Administration
April Steele, J.D.
Executive Director
asteele@childshare.org
818.649.8019
April joined the staff of Child S.H.A.R.E. in 2008 as Executive Director. April’s passion for children in the foster system developed as a practicing attorney who represented abused children while they were in the custody of the state. Seeing a tremendous need for safe and stable homes for children, April shifted her focus away from legal advocacy and towards organizations that were working to find and support foster and adoptive families. Her experience as a small business owner, children’s advocate, pastor and lawyer uniquely suit her to lead the organization. April holds a Bachelors in History and Political Science from LeTourneau University, a J.D. from Gonzaga University and is a licensed minister in the Church of the Nazarene. She is wife of one, mother of two and spends most of her free time watching old movies or doing laundry.
Lydia Smith
Director of Operations
lsmith@childshare.org
818.649.8009
Lydia’s interest in foster care began when she was 15 years old and her parents became foster parents. She was able to see her family providing a safe home for children, which influenced her decision to possibly foster or adopt herself someday.
She earned her undergraduate degree from Christian Heritage College in Counseling Psychology and furthered her education with graduate courses in Counseling at California Baptist University. She has worked as a Counselor and Social Worker. Eventually she returned to school and earned a Masters in Management at the University of Redland’s School of Business.
In September 2008, Lydia joined Child S.H.A.R.E. as Director of Operations, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the agency. Lydia is happily married and enjoys various activities with her husband such as trying new restaurants in the LA area.
Program Services
Ellen Joe
Director of Recruitment
Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside Counties
ejoe@childshare.org
818.649.8004
With 8 years experience in various social service settings, Ellen’s passion for helping children in the foster care system can be traced back to the two years she spent working in Chinese orphanages, where God showed her His heart for the numerous children waiting for forever families. Upon her return to the United States, she realized that the equivalent population of waiting children was in the foster care system and began work with foster youth and their biological parents. She went on to get a Master of Social Welfare degree from U.C. Berkeley, concentrated in management and planning. She also has a B.A. in Peace and Justice studies from Wellesley College and Certificate in Biblical Studies from Biola University, where she was further convinced God calls His Church to respond to the needs of a hurting world.. She speaks Spanish and basic Mandarin and loves peanut butter and chocolate ice cream.
Andrew Henck
Director of Family Support
Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside Counties
ahenck@childshare.org
818.649.8020
Andrew came to Child S.H.A.R.E. to fill the new position of Director of Family Support in May 2009. His extended family’s experiences with adoptions have shaped his interest in working to find safe and loving homes for children who need them. He has served in multiple volunteer positions in churches, educational, political and social service organizations. With an undergraduate degree from Point Loma Nazarene University in Managerial & Organizational Communication, he has a strong commitment to the values and mission of nonprofit organizations like Child S.H.A.R.E. Andrew enjoys traveling, discovering new restaurants and browsing his favorite bookstores.
Recruiter – Position open
Orange County/Riverside
Job Description – CLICK HERE
Lindsay Parker
Orange County/Riverside
lparker@childshare.org
714.619.0254
Through an internship as a Child Advocate at CAST (Child Abuse Service Team), Lindsay’s passion for working with abused and neglected children sprang to life. After receiving a B.A. in Psychology at Chapman University, she went on to earn a Master of Social Work, with an emphasis in Child Welfare, from California State University, Fullerton. Lindsay’s educational background, strong desire to help children in need of safe homes and internship with the County of Orange Adoptions Unit made Child S.H.A.R.E. a logical fit. Lindsay and her husband share the same heart for providing safe homes to children and are currently in the process of becoming licensed adoptive parents. For Lindsay, the hard work and heartache that is so often associated with this social issue are important because every child is loved by God and, “The risk of my heart breaking every day, over and over, is worth it, because these children live through the unimaginable, and need adults to stand up for them and make it right.”
Bob Levy
Los Angeles County
blevy@childshare.org
818.649.8018
Working for Child S.H.A.R.E. has been the ongoing work that God started when Bob was a boy. At an early age, Bob found himself in the foster care system. It was painful to be without his family, but through the experience he learned a lot about when it means to be a family. While in foster care, Bob moved to 4 different homes in 2 years. Switching schools and friends was hard on him, but eventually Bob was reunited with his father. Bob didn’t really think about foster care or adoption until he himself was already the father of three, and watched a short Child S.H.A.R.E. video.
Bob says, “That’s when the light went on!” He and his wife Carlotta have been foster parents to 4 children and have adopted their daughter through the help of Child S.H.A.R.E. “We can’t imagine trying to do this without the support and community of Child S.H.A.R.E. And now there is no greater privilege and honor that I could have than being able to devote my days to finding healthy, loving homes for children who are just like me.”
Lauren McKinley
Los Angeles County
lmckinley@childshare.org
818.649.8014
Lauren has had a passion for working with children for as long as she can remember. After graduating from Wheaton College, her desire to learn about how to most effectively meet the needs of children around the world led her to Fuller Suminary where she is currently finishing a Master’s Degree in Cross Cultural Studies with a specialization in Children at Risk. Lauren joined the Child S.H.A.R.E. team in September 2009 with extensive experience in partnering with church leadership and lay leaders to coordinate outreach events in their communities. This experience in working with a broad spectrum of churches stirs her to believe that the Church is a community of people that can make a great impact on the lives of the children in the foster care system. She treasures the privilege of walking alongside churches as they build flourishing foster/adoptive ministries. Lauren is married to a wonderful husband, Khalid, and together they plan to adopt in the future.
Debra Hoffman
Program Assistant
dhoffman@childshare.org
714.619.0245
Debra joined Child S.H.A.R.E. in a temporary capacity in August 2009 and was promoted to a permanent position in January 2010. Her strong administrative background and attention to detail is an asset to Child S.H.A.R.E. as she assists the Director of Family Support in caring for foster families and the children they serve. When not working, Debra volunteers with Gleaners, a Christian outreach to Orange County inmates. Debra plans to become a licensed foster parent within the year. Debra enjoys reading and spending time with family.
Development
Jamie Baker,
Director of Development
jbaker@childshare.org
818.649.8011
Jamie joined the Child S.H.A.R.E. team in March 2009. He brings 13 years of non-profit development experience to the agency. Prior to his work with Child S.H.A.R.E., Jamie held positions with organizations such as the Seattle Youth Symphony, The Cocoon House, Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services and the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation. Jamie was attracted to Child S.H.A.R.E. by its dedication to solving the Los Angeles foster care crisis. Jamie is also a published playwright and sometimes actor. Jamie and his wife Devra, have 3 adorable children, 2 of which were adopted through the foster care system.
Shoshana Puccia
Assistant Director of Development
spuccia@childshare.org
818.649.8013
Shoshana brings a dynamic background in sales and marketing to the Development Department. Shoshana is an entrepreneur and a high profile marketing, corporate sponsorship and hospitality industry consultant. Her clients have included: the J. Paul Getty Trust, the LA Opera and the Geffen Playhouse. She began her career at Universal Studios and brings with her over 15 years of international and domestic sales and marketing experience. Shoshana’s transition from the corporate world into the social service sector was inspired by her mother who has welcomed over 60 foster children into her home. 6 years ago Shoshana was honored to receive two new sisters and one new brother, who her mother adopted into their amazing family. Vivian, Xavier and Joanna bring joy and magic into Shoshana’s life every day and she is ecstatic to be able to usher other foster children into loving homes with Child S.H.A.R.E. Fluent in English, Spanish, Italian and French, Shoshana exercises her linguistic skills at Child S.H.A.R.E., working to engage the Hispanic population.
Amanda Turek,
Special Events Manager
aturek@childshare.org
818.649.8016
Amanda joined the Child S.H.A.R.E. team in May 2008 after working 5 years in domestic violence prevention fields. She is a state certified domestic violence advocate and is regularly called on to speak on related issues. Viewing the epidemic of domestic violence and child abuse as closely linked social services, Amanda naturally transitioned into foster care advocacy when she joined Child S.H.A.R.E. As the Special Events Manager, Amanda channels her exuberant energy into planning annual fundraising and family support events. Utilizing her Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of California at Santa Barbara, Amanda regularly contributes to the print and viral media publications at Child S.H.A.R.E. as well as assisting with corporate and individual donor development. Proudly boasting of her status as a shining example of a foster child success story, Amanda states that she “won the adoption lottery” when welcomed into the Turek family. Amanda and her identical twin sister Christy were adopted as infants through Holy Family Services in Pasadena, California.
Jenna Harding
Development Assistant
jharding@childshare.org
818.649.8010
Jenna arrived at Child S.H.A.R.E. from Montana in June of 2009. After completing her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Northwest Nazarene University in Idaho, Jenna moved to California to further her education. Compelled by her passion for social justice, Jenna has traveled through Canada, Taiwan, the Czeck Republic, India, Malaysia, Guatemala and Peru working to encourage education, development and equality among its’ citizens. Jenna is proud to combine her deep Christian faith with her life-long passion to care for and educate children with Child S.H.A.R.E. Through her role as the Development Assistant, Jenna is honored to assist Child S.H.A.R.E. in securing successful futures for abused children. Jenna is currently persuing her Masters degree in Education from Point Loma Nazarene University.