Steve Bewsey, BA, CYC
Academy President, Trainer and Consultant
Corpus Christi, TX
Steve Bewsey Steve Bewsey is a Certified Child & Youth Care Practitioner who has completed 45 years of service with foster and homeless youth in residential treatment, street outreach, emergency shelter, transitional living, and supportive housing programs. Steve has provided consultation and training to over a hundred youth serving agencies and has trained thousands of…
Frank Eckles, BA, CYC-P
Executive Director, Academy for Competent Youth Work
College Station, TX
Frank is the Academy’s Executive Director, author of the Child and Youth Care: Foundations Course, co-author of the Youth Thrive™: Protective and Promotive Factors for Healthy Development and Well-Being training, and a contributing editor of the Families Thrive: Protective and Promotive Factors to Enhance Thriving for All Children, Youth, & Families training.
Cindy Carraway-Wilson, MA, CYC-P
Brunswick, ME
Cindy has a master’s degree in psychology from Duquesne University and is a certified Child and Youth Care practitioner at the professional level through the Child and Youth Care Certification Board (CYCCB). Cindy is currently the Vice President of CYCCB’s Board of Directors and is co-editor of the Families Thrive: Protective and Promotive Factors to Enhance Thriving for All Children, Youth, & Families training.
Jeananne Reich, BA, CYC-P
Noblesville, IN
Jeananne is a CYC Practitioner at the Professional Level and has a passion for professional development. With over 20 years in the field, her background includes work in residential facilities, substance abuse centers, and various after school settings. She has direct service and administrative experience. She is an instructor for the American Heart Association, Safe…
Hector Sapien, LCSW, CYC-P
Sedgewick, ME
Hector is a clinical child & youth care practitioner who has provided practical learning opportunities to people of all ages and in various roles and settings. He has an extensive history of cultivating and leading teams to excel under very challenging conditions. Hector is currently in private practice in Maine. Hector began work as a child…
James Freeman, MA, CYC-P
Camarillo, CA
James Freeman, MA, CYC-P is the director of training at Casa Pacifica Centers for Children and Families in southern California. He has over two decades of direct experience in out-of-school, education, family camping, residential, and community based programs and has served as an international child and youth care consultant with a background in organizational development…
Jerriann Chandler-Ochoa, MS, CYC-P
Jerriann Chandler-Ochoa is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and graduate from the School of Psychology at Fuller Theological Seminary. She has worked in mental health for over 19 years in various settings ranging from schools to group homes to community mental health. At Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services in Los Angeles, California, she has…
Sister Madeleine Rybicki, MA, CYC-P
Sister Madeleine is a national and international trainer and consultant. She has a BS degree in Education from Duquesne University and an MA in Child Development and Child Care from the University of Pittsburgh where she received the Special Department Alumni Award in 2008. Sister is a member of the religious congregation of the Sisters…
Tammy L. Hopper, MSW, CYC-P
Tammy Hopper currently serves as the Chief Strategic Initiatives Officer for the National Safe Place Network. She has almost 30 years of experience working with and on behalf of youth via direct care, supervisory and clinical roles. As a youth care professional dedicated to positive systems change, Tammy has served as a lead advocate and…
Jessica McKinley, MLD CYC-P
Jessica has worked in the out of school time (OST) field since 2010 with a focus on securing grant funding and management statewide. She completed an AmeriCorps term of service prior to her leadership role. Jessica is committed to out of school time and is a member of the Provider’s Council for the Indiana Afterschool Network and sits on the OST Board through the Indiana Department of Education.
Deb Getz, Re.D, CYC-P
Dr. Getz is committed to supporting the professionalization of youth work in the U.S. Throughout her 30+ years as a faculty member in the IU School of Public Health-Bloomington she led the development of the major and minor in youth development and engages in private consulting to support design, delivery, and evaluation of a wide of professional development topics in youth development, child protection, personal financial education, and community engagement.
Jean Wright, MS, CYC-P
Jean has degrees in Early Childhood Education, Business Administration and Business Management from Indiana Wesleyan University; and has served over 34 years in the field of education and social services. Mrs. Wright is passionate about the education and nonprofit leadership field where she can impact the lives of children, youth and families.
Donnica Carpenter, MBA, LMHC, LPC, CCTP, CYC-P
Donnica is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (Indiana) and Licensed Professional Counselor (Georgia) with more than 20 years of experience supporting diverse client populations through compassionate, evidence-based care. She is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), a Certified Child and Youth Care Practitioner (CYC-P), and a certified instructor in both Mental Health First Aid and Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR), reflecting her dedication to crisis response and preventative education.
Autumn Bednarski, CYC-A
Autumn is the Co-Site Coordinator at Neu-Life Community Development here in Milwaukee WI. Neu-Life is a non-profit youth organization where high school and middle school workers are hired to learn and develop skills that they will need in life. She loves her job so much and knowing that she is in the position to make a difference in the lives of the youth is just icing on the cake.
Anna McGovern, BA, CYC-P
Anna is a certified Child and Youth Care trainer with over 14 years in the CYC field. Originating from Massachusetts Anna received her B.A. in Political Science and Chinese from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. In 2014 she made the trek across the country and currently lives in Alaska with her spouse, and two very energetic and adventurous boys.
Jenny Stuckey, MA, CYC-P
Jenny grew up in Alaska and has served children and families through several youth development organizations across the United States. She began her youth development career in Oregon and Florida as a leader for her daughter’s Girl Scout troops. After moving back to Alaska in 2001, she began working at Camp Fire Alaska and served in various roles, including Manager of School Age Programs. Upon moving to Texas in 2011, she served as the Executive Director of the Austin Sunshine Camps. Most recently, Jenny has worked directly with children as a second-grade teacher in Thrall, Texas.
Erin Moriarty, MS, CYC-P
Erin is an Afterschool Program Specialist at the Alaska Afterschool Network with a primary focus on program quality. Erin believes CYC practitioners can contribute to positive youth development and help young people build protective factors when they provide quality programming. In her current role she provides supports to programs across the state of Alaska through training CYC practitioners and leading programs through quality initiatives.
Lily Tegner, BS, CYC-P
Lily is the AmeriCorps Program Specialist at the Alaska Afterschool Network, a program of the Alaska Children's Trust, where she works to recruit, train, and support AmeriCorps members serving as STEM Coaches at OST programs in Alaska. An AmeriCorps VISTA Alum (2021-2022), she previously held the position of Afterschool STEM Expansion VISTA for the Network, where she facilitated the distribution of STEM resources to Alaska’s afterschool programs.
Nichole Boyden, CYC-P
Nichole has devoted her career to working with young people through Camp Fire Alaska since November 2011. She started her Camp Fire journey as a Program Staff and is currently the Director of Operations. She is passionate about providing opportunities for youth to learn and develop skills that will help them grow to be the person they want to be.
Zoe Davidman, BS, CYC-P
Zoe is the Child and Youth Development Trainer for Heart of Oregon Corps YouthBuild program. She feels really good to know she am in a position to make a positive impact on young people’s lives. She has a wide variety of experience with children and youth ranging from preschool teacher, to nannying to leading teen programs at summer camps.
Joshua McKinley, CYC-P
Joshua has over 12 years of knowledge and practice, both in and out of school, in programming and relationship building. Joshua served four terms as an AmeriCorps volunteer and spent five years as an Exceptional Education Paraprofessional at his local elementary school. Currently a Program Specialist at Boys & Girls Clubs in Indiana, he oversees Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) & Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) programs, ensuring thousands of Indiana youth receive healthy and nutritional snacks and meals.
Thomas Azzarrella, BS
Thomas is the Executive Director of the Alaska Afterschool Network, a program of the Alaska Children’s Trust. He has over 20 years of experience in helping schools and communities develop solutions to expand access to afterschool.
Ashley Moore, CYC
Ashley serves as the Program Coordinator for The Journey, a fellowship that centers renewal and exploration for youth workers. She is a proud recipient of the 2024 Dr. Carol Kelly Newcomer Award from ACYCP—an honor recognizing emerging leaders in the youth work profession. Ashley is deeply passionate about youth worker well-being, with a mission to cultivate spaces where those who pour into others can also be poured into.
Letisha Paige, BS, CYC-P
Leticia, although born in Chicago, grew up in Fort Wayne. After graduating from New Haven High School, she earned her degree at Purdue Fort Wayne in biology with an associate’s degree in chemical methods. It was the natural route to take for this self-proclaimed “science buff.”
Jessica Ryker, CYC
Jessica is the Academic Success Program Director at The Boys and Girls Club of Montgomery County. She really enjoys making sure the programming at the local club is the highest quality. She has over 10 years of experience in youth care and development in various settings. Her goal is to give every child the chance to grow and thrive at their own pace in any setting. She has been ABA certified for 4 years.
Tanner Rhone, BS, CYC-A
Tanner has been developing and managing programs for children, adolescents and families for over 15 years. He received his B.S. in Education from East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas. Throughout his time working with youth and family services, Tanner has developed a passion for breaking down barriers that hinder learning and success. As the…
Kim Frierson, DSW, CYC-P
Kim Frierson earned her BA in Psychology from the University of Kentucky, her Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Louisville, and a Doctor of Social Work from Tulane University and is a certified Child and Youth Care practitioner with over 15 years of experience in youth services. In addition to her…
Stacy L. Meadows, MSSW, CSW, CYC-A
Stacy Meadows is a Certified Social Worker in the state of Kentucky. She has an MSSW from the University of Louisville and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Work from Spalding University. She completed the Public Child Welfare Certification Program and then worked for the local Department for Community Based Service conducting intake and…
Katie Carter, MPA
Katie Carter is the Director of Research, Education, and Public Policy at National Safe Place Network, where she coordinates training opportunities and services for member agencies. She holds a Masters of Public Affairs from Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs and spent five years at a state-level youth advocacy organization, leading efforts on…
Shauna Brooks, MSSW, CYC-P
Shauna Brooks found her rightful place as a social worker after fifteen years of project management experience in the information technology field. She started her first job as a youth care worker with the Florence Crittenton Agency (FCA) in 2010 while enrolled in the College of Social Work bachelor’s program at the University of Tennessee…
April Carthorn, BA, CYC-P
April Carthorn is the membership manager and a training & technical assistance specialist at National Safe Place Network. April brings over 30 years of education and on-the-ground work experience on behalf of youth, young adults and their families that includes runaway & homeless youth, child welfare and education systems. She is driven by empathy for…
Deborah A. Michelle Hurley, BS, CYC-P
Michelle Hurley, CSW, CYC-P, has passionately advocated for youth since 2011 and currently serves as the Program Advocate for National Safe Place Network (NSPN), providing training, technical assistance, and program support for youth organizations across the United States. Michelle is deeply committed to striving toward NSPN’s vision of a world where all youth are safe…
Elizabeth Smith Miller, MS, CYC-P
Mrs. Elizabeth Smith Miller is a business and communications professional who has been personally and professionally connected to the youth and family services field for more than 27 years. She is a licensed foster parent and an adoptive parent who is actively engaged in the child welfare community. Smith Miller has lived experience which helps…
Opeyemi Olajide Olowookere
Opeyemi is the Executive Director of the Global Support for Kids Initiative (GSK Initiative), a community-based non-profit and non-governmental organization with headquarter in Nigeria. He is a current Board member and International Advisor to the Association for Child and Youth Care Practice (ACYCP), also the Principal Partner/CEO of Hope Diamond Int’l Resources Ltd, a professional…
Mallory Deptola, MA
Mallory has been in youth work for over 15 years. Before receiving her Master’s of Art in Teaching, she had always been drawn to opportunities to interact with children and youth. Her path has led her to working in daycares and summer camps, designing curriculum and events as a program manager with the Girl Scouts…
George Weatherford, MEd, CYC
George Weatherford has been working with youth and families since somewhat reluctantly volunteering at drop-in center for LGBTQ+ youth in the 1990s in Seattle. He has worked since then in school programs, after school programs, camps, spiritually based youth programs and more. He also has a Masters degree from the Peaceable Schools Program at Lesley…
Robert Babcock, MEd, CYC-P
Robert is a Regional Program Manager with AYS Inc. overseeing before and after care programs in 9 charter and parochial schools. Robert has worked in youth care and education settings for 16+ years, working with youth of all levels. As an out of school time specialist, Robert has dedicated his career to the professionalization of…
Latoya Bernice Gilbert, MA, CYC-P
Latoya Bernice is the founder and Executive Director of One Accord Global Inc. and House Mother of the Sanctuary Centre, a therapeutic group home in Charlotte, NC. Gilbert took special interest in studies in which exposure to the outdoors could decrease behavioral, social, and relational problems in youth. Upon completion of an intensive master’s program…
Christen Peterson, MS, CYC-P
Christen is a proud Youth Worker who has spent the last 15 years of her career in Out-of-School-Time Programming. Her time in afterschool has been spent in community-based outreach programs, leading international service learning trips, managing traditional center-based afterschool programs, and releasing her inner child during summer camp! She truly believes that the greatest gift…
Erin Shanayda, BS, CYC-A
Erin Shanayda Erin Shanayda is the Training Director at the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis. She is a proud Certified Youth Care Practitioner and has been working with youth for 10 years. Erin has served in many capacities in the youth field including Before and After School Site Director, Summer Day Camp Coordinator, and Program Director…
Mistie Timmons, BS, CYC-P
Mistie Timmons has proudly been a youth worker for more than 25 years in both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. Her passion for seeing youth and youth workers experience an “aha” moment is still the highlight of her career.
Andrew Young, BS, CYC-P
Andrew Young is a native of Bloomington, IN and graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Outdoor Rec and Parks Administration. Experiential education and learning through doing has been a lifelong passion. While working in a camp setting for the beginning of his career, Andy has since moved on to Youth Development in a larger sense.
Jamie Scott, CYC-P
Jaimie serves as the Youth Program Coordinator of a local non-profit in Indianapolis, Indiana. She started her career in youth work at just 17 years old. She likes to joke that, “Jamie didn’t find youth work. Youth Work found Jamie.”
Michael M. Long, CYC-A
Michael is currently the Program Director for Ball State University/MuncieP3
at Longfellow Elementary School in Muncie, IN. He has over 40 years of experience working with children and youth as a Youth Pastor, Day Care Director, Coach, and Mentor.
Henrietta Komras, MEd
Henrietta is the Training and Organizational Specialist at Aviva Family and Children’s Center in Los Angeles, California. She bring 20+ years of experience as a consultant and learning facilitator. She has extensive experience in designing and facilitating soft skills training programs in: leadership and management skills, communication, coaching, conflict management, and performance appraisal.
Elizabeth Ann Brown, MS, CYC-A
Elizabeth has developed and implemented curricula and programs for children, youth, and youth care providers which focus on personal growth, self-discipline, and character development. She emphasizes the use of the arts, athletics, life skills, mentoring, team building, and the service learning. She has taught youth and youth care providers for 32 years. Elizabeth is an approved trainer…
Simone Brewer, BA, CYC-A
Simone has had the pleasure of training and developing people for the past 15 years in various types of youth-serving arenas. It brings her great delight to watch people grow and succeed in their chosen careers, and for teams to succeed and accomplish the goals and mission set by their company.