Staff Members

Jennifer Karaim
Executive Director

Jennifer brought experience in project support to community based initiatives and business with her when she joined the Kinship & Foster Family Network of Manitoba staff team in 2011. She has carried a number of roles within the organization including Intake Coordinator and Project Manager. In February 2017, Jennifer became the Executive Director. Jennifer works passionately to strengthen the Kinship & Foster Family Network, and is honored to lead such a dynamic staff team

Terri McNaughton-Wright,
Education Coordinator

Along with my great partner and husband Bradson, I have worked in many areas of the Child Welfare arena in two provinces, over 35 years. Providing foster care, frontline delivery of programs, development and implementation of programs, diverse emerging ideologies and related programs has been a constant in my work history and life. With my combined education and life experiences I am confident that I will be able to provide support and direction with the current and future education programs of the Kinship & Foster Family Network.

Brad Wright
Curriculum Writer/Community Development Worker

In my work experience I have been able to learn from a variety of opportunities. I have worked in program environments as staff, family integration worker, co-ordinator of services and executive director. I have worked within a variety of settings in social programs and offered services to organizations as a program design/implementation consultant. My passion has always centered around learning and teaching adult skill development for best practices in parenting. My wife and I offered our home as a foster care placement for 35 years and worked beside many birth parents to assist them in reunifying their family.

Wendy Gillespie
Education Assistant

Joining the Kinship & Foster Family Network of Manitoba has been an enjoyable experience. I have a background in education and curriculum development. Having briefly been in foster care as a child, I have a special interest in encouraging and supporting foster families.

Pat Alphonso-Cox
Community Engagement Specialist

I have worked in the Child and Family services system for 37 years in many capacities including Child and Youth Care, the Child Protection Branch; as the Placement Desk Coordinator and Resource Development Specialist and almost ten years with Metis Child Family and Community Services in the Resource department. I am excited to join the Kinship and Foster Family Network of Manitoba and to be part of a team dedicated to the support, and skill and knowledge enhancement of Kinship and foster parents.

Nancy Barbour

Intake Coordinator

I have worked with a diverse group of people over my twenty year career including youth in care, specialized group homes and day programs for adults with disABILITIES.  As a youth, my family fostered for many years teaching me about the different values and cultures others have to offer.  I am excited to be a part of the Kinship Foster Family Network of Manitoba and to be able to continue to help and support individuals in their journey.

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Linda Ens

Community Development Worker

 

I have been a parent for 26 years and a foster parent for 17.  My parents also fostered for most of my growing up years.   These experiences have taught me much about people in general as well as children in pain and those who care for them and have given me a passion to support, encourage and empower other foster families.   The Kinship and Foster Family Network has been an integral part of my journey and I have spent 9 years as a volunteer on the Peer Support Team and 7 years as a member of the Board of Directors. Co-facilitating KFFNM trainings has been a highlight for me over the past few years.  I have previous experience in administrative duties in the medical field, bookkeeping, customer service.  I have had my own home-based travel business since 2000.  I feel like learning is something we need to continue to do no matter what stage of life we are in and am excited about what I will learn in my role here.  I am excited about my transition to staff member of the Network and being a part of a team that works diligently to support and educate foster parents which in turn benefits the children in their care.