Moving in the Direction of Hope
FamilyForward’s highly skilled staff, evidence-based practices, and strong partnerships with leading educational institutions and researchers positions the agency to utilize innovative tools and practices to formulate better insights and achieve better outcomes for children and families.
Vision
FamilyForward leads the community in providing innovative solutions for advancing safer, healthier relationships for children and families.
Mission
FamilyForward moves vulnerable children in the direction of hope by delivering comprehensive therapeutic and educational services to support biological, foster, and adoptive families.
Founded
FamilyForward is the result of a 2017 merger between two of St. Louis’ most accomplished and leading-edge non-profit organizations, Children’s Home Society of Missouri and Family Resource Center. With long and proud histories of helping children and families, the agencies united from positions of strength to better serve the community. FamilyForward is transforming the way we understand the effects of childhood trauma.
Core Values
Out Front
We are leaders in the use of innovative tools and methods to get better results for the children and families we serve. We prefer to set the pace, testing new ideas and collecting data; always striving to make the biggest impact we can.
Whole Hearted
We are tirelessly committed to the vision and mission of FamilyForward. We use our unique talents and expertise to serve our clients and community with compassion, acceptance, and respect.
Rock Solid
We are responsible stewards of an organization with a long and proud history of service. Reliable, trustworthy, and hard-working, we do whatever it takes to get the job done, even when no one is watching.
Executive Team
Karen E. Nolte, LCSW
Chief Executive Officer
Sharon Skidmore Stern, MSW, LCSW
Chief Program Officer
Jessica L. Dederer, MHA
Chief Development Officer
Paula Pettibone, MEd, MSW
Chief Administrative Officer
Patrick Fox
Chief Financial Officer
Board of Directors
- Christopher B. Reid
President
- Charles Woods
President Elect
Vice President
Programs/Strategic Planning - Douglas R. Beach
Secretary,
Advocacy Board Liaison - Rebecca Daming
Treasurer/Vice President
Finance & Endowment - Juliane M. Praiss
Advisor to President
Vice President Board Affairs - Megan Bittle
Vice President
Programs/Strategic Planning - Ed DeVault II
Vice President Development
- Jan L. Hess
Vice President Human Resources
- Earl Ming
Vice President Facilities
- Laura Overturf
Vice President Board Affairs
- Glenn Archer
- Satonya Booker
- Tina Clark-Scott
- Brian Clevinger, PhD
- Steven Goldstein
- Cassandra Gresco
- Matt Harvey
- Salvador Hernandez
- Matthew Hunt
- Gregg J. Lepper
- Kathleen Scarmana
- Bryan Scott
- Susan Stith
- Janette Taaffe
- Karen E. Nolte
Chief Executive Officer
Advocacy Board
- Norman Baxter
- Catie Beykirch
- Dean Boeschen
- Valori Bring
- Stephen J. Burrows
- Kent A. Chancellor
- Sally Danforth
- Dannae Delano
- Sherry B. Delo
- James Elder
- Jim Erlinger
- Thomas L. Ferris
- Ryan Freeman
- Sarah Fuhrmann
- Thomas Gall
- Albert Haller
- Anna Harris
- James Hart
- John D. Heithaus
- Phyllis A. Hoff
- Christine Homan
- Scott Homan
- Sam Hopmeier
- Don Imholz
- John J. Irace
- Liz Johnson
- Lorraine Kee
- Joseph Kelley
- Mary Jane King
- Asha S. Lundal
- Kjell Lundal
- Michael Manchisi
- Debbie Marshall
- Ada McHaney
- Deborah L. Morley
- Allison C. Nash, MD
- Heather Rhodes
- Margie Sacks
- Kathy Siddens
- Ellen C. Smith
- Steve Smith
- Jackie Watson
- Nancy Weaver, PhD
- Lina A. Young