BFT’s latest news and stories

At Bringing Families Together, we know parenting can be both rewarding and challenging. That’s why we are excited to announce something new for our community: in-person Parent Cafés . For years, our virtual Parent Cafés have provided a welcoming space for parents and caregivers to connect, reflect and support one another. Now, we are expanding this opportunity by offering in-person gatherings at our office , creating another way for parents to build community and strengthen t

Some stories are worth the wait to share. Back in December, two siblings who had spent 1,050 days in foster care officially became brother and sister in a forever family. And while the adoption day itself has already passed, we’re excited to finally publicly celebrate this beautiful moment. For nearly three years, these two children navigated the uncertainty that can come with foster care. Through it all, they had each other. Their bond as siblings remained strong as they wai

TLSS Specialist | Transitional Living Team At Bringing Families Together, Employee of the Month is always special — because it’s chosen by peers. And this month, our team recognized someone who has already made a powerful impact in a short amount of time. We’re proud to celebrate Kyle Dunn  as our February Employee of the Month ! 💜 Kyle joined BFT in June 2025 as a TLSS Specialist  on our Transitional Living Team , working directly with teens and young adults preparing to ag

At Bringing Families Together, we know parenting is both rewarding and challenging—and no one should have to navigate it alone. That’s why we’re excited to announce our 2026 Winter–Spring Parent Cafés , a series of FREE virtual workshops created to support and uplift parents and caregivers. Our Parent Cafés provide a welcoming, judgment-free space where you can connect with others, share experiences, and gain practical tools for everyday parenting. Each Café is rooted in the

Have you ever wondered what it takes to become a foster or adoptive parent? Curious—but not sure where to begin? Bringing Families Together (BFT) is here to help guide you every step of the way. We are excited to continue offering our Foster Care & Adoption Information Sessions  designed to help individuals and families explore this journey in a welcoming, supportive and no-pressure environment. ✨ Whether you’re just starting to consider fostering or adoption or are ready to

Bringing Families Together is excited to announce our next Parenting+Plus Parent Support Class Series , beginning this March! 💜 This supportive, skill-building series is designed to help parents strengthen relationships, build confidence, and develop positive parenting strategies that support family stability and reunification. If you’re ready to grow, learn, and receive encouragement in a welcoming environment, Parenting+Plus is here for you! 🗓 Class Details Wednesdays beg

Family Development Specialist | Resource Team At Bringing Families Together, our Employee of the Month isn’t just about hitting goals — it’s about being present, stepping in wherever needed,  and making an impact that ripples across programs and into the lives of children and families. That’s exactly why we’re proud to honor Chad Baker  as our January Employee of the Month ! 💜 Chad has been part of the BFT family since October 2012 , bringing depth, dedication and heart to h

Resource Development Supervisor | Resource Team As the year comes to a close, we’re honored to recognize someone whose steady presence and problem-solving skills make a real difference every day — Carol Pine , our December Employee of the Month . 💜 Carol joined Bringing Families Together  in November 2020  and serves as our Resource Development Supervisor  on the Resource Team , where she supports children and families, and also works with private adoption . She holds a B.S.

The Bringing Families Together team gathered at the beautiful River Camp  at the Saint Louis Zoo  for our Annual Team Holiday Party on December 6 — a favorite tradition and a chance to relax, laugh and enjoy time with one another outside of our day-to-day work for our children and families. This year’s theme was animals , and our team truly delivered. From playful animal prints to creative costumes (including a few show-stopping onesies), the room was filled with personality,

The holidays can be a joyful time — but for many older youth and young adults transitioning out of foster care, this season can also feel uncertain and isolating. That’s why moments of community care matter so deeply. This holiday season, Bringing Families Together  is incredibly grateful to Carrollton Bank  for adopting several of our Transitional Living Scattered Site (TLSS) youth  and collecting thoughtful gifts just for them. Their generosity is a powerful reminder that w

This month, we’re celebrating someone who’s quickly made his mark at Bringing Families Together — Daqez Davis , Family Service Worker  on our Case Management Team  and our November Employee of the Month!  💜 Although Daqez joined BFT just this past June , he’s already earned the admiration of his peers — and this recognition means even more because our Employee of the Month honors are voted on by team members themselves. Daqez brings both heart and presence  to his work with

We’re excited to welcome Nick Trimble  to Bringing Families Together ! Nick joined our Case Management Team  in October 2025  as a Family Service Worker . Nick comes to BFT with experience as a Foster Care Case Manager at Epworth Children and Family Services, bringing a strong understanding of the challenges and rewards of supporting children and families in foster care. When asked what he loves most about working at BFT, Nick shared: “My favorite thing about working with chi

We’re excited to welcome Brianna Tippin  to Bringing Families Together ! Brianna joined our Resource Team  in July 2025  as a Family Development Specialist . Brianna brings enthusiasm, dedication, and a passion for supporting children and families. Her favorite part of the role? “I enjoy working with my team. Meeting all my new families has been a great and rewarding experience.” With her A.S., B.S., and currently pursuing her M.S.W. , Brianna is committed to learning, growin

We’re excited to introduce Kyle Dunn , who joined our Transitional Living Team  in June 2025  as a TLSS Specialist ! Kyle works with teens and young adults in our Transitional Living Program , helping youth prepare for independence and providing guidance so they can confidently step into adulthood when they leave foster care. His favorite part of the role? “My favorite thing about working at BFT is seeing the young adults come into our Transitional Living Program with limited

We’re excited to introduce Ashley Smith , who joined our Case Management Team  in October 2025  as a Family Service Worker ! Ashley brings a strong background in behavioral health and education, having served as a Crisis Response Clinician  with Behavioral Health Response and as a substitute teacher with both the Hazelwood School District and Confluence Academy. Her experience equips her to support children and families through challenges while helping them build stability an

We’re so happy to welcome Vickie Desire Nasirumbi  to Bringing Families Together!  She joined our Case Management Team  in June 2025  as a Family Service Worker , bringing international experience, deep compassion and a heart for advocacy to her work with children and families. Before joining BFT, Vickie Desire served as a Social Worker with Save the Children–Africa  and United Nations Women , where she supported families through crisis, education, and empowerment programs. H

We’re thrilled to introduce Kelly Selby , who joined our Parenting+Plus Program  in July 2025 as a Family Support Specialist ! Kelly brings with her a wealth of experience supporting parents and children with disabilities, trauma and mental health needs—including work with families involved in foster care. For the last eight years before joining BFT, she has dedicated her career to helping families strengthen relationships, build resilience, and find hope through education an

At Bringing Families Together, our TLSS (Transitional Living Scattered Site) program is all about helping youth build the skills, confidence and support networks they need for independence—and that includes caring for both their practical needs and their emotional well-being. On October 26, our TLSS team hosted another inspiring monthly training filled with learning, reflection and connection. 💼 Building Strong Foundations The group began by updating their portfolios of imp

We’re excited to introduce another incredible addition to our Bringing Families Together family — Gillian Blount , who joined our Case Management Team in July 2025 as a Family Service Worker! Gillian brings both passion and strong professional experience to her role, holding M.S. and B.S. degrees  and several years of experience supporting children, youth and families across Arkansas. Before joining BFT, she worked as a Qualified Behavioral Health Professional and Case Manage

We’re thrilled to welcome Daqez Davis  to our Bringing Families Together family! Daqez joined our Case Management Team in June 2025 as a Family Service Worker , and he’s already making an impact with his steady presence, dedication, and commitment to the families we serve. With a B.S. degree  and four years of experience in behavioral health , Daqez brings both professional expertise and a genuine heart for helping others. His background has shaped his understanding of how co