Our Name

Like pearls, many children's stories begin in hard places.

Just as it takes time for a grain of sand to transform inside an oyster, it can take years of being surrounded by loving relationships for these children to heal. Often, this path is not easy and it can be difficult for foster and adoptive families to see the beauty in their hard work.

We offer hope and practical help to these families through trauma-informed educational opportunities and support groups.

We also believe children from hard places need to be surrounded by a community who is trauma-informed. We are committed to bringing Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) to teachers, case workers, church volunteers and anyone who works with children. Our desire is that through healthy connections, vulnerable children will feel safe, know they have a voice and ultimately, discover that they are precious.

Our Family’s Story

In 2013, our family began a foster journey that unexpectedly turned into an adoption adventure. We listened politely as people told us that what we were doing was beautiful, not wanting to admit that it felt anything but that. In fact, there were days when it looked downright ugly. We felt tired, overwhelmed and alone. We quickly learned that the more traditional parenting style that worked well for our biological children was not going to work with our children with a history of trauma. It was at our lowest point that we discovered the work of Dr. Karyn Purvis at an Empowered to Connect Conference. It gave us more empathy for our children's history, hope that we could help them heal, and most importantly, practical parenting tools. We will forever be students of Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) and it is our mission to bring trauma-informed support to families like ours-families who need to know that there is beauty in their hard work.

-Joy and Stephen Zedler

Our Team

  • Shannon Schaefer-President

    Angela Norton- Treasurer

    Laurie Walker- Board Member

    Stephen Zedler-Board Member

    George Day- Board Member

    Scot Quintel-Board Member

    Ingrid Wasserfall- Board Member

    Stephanie Martin- Board Member

    Joy Zedler-Board Member (non-voting)

    Leslie Fuller- Board Member (non-voting)

  • Joy Zedler-Executive Director, MHR, TBRI Practitioner

    Leslie Fuller- Northwest Director, MSW, TBRI Practitioner

    Katie Fanning- Director of Operations, TBRI Practitioner

    Stephen Zedler- Director of Development, TBRI Practitioner

    Terri DeMarco- Director of Education, TBRI Practitioner

    Jessica Blagdon-Director of Awesome-Hope Family Camp, Data Specialist, TBRI Practitioner

    Christy Wyatt- Northwest Assistant Director , TBRI Practitioner

    Mary Ann Day-Northwest Director of Community Engagement , TBRI Practitioner

    Tyler Fuller, Northwest Fundraiser Coordinator, TBRI Practitioner


    Caitlin Reed- Assistant to Executive Director Alicia Gilliam- Closet Queen
    Tabitha Ferraro- Bookkeeper

  • Lynn Haven, FL
    Katie Fanning

    Niceville, FL
    Mary Ann Day
    Leslie Fuller
    Tyler Fuller Jessica Nelson
    Christy Wyatt

    Mount Dora, FL

    Terri DeMarco

    Ocala, FL
    Tom Berry Hilary Ovalle
    Joy Zedler Stephen Zedler

    Orlando, FL
    Lindsey Munns

    Winter Garden, FL Jeanee Snipes

    Sarasota, FL Jessica Blagdon