Shirley Dwyer is the Chief Operations Officer (COO) for The Family Initiative, Inc. (TFI). In addition to serving as the CEO of the parent company, she also serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Texas Family Initiative LLC, which provides foster care, adoption, case management, and behavioral health services to Texas children and families.
Shirley Dwyer has over 30 years of experience working for a variety of child welfare organizations, including the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare, the State of Kansas Department of Children and Families, The Family Initiative (TFI) Inc., and other non-profit service agencies. For over a decade, Dwyer served the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) as a federal grants panel Chairman and reviewer of many federal panels. Ms. Dwyer is also experienced in research and co-authored the journal article "Prevention of Sexual Abuse for Preschoolers: Evaluation of a Pilot Program," a ground-breaking study published in Psychological Reports, 1988, Volume 62, pp. 387-396.
Shirley earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Kansas and has continued her education in the areas of public policy, management, and executive processes.
Shirley Dwyer has over 30 years of experience working for a variety of child welfare organizations, including the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare, the State of Kansas Department of Children and Families, The Family Initiative (TFI) Inc., and other non-profit service agencies. For over a decade, Dwyer served the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) as a federal grants panel Chairman and reviewer of many federal panels. Ms. Dwyer is also experienced in research and co-authored the journal article "Prevention of Sexual Abuse for Preschoolers: Evaluation of a Pilot Program," a ground-breaking study published in Psychological Reports, 1988, Volume 62, pp. 387-396.
Shirley earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Kansas and has continued her education in the areas of public policy, management, and executive processes.
Kris Naylor is the Chief Program Officer for The Family Initiative, Inc. She is responsible for oversight of foster care case management services. Having previously worked at TFI for more than 14 years, she has more than 30 years of experience in child welfare.
Before her current role, Kris served as the President of Our Community Our Kids Division of ACH Child and Family Services in Fort Worth, TX. Additionally, she has previously worked at Emberhope and KVC Health Systems.
Kris holds a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Friends University.
Before her current role, Kris served as the President of Our Community Our Kids Division of ACH Child and Family Services in Fort Worth, TX. Additionally, she has previously worked at Emberhope and KVC Health Systems.
Kris holds a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Friends University.
Randy Neff is the Senior Vice President for EMPOWER.
Randy started his career in child welfare in 2002 with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). He was selected as the CPS Worker of the Year in 2003. During his tenure with DFPS, Randy worked in the CVS Program, FBSS Program, Foster/Adopt Program, and was part of the Region 2 Leadership team as the Region 2 Program Administrator. In 2014, Randy was honored with the Patsy Baggget Service Award from the Wichita County Child Welfare Board. That same year, he was recognized as CPS Staff of the Year by the Advisory Committee for Promoting Adoption of Minority Children. Randy has a passion for improving outcomes for children and families which led to him pursuing an opportunity with 2INgage in Stage I of CBC in November 2018.
Randy has a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Education with a Specialization in Criminal Justice from Wayland Baptist University. He also has a Master of Arts in Education and a Master of Arts in Counseling from Wayland Baptist University.
Randy started his career in child welfare in 2002 with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). He was selected as the CPS Worker of the Year in 2003. During his tenure with DFPS, Randy worked in the CVS Program, FBSS Program, Foster/Adopt Program, and was part of the Region 2 Leadership team as the Region 2 Program Administrator. In 2014, Randy was honored with the Patsy Baggget Service Award from the Wichita County Child Welfare Board. That same year, he was recognized as CPS Staff of the Year by the Advisory Committee for Promoting Adoption of Minority Children. Randy has a passion for improving outcomes for children and families which led to him pursuing an opportunity with 2INgage in Stage I of CBC in November 2018.
Randy has a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Education with a Specialization in Criminal Justice from Wayland Baptist University. He also has a Master of Arts in Education and a Master of Arts in Counseling from Wayland Baptist University.
Melissa Wood is the Senior Vice President of Clinical and Assessment Services for The Family Initiative, Inc. (TFI). She oversees the Intake and Placement, as well as Clinical and Prevention programs, including Family Preservation, Community Clinical Services, and Pathway Family Services’ Residential Clinical teams. Wood is the current Chair of TFI’s Performance and Quality Leadership Team.
Melissa previously served as the Intake and Placement Director for 2INgage, a program of TFI. She has more than 24 years of experience in the foster care and child welfare field. Prior to employment with TFI, she served other agencies in the roles of Senior Vice President of Clinical, Admissions, Quality & Community-Based Care; VP of Quality Assurance; CPA Treatment Director; RTC Clinical Director; and RTC/GRO Therapist. In each of these roles, she was involved in consulting with a child psychiatrist on the evaluation and monitoring of psychotropic medications. Wood is passionate about treating trauma, family preservation, and keeping siblings together.
Wood received her Bachelor’s of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from Texas Tech University. She received her Master’s of Science in Counseling and Development from Texas Woman’s University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Supervisor.
Susanne Arnold is the Vice President of Permanency for EMPOWER, a program of TFI. In this role, she is responsible for program development and implementation.
Susanne has more than 25 years of experience working in the field of child abuse and neglect. In her role as a Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) Program Administrator, she was involved in the development of the Collin County Child Sex Trafficking Team Protocols and provided training throughout the metroplex in addition to managing program outcomes. After retiring from DFPS, she served as the Medical and Care Coordinator for the Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County, continuing her work to support child victims of abuse and neglect.
Susanne holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Texas State University and a Master’s in Social Work from Texas A&M-Commerce. Susanne is also a Licensed Social Worker.
Susanne has more than 25 years of experience working in the field of child abuse and neglect. In her role as a Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) Program Administrator, she was involved in the development of the Collin County Child Sex Trafficking Team Protocols and provided training throughout the metroplex in addition to managing program outcomes. After retiring from DFPS, she served as the Medical and Care Coordinator for the Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County, continuing her work to support child victims of abuse and neglect.
Susanne holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Texas State University and a Master’s in Social Work from Texas A&M-Commerce. Susanne is also a Licensed Social Worker.
Nora DeWitt is the Vice President of Permanency for EMPOWER, a program of TFI. In this role, she is responsible for serve the following counties in the Metroplex East Region: Dallas, Ellis, Navarro, Kaufman, and Rockwall.
Nora has worked in child welfare for the past 28 years. She retired from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) where she served as Program Administrator for both Conservatorship and Family-Based Safety Services. She also served as a Permanency Practitioner, Risk Manager, Academy Trainer, Investigator, and Legal Liaison. While working as a Program Director for the Department of Family and Protective Services she and her team were able to move over six hundred youth, who had been lingering in care, to Permanency during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nora received her Bachelor’s Degree from Texas Woman’s University. She obtained her Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Texas.
Nora has worked in child welfare for the past 28 years. She retired from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) where she served as Program Administrator for both Conservatorship and Family-Based Safety Services. She also served as a Permanency Practitioner, Risk Manager, Academy Trainer, Investigator, and Legal Liaison. While working as a Program Director for the Department of Family and Protective Services she and her team were able to move over six hundred youth, who had been lingering in care, to Permanency during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nora received her Bachelor’s Degree from Texas Woman’s University. She obtained her Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Texas.
Shirlon Douglas-Harris is the Vice President of Permanency Services for EMPOWER. In this role, she provides oversight to the support services departments, including: Adoption, Community Engagement, PAL Specialist, Life Skills Trainer, Training Specialist, Facilitation Specialist, Placement Stability Specialist, Courtesy Specialist, Kinship Specialist, Family Finder, Family Navigator, Transportation Support Workers, and Parent Partners.
She has more than 35 years of child welfare experience in a variety of roles including foster care, adoption, and prevention services. Shirlon has previously presented to the Child Welfare League of America on, “Race and Culture Consideration in a Comparison of ICWA and MEPA-IEP in Child Welfare.” She serves on many boards and committees, including on the Disproportionate number of African American children in Child Welfare and Washburn University Community Practicum Board. She has a passion for with working with young adults preparing to leave the foster, giving them the tools and skills they need to help them be successful once they are released from care.
Shirlon has a Bachelor and Master’s Degree from Washburn University.
She has more than 35 years of child welfare experience in a variety of roles including foster care, adoption, and prevention services. Shirlon has previously presented to the Child Welfare League of America on, “Race and Culture Consideration in a Comparison of ICWA and MEPA-IEP in Child Welfare.” She serves on many boards and committees, including on the Disproportionate number of African American children in Child Welfare and Washburn University Community Practicum Board. She has a passion for with working with young adults preparing to leave the foster, giving them the tools and skills they need to help them be successful once they are released from care.
Shirlon has a Bachelor and Master’s Degree from Washburn University.
Angela L. Crabtree-Nowell is the Chief of Staff for The Family Initiative, Inc. She is responsible for strategic planning and executive oversight for the TFI Family of Companies, as well as special projects. She currently serves as a member of the TFI Finance and Risk Management Team and previously served as chairperson of TFI’s Development Team.
Before her current role, Angela was the TFI Senior Administrator, responsible for the Texas foster care program, kinship care program, and the startup of the PFS Blue Skies residential facility in Wichita Falls, Texas. Angela joined the TFI Family of Companies in 2020 after having led a leading Child Placing Agency in the State of Texas for several years. In addition, she spent fifteen years working for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), primarily in the Residential Child Care Licensing Division.
Angela has a Masters's Degree in Public Administration and a Graduate Certificate in Public Budgeting and Financial Management from the University of Texas at Arlington. Additionally, she received a Bachelors Degree in Social Science, a Bachelors Degree in History, and an Associates Degree in Applied Business from Shawnee State University. Since 2014, she has been a Licensed Child Placing Agency Administrator in the State of Texas.
Before her current role, Angela was the TFI Senior Administrator, responsible for the Texas foster care program, kinship care program, and the startup of the PFS Blue Skies residential facility in Wichita Falls, Texas. Angela joined the TFI Family of Companies in 2020 after having led a leading Child Placing Agency in the State of Texas for several years. In addition, she spent fifteen years working for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), primarily in the Residential Child Care Licensing Division.
Angela has a Masters's Degree in Public Administration and a Graduate Certificate in Public Budgeting and Financial Management from the University of Texas at Arlington. Additionally, she received a Bachelors Degree in Social Science, a Bachelors Degree in History, and an Associates Degree in Applied Business from Shawnee State University. Since 2014, she has been a Licensed Child Placing Agency Administrator in the State of Texas.
Brittney Pearson, LMSW, LCPAA, is the Vice President of Permanency for EMPOWER. She is responsible for ensuring overseeing permanency services in most of Dallas County. Brittney also serves as EMPOWER’s Child Placing Administrator.
Brittney has more than 12 years of child welfare experience. She is a former Conservatorship Program Director for Child Protective Services in Dallas County. Additionally, she had a hand in launching Safe Babies in her program, served as the liaison for the Community Resource Coordination Group, as well as overseeing the drug court. Brittney also currently serves on Texas A&M University-Commerce Social Work Advisory Board.
She has her Bachelors and Master’s degree in Social Work. Additionally, Brittney is also a Licensed Master Social Worker and Licensed Child Placing Administrator.
Brittney has more than 12 years of child welfare experience. She is a former Conservatorship Program Director for Child Protective Services in Dallas County. Additionally, she had a hand in launching Safe Babies in her program, served as the liaison for the Community Resource Coordination Group, as well as overseeing the drug court. Brittney also currently serves on Texas A&M University-Commerce Social Work Advisory Board.
She has her Bachelors and Master’s degree in Social Work. Additionally, Brittney is also a Licensed Master Social Worker and Licensed Child Placing Administrator.