BFT’s latest news and stories

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 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

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

We’re excited to introduce one of the newer members of our Bringing Families Together family— Shelby Howard , who joined our Case Management Team in June 2025 as a Family Service Worker! Shelby came to BFT with 20 years of experience in social services , including leadership roles supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, work with children and youth in residential care, and service with the Tennessee Children’s Division. His extensive backgroun

What picture comes to mind when you hear the term “social worker”? If you are like many Americans, you pictured a woman. Much like nurses and teachers, many think of social services as a female-dominated field. These disciplines require patience, empathy, and a caring spirit to be successful. Women are indeed drawn to such jobs. For example, statistics show that about 79% of social workers are women versus about 21% of men. However, more Americans are breaking from traditiona

At Bringing Families Together, we believe that preparing youth for independence means more than just providing housing—it’s about equipping them with the practical skills, confidence and support systems they need to thrive. That’s why our TLSS ( Transitional Living Scattered Site ) program holds monthly trainings designed to teach, encourage, and empower our youth in real and meaningful ways. Led by our dedicated TLSS Coordinator, Angel Crawford , and supported by our TLSS Sp