BFT’s latest news and stories

We are celebrating an incredible milestone and an incredible BFT team member as we recognize Sarah Shands for 10 years of dedication, compassion and impact at Bringing Families Together. Over the past decade, Sarah has touched the lives of countless children and families through her work in several roles at BFT, including Family Service Worker, Family Development Specialist, Lead Family Development Specialist and Mentor Coordinator. And what an impact she has made! A Decade o

Family Service Worker | Case Management Team Sometimes, making an impact starts with something as simple as showing up — with a willingness to help, a warm smile and a genuine heart for children and families. That is exactly what Mary Chimpaye has been doing since joining Bringing Families Together in April 2026. Welcome, Mary! 💜 And this month, her peers recognized those qualities by selecting her as our August Employee of the Month! 💜 As we celebrate Mary with this specia

Please join us in welcoming Christopher Pate to Bringing Families Together! 💜 Christopher joined our Case Management Team in June 2026 as a Family Service Worker. Christopher earned his Bachelor of Science in Professional Interdisciplinary Studies with focuses in English, Education and Sociology from Harris-Stowe State University in 2014. He brings a passion for helping children learn and helping people live better lives — a passion that aligns beautifully with BFT’s mission

June is Reunification Month — a time to recognize that, whenever it is safe and possible, the ultimate goal of foster care is to support children in returning home or finding permanency with their families. At Bringing Families Together, we are honored to celebrate two incredible permanency milestones achieved this month! 💜Congratulations to Nick Trimble, Family Service Worker, on a successful reunification — a father being reunited with his baby boy, Joey. This milestone re

Family Development Specialist | Resource Team At Bringing Families Together, meaningful connections are at the heart of everything we do — and our June Employee of the Month, Andrew Gray, has a special gift for building those connections. 💜 Employee of the Month is chosen by peers, making this recognition a special reflection of the respect and appreciation Andrew has earned from the people who work alongside him every day. Andrew joined BFT in August 2024 as a Family Develo

Celebrating Teamwork, Dedication and the heart of BFT At Bringing Families Together, our Employee of the Month recognition is always meaningful because it comes directly from the people who work alongside each other every day. Being selected by peers is a special reflection of the trust, respect and appreciation teammates have for one another. 💜 We are honored to celebrate two outstanding members of our BFT team as our May Employee of the Month: Kelly Martinez and Dawn Mathe

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month—a time to raise awareness, strengthen families and remind our community that every child deserves to feel safe, supported and cared for. At Bringing Families Together, this month was more than a campaign. It’s a reflection of the work happening every day. Throughout April, we shared messages focused on prevention, support and action. We talked about the importance of protective factors—like strong relationships, access to resources an

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 the

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 F

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

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 his r

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 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 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

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

Community Services Coordinator | Parenting+Plus Team This month, we’re proud to celebrate someone whose work has shaped Bringing Families Together for nearly two decades — Karen Johnson , our Community Services Coordinator and Internship Coordinator . Karen joined BFT in September 2007 , and for 18 years , she has been a cornerstone of our mission to strengthen families and support lasting reunification. She leads with both heart and expertise, combining her background in edu