Kelli was a long term volunteer with A Family For Every Child before finding her place with our organization. Since 2012, her position has grown to include Child Recruitment Services as well as the Volunteer Coordinator for the organization.
“I consider it a privilege to be a part of this organization and to work alongside such dedicated individuals. I firmly believe that there truly is a family for every child.” Kelli is exuberant about her work and eager to form partnerships with agencies and social workers nationwide. “We all have the same goal in mind-to find stable, loving homes for waiting foster children. By providing free recruitment services, we can achieve this goal together.”
While Kelli’s work is her passion, she likes to spend her free time with her husband, two grown children as well as with many friends and relatives. While they enjoy trips to the Oregon Coast, University of Oregon football, and the beauty that is the Pacific Northwest, they are also self-described nerds and their home is filled with their memorabilia collection.
Charlene is the Executive Administrative Assistant/Project Coordinator to Christy Obie-Barrett and A Family for Every Child. Charlene brings a wide variety of experience, compassion, never ending enthusiasm and commitment to whatever task/assignment/project lies ahead. Especially, when it comes to “A Family for Every Child” and the programs/people/families and children it affects. Just ask her, she will tell anyone who will listen.
Anthonia graduated from UCLA with her BA in History in 2011 before moving to Eugene the following year. Wanting to do work that would have a positive impact on the community, she made the leap from marketing to working with a A Family For Every Child in the Permanency Department. Anthonia actively works with youth and mentors to create and foster successful matches. She is a mother and a mentor and in her free time enjoys playing with her son, home improvement projects and naps.
Jen has worked as an event coordinator for more than 12 years. She feels no occasion is too small to celebrate and loves it when all the big plans and tiny details culminate into a successful event. Prior to AFFEC, Jen managed events for King Estate Winery, Iris Vineyards and the University of Oregon Graduate School.
Jen is passionate about great events and supporting the AFFEC mission. “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” –Steve Jobs
When she’s not planning the next event, you’ll often find Jen cheering at her kids’ many sporting events, browsing estate sales, or exploring the outdoors with her husband and three sons.
My name is Jammie Trimble and I am a 41 year old proud mother of 6 (one step-daughter who is 26 years old, three biological children-a daughter who is 24, a son who is 21 and another daughter who is 14-and I am in the process of fostering to adopt my great nephew and niece who are 7 and 3 years old). I was born and raised in Portland, Oregon and I have been married to my significant other for more than eleven years. My family is very active and we are always on the go. We love to travel and we enjoy spending time together as a family. We also love to watch my daughter Tyra (14 years old) play basketball and we are eager to watch how far it will take her.
I elected to get into the adoption field due to my current situation with being a relative foster/ adoptive parent. I enjoy getting to know new families and supporting them in adding to their family. I have found adoption to be hard, but very rewarding work. It has been one of my greatest challenges navigating the DHS system and providing adequate support to young children who have experienced severe trauma. I also enjoy learning new ways to support my children through all of the training that is available to adoption workers and it also helps me to offer support to my assigned families. I previously worked in the mental health/addictions/ criminal justice field, so I am no stranger to dealing with difficult issues. I pride myself in being a good listener, an advocate and good at following through. I look forward to all this year has to offer.
Heather is one of our adoption workers in the Eugene/Springfield area. She also serves families in Douglas county. Heather has dedicated her life to working with children and families in one way or another. She continually focuses on how to make the world a better place, and what we can do to ensure the well-being of children. She holds a degree in Elementary Education from The University of South Florida in Tampa. She taught in Tampa for over a decade. She took a sabbatical from teaching to volunteer with a donation based traveling kitchen that feeds homeless people across the country. This brought her to Northern California where she spent several more years teaching before relocating to Springfield, and becoming an Adoption Worker. Becoming an Adoption Worker has made her really happy, and her background in education gives her a unique perspective of children.
When she has the opportunity she can also be found substitute teaching in Bethel and 4J school districts in Eugene. When she has free time she enjoys making upcycled and useful crafts, embroidering, sewing, and spending time with her animals. Heather’s friends would describe her as fiercely loyal, creative, and a problem solver. Her students’ have said that she makes learning fun, and her clients have said that she goes the extra mile.
