About Our Chapter
Our Families
We are currently recruiting volunteers to be Host Families, Family Coaches, Family Friends and Resource Friends. We have a team approach to volunteering so that no volunteer feels alone or overwhelmed. The vetting process includes an application, 3 references, 3 background checks (FBI and KS State fingerprinting, child abuse clearance).
Our Churches
Local churches play a significant role in recruiting volunteers from their church family. They are integral to supporting those families as they serve and reach out to families in need. Churches of all sizes and various denominational, or non-denominational, backgrounds are active partners with Safe Families for Children.
If you are interested in your church becoming partners with the Safe Families movement, please contact us (kansas@safefamilies.net)
Our Team
Our amazing volunteers are the ones who take the Safe Families for Children movement into the community. But they can’t do it alone. They are supported by a staff of professionals passionately investing their lives in engaging churches, building the base of volunteers, transitioning children, family coach supervision, vetting and training volunteers and so much more.
Tammy Thomas
Kansas State Director
Tammy Thomas serves as Kansas – Regional Director. She has served Kansas within the Department for Children and Families as Regional Director and Statewide Long Term Care Liaison. Tammy professional career in Nuclear Medicine Technology has been spent at The University of Kansas Medical Center, Texas Heart Group, and Presbyterian Hospital of Plano. She and her husband of 33 years have been blessed with three, now adult children. Tammy and her family believe Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. All things are possible and nothing is too large or too small for our Lord.
Nora P. Frontaura
Centralized Administrative Assistant
Nora P. Frontaura is the Centralized Administrative Assistant in Kansas. She is a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico. She has traveled throughout the United States and Central America as the wife of an Air Force officer. After raising 4 children and helping with 4 grandchildren she decided to branch out and continue to expand her horizons. She is committed to supporting and helping families stay together.
Morgyn Nyman
Centralized Intake Supervisor
Morgyn Nyman is the Centralized Intake Supervisor for the state of Kansas. She has her bachelors degree in Psychology from Mid America Nazarene University and Masters in Social Work from Aurora University. Morgyn grew up as a missionary kid and lived in many different countries. Morgyn has a passion for people and believes strongly in the need to keep families intact. As a parent, Morgyn loves working with other parents to help build connection and support.
Russ Hightower
Kansas City Metro Area Director
Russ works as the Centralized Family Coach and a Church/Community Engagement partner. Russ received his degree in Natural Resources Management from Kansas State University. Russ and his wife have been foster and adoptive parents for over 12 years, coupled with all the peaks and valleys along the way. Russ has worked as a Special Needs Para-Educator, a Behavioral Interventionist, a Children’s Ministry Volunteer, and now as a Church and Community Engagement Coordinator with Safe Families for Children. He is passionate about the movement of Safe Families.
Alissa Patterson
Kansas City Metro Family Coach
Alissa Patterson is the Family Coach for the KC Metro area. She joined Safe Families for children in a staff role in January of 2023. Alissa has been a host family since 2020 and is also a licensed foster parent. She grew up in Pennsylvania, but moved to Kansas in 2015 to attend MidAmerica Nazarene University. Alissa has a heart for children and families.
Jacob Lierz
Kansas City Metro Church and Community Engagement
Jacob Lierz is a dedicated Safe Families Church and Community Engagement Coordinator. Having experienced foster care firsthand as a child, Jacob carries a heartfelt desire to see the church reclaim its role in caring for the orphan and widow.
With a passion for seeing God do new things in new ways and new places, Jacob is committed to fostering dynamic partnerships and empowering churches to actively engage in the care and support of vulnerable children and families. As the Safe Families Church and Community Engagement Coordinator, he strives to ignite a transformative movement where churches become beacons of hope and restoration within their communities.
Alicia Butler
Wichita Area Director
Alicia is the Wichita area director and has her degree in Organizational Communication from Indiana University. Alicia has lived in south central Kansas for the past 25 years and loves being a part of the Wichita regional community. In her opinion, there are few things as beautiful as a Kansas sunset or the Flint Hills in the summer. In life, our relationships with others is central. I love to connect with others, help them grow and watch them reach their full God given potential. I love how Safe Families comes alongside others in relationship and helps others grow and achieve their potential. I am excited to be part of that journey.
Alexandria Langhofer
Wichita Area Family Coach Supervisor
Allie is the Family Coach Supervisor for Wichita, Kansas. She has her Bachelor of Science in Sociology with an Emphasis in Social Work. After working with a foster care ministry and seeing the difficulties that the children and families in the system face, she is excited about the positive impact that Safe Families can have in building families up and preserving the family unit. She has lived in Kansas, Arizona, and Virginia, but she has a special place in her heart for Wichita and believes that this community can thrive if we live out the radical love and service to others that God calls us to.
Sherry Koehn
Wichita Area Church and Community Engagement
Sherry Koehn is the Community and Church Engagement Coordinator for Safe Families for Children. She attended Friends University and has over 25 years experience in church ministry. Sherry worked and served as Small Group Coordinator, Women’s Ministries Lead and Community Bible Study Lead at South Valley Community Church in Lemoore, CA. She also worked at Kings Gospel Mission, a ministry focused on serving the homeless in the Central Valley of California. Sherry has a passion for connecting and helping people. Her desire is to help people find how God has uniquely gifted them to help others.
Grace Jubber
Southeast Kansas Area Director
Grace Jubber is the Chapter Director for the Southeast Kansas area. She has her ministry degree from Central Christian College of Kansas. She has always had an open door policy at her home for children. She and her husband have fostered many children, adopted children, hosted an aged-out youth, raised a bonus son, and have had countless teenagers in their home for study groups or to hangout in a safe environment. Grace is passionate about children and families, and she desires to see them flourish.
Jenna Stout
Southeast Kansas Area Family Coach Supervisor
Jenna Stout is the Family Coach Supervisor for the Southeast Kansas area. She has her bachelors degree in nursing from Missouri Southern State University and has a background in family practice nursing and home health. Jenna grew up as a preachers kid and then youth minister’s wife in southeast Kansas. She and her husband are foster and adoptive parents and have a heart to see the families units intact and thriving in Southeast Kansas.