Annetra Bennett is the Director of SE Child & Family Services at Samaritas and will assist with the Michigan-focused Protective Factors curriculum development. She is an accomplished manager with more than 20 years of experience and extensive knowledge working with at risk, delinquent, abused, and neglected youth and their families, addressing countless problems that hinder their development, emotional health, and ability to be successful. Annetra has extensive experience and knowledge of the family preservation, foster care and adoption, and juvenile systems, and is at the forefront of the planning, implementation, and maintenance of a shelter, a substance abuse program, a family preservation and prevention pilot program, Families First Programs, and Homebuilders. Annetra is also a talented trainer, including DV Safe and Together Approach and Protective Factors. Annetra also loves building Legos and taking naps.

Theresa Berden is a Program Manager with Wellspring Lutheran Services, where she has worked for the last 14 years. She currently oversees programs covering 22 counties in the Northern Lower Peninsula and Central and Eastern Upper Peninsula. These programs include Families First, Families Together Building Solutions, Foster Care Supportive Visitation, and In Home Family Services. Theresa has a strong passion for family preservation programs and is excited for their growth throughout the state. Outside of work, Theresa enjoys spending time outdoors near her home in Cheboygan and developing scavenger hunts for her friends to benefit local charities.

Elizabeth Cassise is an Adoption Supervisor at Judson Center and has been in child welfare for 14 years working directly with youth in foster care and adoption. She has a passion for the work she does, including training new and veteran specialists in the field. She feels privileged to partner with both Western Michigan University’s Child Trauma Assessment Center to become a trainer in Trauma Informed Care, as well as Arizona State University and Wayne State University to train new and existing supervisors in the Strength-Based Supervision model. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors at the beach or in nature with her husband and two children.

Callista Cook is a Program Manager at Family & Children Services, Inc. who focuses on crisis prevention, intervention, and family preservation. She is devoted to respecting and honoring the right of every child to remain safe and connected with their family. She believes as service providers we have a responsibility to empower families and work alongside them. In her free time, Callista enjoys painting, spending time with her friends and family, and playing with her pets.

Kayly Grice is a Family Preservation Supervisor at Catholic Charities West Michigan with over ten years of experience serving at-risk children and their families. Kayly has a strong foundation of the Protective Factors Framework, with over eight years of implementing the framework directly with families and training staff. Kayly is passionate about strengthening families and is dedicated to empowering service providers and families using protective factors. Kayly is excited to continue to advocate, implement, and improve child and family serving programs in Michigan. Kayly enjoys time with her three children, family, and friends.

Emily Hughey is a Supervisor at Samaritas and has worked in preservation for over six years. Emily started her career with the Family Reunification Program and then worked with Homebuilders. Emily is now a supervisor for Families First of Michigan, where she uses the Protective Factors Framework with her clients as well as the staff that she supervises. Emily has a passion for working with children, youth, and families, with the goal of keeping families together. Emily lives eight minutes from Lake Michigan and loves spending time with her friends and family, reading (mostly listening) to books, and cooking new recipes.

Stephanie Dettloff began her career with Child and Family Services of Northeast Michigan many years ago. Stephanie returned to Child and Family Services as a Board Member and assumed the role of Executive Director in October 2017. Stephanie has a passion for working with children, youth, and families. Stephanie has worked extensively as a direct service worker, coach, consultant, trainer, and supervisor in a variety of settings, including Great Start to Quality Northeast Resource Center, Early Childhood Investment Corporation, Families Together Building Solutions, and Wraparound. Stephanie received her B.S. degree in Health Services Management and earned an M.A. in Organizational Management and Development through Spring Arbor University. In her spare time, Stephanie enjoys spending time with her family on her small hobby farm and hanging out with her 6-year-old grandson.

Tonia Hayes is Director of Foster Care and Adoption at Vista Maria in Dearborn Heights. Tonia is a graduate of Siena Heights University (Master of Arts: Counseling) and University of Phoenix (Bachelor of Science: Business Management). Tonia is a life-long-learner with a passion for helping children and families in the various roles she has held within the Human Services field, such as Residential Treatment (starting as a Direct Care Staff to Vice President of Programs), Juvenile Probation (Drug Court), Foster Care (starting as Program Manager to Director), Licensing (Supervisor), Independent Living Programs for Youth (Supervisor), and Family Preservation (Program Manager). Her experience includes training countless staff in helping the next generation of professionals understand the complex world of adult and children’s services, with the goal of creating successful outcomes. She is known for her love of her two sons, who are Detroit Fire Fighters, and spends her free time shopping and enjoying her three grandsons.

Aryn Manni is a Program Manager at Samaritas, has worked in preservation for over eight years, and is a Licensed Masters Social Worker. Aryn is formally trained in the Protective Factors Framework and has a passion for utilizing protective factors in reducing the risk for families and children. Aryn brings an uplifting positive approach to teaching protective factors to staff and families. Aryn enjoys a good themed party, especially with every holiday.

Larry Smith is the Training and Development Manager at D.A. Blodgett-St. Johns. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Huntington University, Huntington, Indiana. Larry has 15 years of experience working in the social services field at D.A. Blodgett-St. Johns and over 20 years of experience working with kids and families. Larry and his wife were foster parents for four years. Larry and his family are MSU Spartan fans and are often decked out in green and white.

Michelle Smith is a strong advocate for the work being done every day to help strengthen the lives of Michigan families. She believes that positive change happens when people are given the support they need to use their own strengths and recognize their potential. Michelle works as a program manager for multiple programs, including Families First, Family Reunification Program, and Foster Care Supportive Visitation, with Wellspring Lutheran Services. Michelle earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from John Carroll University and a Master of Arts in Family Studies from Spring Arbor University. Outside of work, Michelle enjoys watching her daughters dance and sing, and she can often be found in her kitchen trying out new cookie recipes!