordinator at the University of North Texas, a role she held for three years. Professor Sweeten participates on a number of boards and advisory councils including Court Appointed Special Advocates of Denton County, Denton County Child Protective Services Citizens Review Team, and Education Reach for Texans. Professor Sweeten has conducted numerous presentations at both state and national conferences focusing on supporting former foster youth succeed in post-secondary education as well as training university student affairs personnel, child welfare advocates and professionals about the experiences of youth in foster care and access to higher education.
In 2012 Professor Sweeten co-founded a student organization at UNT called PUSH (Persevere UNTil Success Happens), for which she serves as the faculty advisor. This grassroots effort has evolved into the PUSH Initiative program that is specifically geared toward improving the successful educational outcomes of foster care alumni attending the University of North Texas. She now directs this program and has been appointed as the Foster Care Liaison Officer for the university.
Traci Baker is the Lead PAL (Preparation for Adult Living) Specialist for Region 1 with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. She is responsible for coordinating transitional living services for youth in foster care and foster care alumni ages 14-21 who reside in or are from Region 1. Her primary duties include referring eligible youth and young adults to the aftercare program; completing tuition and fee waiver letters and ETV Verification Forms for eligible youth; facilitating college tours, regional teen conferences, Aging Out Seminars, Welcome to PAL events, graduation celebrations, Christmas parties; attending Circle of Support and other permanency planning meetings; completing NYTD (National Youth in Transition Database) surveys; providing training to CASA volunteers, foster parents, CPS staff, child placement agency staff, and other community stakeholders; monitoring the regional PAL budget and expenditures; monitoring the PAL workload to ensure youth in foster care and foster care alumni are provided and are receiving PAL and Transitional Living services and benefits that they are eligible.
Traci has held quarterly meetings with four of the six institutions of higher education in Region 1 since 2010. She is a member of the West Texas A & M University Advisory Board. Traci is a member of the Foster Care and Education Committee Postsecondary Education Workgroup which is facilitated by the Supreme Court of Texas Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth, and Families. She serves on the Panhandle Coalition for Transition Services which promotes smooth transitions for students with disabilities and collaborates with other agencies to promote advocacy for these students. She is a member of the Panhandle Regional Collaboration which collaborates with Orphan Care Solutions to identify needs of youth in foster care and find solutions for these needs. One of the partnerships developed through this collaboration provides Care Packages on a monthly basis to foster care alumni attending post-secondary education.
Traci earned a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Texas Tech University and a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. She is a Licensed Master Social Worker. Traci has been with DFPS for 31 years and has worked as an Adolescent Case Worker and PAL Specialist.
Jamie Bernstein, J.D., Vice President
Jamie Bernstein is a staff attorney at the Supreme Court of Texas Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families (Children’s Commission). Ms. Bernstein has worked at the Children’s Commission since May 2014 and her primary focus is on the improvement of educational outcomes for children and youth in foster care. In this capacity, Ms. Bernstein provides support for the Children’s Commission Foster Care and Education Committee and its workgroups, including a Postsecondary Education Workgroup. Prior to joining the Children’s Commission, Ms. Bernstein represented children and youth involved in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems in New York, New York. Ms. Bernstein has a B.A. from Vanderbilt University and a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School.
Sheila Bustillos, President/Founding Member
Sheila Bustillos is a Ph.D. candidate in Multicultural Women’s and Gender Studies at Texas Woman’s University. She earned a M.Ed. in Counseling and Guidance with an Emphasis in Higher Education Administration from Texas State University-San Marcos and a BESS in Pre-Physical Therapy with a minor in Health and Wellness from Texas State University. Her dissertation, titled “Foster Care Parenthood: Exploring Multigenerational Involvement,” is a qualitative investigation of cyclical removals in the Texas foster care system focused on former foster care parenthood experiences.
In the past, Sheila has worked for The University of Texas at Austin as a Program Coordinator for a multi-million dollar National Science Foundation Grant and as a Program Coordinator for the Vice President for Student Affairs Office at Texas State University in Retention Management and Planning. Sheila was a co-collaborator of the first foster care support group at Texas State University while employed there and continues to research and support foster alumni in higher education as a supporter of the Texas Woman's University Frontiers Program.
Kathleen Christensen, Ph.D., Founding Member, Secretary
Dr. Kathleen Christensen led Austin Community College Student Services from 2003-2014, and is now retired. In 2005 she initiated the support program for students who aged out of foster care. The program remains strong in support from the Board of Trustees and in the dedication of the administration and staff and the needed resources. She is happy to stay active on the ER4T Board of Directors in encouraging and advocating for such support programs in higher education throughout Texas and nationally.
Dr. Christensen holds a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Educational Administration, a Master’s degree from the University of New Orleans, in Guidance and Counseling, and a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Northern Colorado in Education.
Debra Emerson, LMSW-AP
As the CPS State Director of Permanency, Ms. Emerson is responsible in the development of comprehensive CPS practices around the state and policies that best meet the permanency needs of children and families. Ms. Emerson is responsible for policy and programs associated with services to children, youth and their families; Fostering Connections; Permanency Care Assistance; Family Group Decision Making; Kinship Care; Foster Adopt Development: The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) and Transitional Living Services for Youth. Ms. Emerson interacts routinely with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services staff, representatives from various federal and state agencies, local communities, judges, external stakeholders, families, the general public, legislators and their staff, and national advocacy groups.
Prior to this assignment, Ms. Emerson was the State Division Administrator for Permanency; Program Administrator for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services in Houston, Texas. In this role, Ms. Emerson had oversight for approximately 4, 000 children in the Conservatorship of Harris County, the fourth most populated county in the nation. Ms. Emerson’s other professional experiences include being the CPS Initiatives Director for the Houston Region, the Program Director for the CPS Sexual Abuse Program for Harris County as well as the Program Director for programs responsible for physically abused and neglected children and their families.
Ms. Emerson started her career in CPS over thirty years ago as a sexual abuse caseworker and then as a field supervisor. Ms. Emerson also served as the Assistant Director of the CPS Regional Training Institute, training new caseworkers and supervisors.
Ms. Emerson She earned her Bachelors of Arts from Oregon State University and her Masters of Social Work from the University of Washington.
Monica Faulkner, Ph.D.
Monica Faulkner is a research associate professor and the director of the Texas Institute for Child & Family Wellbeing at the School of Social Work. She oversees multiple projects relating to foster care, child care and teen pregnancy prevention funded by state agencies, private foundations and the federal government. Her primary research interest is teen pregnancy prevention for foster youth and the welfare of teen parents in foster care. She teaches policy, human behavior in the social environment and child welfare related electives. In terms of professional experience, she has worked in both direct practice and clinical settings. She has worked as an advocate for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault at the Houston Area Women’s Center and as a case manager for children in foster care at the Austin Children’s Shelter. Faulkner also worked as a legislative aide for State Representative Garnet Coleman and served as chief of staff for State Representative Jessica Farrar. Faulkner has served on several boards including Latinas on the Rise in Houston and Adoption Knowledge Affiliates in Austin. She received a doctorate in social work from The University of Texas at Austin in 2010. She received a master’s degree in social work from The University of Houston, and a bachelor of liberal arts in government with a minor in Spanish and a bachelor of social work from The University of Texas at Austin.
Javier Flores, Ed.D.
Dr. Javier Flores currently serves as the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at Angelo State University. During his tenure Angelo State University has increased enrollment by 37%. Additionally, Flores has led initiatives leading to increase enrollment and graduation rates of first generation college students, students formerly placed in foster care, students from low socioeconomic families, and students from other under-represented populations. Prior to joining ASU, Flores spent 13 years at Howard College in Big Spring, where he served as dean of student services, vice president of student services and then provost. He also served 16 months as interim provost for Howard College’s SouthWest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf. Dr. Flores, a native of Sonora, Texas, earned his Bachelor of Arts in political science from Texas Tech University, his Master of Arts in educational management and development from New Mexico State University and his Doctor of Education in administration of higher education from Texas Tech.
Andy Homer
Andy Homer has served as Director of Public Affairs for Texas CASA since January of 2014. In that capacity he leads Texas CASA’s legislative advocacy efforts and works on a variety of public policy issues affecting the child welfare system.
Andy’s prior experience includes nearly ten years of service as a staff member in the Texas Senate, including as Chief of Staff. He also directed a Special Senate Interim Committee on Welfare Reform and drafted its report to the legislature. Andy served as Director of Government Relations for over a dozen years for the Texas Public Employees Association, a professional association for active and retired state employees. Andy has worked extensively on state budget issues, on health and human services policy issues, and has been deeply involved in a number of complex public policy issues.
Andy serves as a member of the Public Private Partnership, which advises DFPS on foster care redesign. He also serves as a volunteer advocate with CASA of Travis County. He has a B.A from Kenyon College in Ohio, as well as an MBA and a Master’s degree in Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin.
Christine Lynn Norton, Ph.D.
Christine Lynn Norton, Ph.D., LCSW, is an Associate Professor of Social Work at Texas State University. Dr. Norton helped found the FACES (Foster Care Alumni Creating Educational Success) initiative at Texas State University. She is the Foster Care Advisory Council Chair, the Faculty Advisor for the FACES Student Organization and was recently named the Foster Care Liaison Officer to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Along with developing and co-leading the FACES initiative, Dr. Norton has conducted peer reviewed research on foster care alumni in higher education and is also a lead researcher in adolescent and young adult mental health, with a focus on outdoor behavioral healthcare. She has presented nationally and internationally on her research in this area, and is a proponent of making therapeutic outdoor adventure experiences accessible to youth in foster care and foster care alumni in higher education. Dr. Norton utilizes a strengths-based, trauma-informed approach in both direct practice and program development with former foster youth. Dr. Norton has been on the Education Reach for Texans Advisory Board since its inception, and has presented on her work with FACES at numerous Reach Convenings. Dr. Norton earned a B.A. in Communication Studies from the University of Kansas, an M.S. in Experiential Education from Minnesota State-Mankato, an M.A. in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago, and a PhD in Clinical Social Work from Loyola University Chicago.
Keri Rogers, Ph.D., Founding Member
Keri Rogers, most recently served as the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for the Lone Star College System. She served as the Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs at Sam Houston State University from 2008-2012. In this position, she focused on success initiatives for various populations of students including former foster youth. She also served as an Associate Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, Director of the First-Year Experience, and Director of the Lowman Student Center and Student Activities at Sam Houston State University. Prior to working at SHSU, she served as the Director of the Jack B. Kelley Student Center and Director of Student Activities at West Texas A&M University and Coordinator of Leadership Development at the University of North Texas. She also has taught the first-year experience courses and graduate courses in higher education.
Dr. Rogers served as the vice president and treasurer of Education Reach for Texans and has twice served on the Higher Education Sub-Committee of the Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families of the Supreme Court of Texas. She is a past-president of the Texas Association of College and University Student Personnel Administrators, has served as a board member of the West Texas A&M University Alumni Association, is a 1997-98 graduate of Leadership Amarillo and Canyon and a 2003 graduate of Leadership Texas.
Dr. Rogers earned a B.S. in Secondary Education and a M.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies from West Texas A&M University and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of North Texas.
Brenda Sweeten, MSSW, LCSW
Brenda Sweeten is a Clinical Assistant Professor and the Director of Field Education program at the University of North Texas (UNT) Department of Social Work. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Baylor University and a Master’s of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, she has spent the majority of her career working as an advocate in the child welfare system and serving children and families involved in the judicial system. She continues to practice as a social study evaluator for step-parent and independent adoptions. Prior to joining academia, Professor Sweeten was the Program Director for CASA of Denton County, Inc. for twelve years before accepting a position as the Title IV-E Child Welfare Coordinator at the University of North Texas, a role she held for three years. Professor Sweeten participates on a number of boards and advisory councils including Court Appointed Special Advocates of Denton County, Denton County Child Protective Services Citizens Review Team, and Education Reach for Texans. Professor Sweeten has conducted numerous presentations at both state and national conferences focusing on supporting former foster youth succeed in post-secondary education as well as training university student affairs personnel, child welfare advocates and professionals about the experiences of youth in foster care and access to higher education.
In 2012 Professor Sweeten co-founded a student organization at UNT called PUSH (Persevere UNTil Success Happens), for which she serves as the faculty advisor. This grassroots effort has evolved into the PUSH Initiative program that is specifically geared toward improving the successful educational outcomes of foster care alumni attending the University of North Texas. She now directs this program and has been appointed as the Foster Care Liaison Officer for the university.