Staff
Chelsy Alexander
Family Support Network Coordinator
Chelsy Alexander
Family Support Network Coordinator
Chelsy joined TACFS as the Family Support Network Coordinator after more than a decade of child-centered work. A Houston native, Chelsy studied social work at UNT and the University of Houston before taking her love of connecting people to the Collin County Children’s Advocacy Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, and Settlement Home for Children.
Chelsy believes in people and is passionate about seeing child welfare reimagined so that families can stay together. As the Texas Family Support Network Coordinator, she coordinates, trains and implements the Standards of Quality for Family Strengthening and Support with a diverse set of providers across the state of Texas.
When she isn’t working, Chelsy, her husband and their five children (two adopted and three biological) indulge in playing and watching sports. She brings her affection for community and sports to her local sand volleyball league.
Personal Values: Faith, Teamwork, and Connection
Leroy Berrones Soto, Jr.
Youth Impact Project Manager
Leroy Berrones Soto, Jr.
Youth Impact Project Manager
Leroy Berrones Soto, Jr. joined the TACFS team in 2023 as the Youth Impact Project Manager to support youth voice and engagement in Texas.
Leroy has worked as a National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) Reviewer and a Project Coordinator for JBS International Inc., a sub-contractor of the Children’s Bureau an office of the United States Administration for Children and Families. In this role, he was responsible for logistical support to the Children’s Bureau Regional and Central office staff, individual states, contract staff, and JBS staff to ensure successful planning and completion of the federally mandated state-by-state Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSRs).
Born in Rio Bravo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, Leroy spent most of his teenage years in the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) foster care system. Leroy earned master’s degrees in Educational Technology and Public Affairs at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV).
Leroy’s passion is for giving back to and uplifting the voices of those with lived experience.
Personal Values: Integrity, Empathy, Compassion
Kristene Blackstone
Director of Strategic Initiatives
Kristene Blackstone
Director of Strategic Initiatives
Kristene Blackstone joined the Alliance as the Director of Strategic Initiatives in December 2022 after more than 27 years of public service working with children and families. She had previously worked as an independent child welfare consultant, providing support to TACFS, Texas’ SSCCs, the University of Texas Institute of Child and Family Well-Being and other organizations. Prior to that she served as the Associate Commissioner for Child Protective Services in Texas from May 2016-May 2020, leading one of the largest child protective services systems in the country with over 10,000 employees. During that time, she oversaw the expansion of community-based care and the implementation of numerous initiatives aimed at improving outcomes for children and families.
Kristene has also worked as the Deputy Director for Field Operations for the Texas Office of the Attorney General’s Child Support Division, and as a caseworker, program director and regional program administrator at the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Kristene serves on the board of directors for Learning Bridge, a non-profit organization whose mission is to match tutors with kids in foster care to give them the educational support they need to stay in school, improve academic performance, and achieve greater success later in life. She cares deeply about working with children, families and communities to create opportunities to thrive.
A Dallas native, Kristene received her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of North Texas and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin.
Personal Values: Integrity, Optimism, Collaboration, and Service
Katy Bourgeois
Vice President of Systems Advancement
Katy Bourgeois
Vice President of Systems Advancement
Katy joined TACFS as the Vice President of Systems Advancement in 2021. Before joining the team, Katy served as the Director of Aligned Impact at Mission Capital, where she managed a team responsible for implementing and advising cross-sector collaborative projects designed to address complex community problems and led the Travis County Collaborative for Children. She also facilitated the creation of Foster Community, a collaborative initiative aimed at increasing the number and diversity of healing kinship, adoptive and foster families in Central Texas.
Katy has been an independent consultant specializing in grant writing, fund and program development, and building government/nonprofit partnerships. Her expertise came from work within state agencies where she conducted program evaluations for the Legislative Budget Board, provided fiscal policy analysis to the Governor of Texas, and managed activities related to federal fund development and strategic planning for the Texas DFPS. In addition, Katy worked with the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services to oversee a study of services to adults with autism in Texas and review recommendations for pilot projects to address gaps in services. She also worked with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to design a method for distributing $7.2 million in federal funding to support pilot programs targeted at providing home visitation services to at-risk infants and children.
Born in Chicago and raised in Houston, Katy is passionate about bringing expertise, resources, and people together to meet common goals. Katy earned her MSW from the University of Texas after undergraduate studies in Psychology at Mount Holyoke College.
Personal Values: Collaboration, Integrity, and Kindness
Tameka Caldwell
Family Support Project Coordinator
Tameka Caldwell
Family Support Project Coordinator
Tameka earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a master’s degree in Human Services (specializing in Social & Community Services) from Capella University.
Tameka joined TACFS as the Family Support Project Coordinator in 2021. She served in child welfare organizations at all ends of the continuum of care for more than 21 years before taking on the growth and development of the Family Resource Center (FRC) programming at TACFS.
A native Wacoan, Tameka earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a master’s degree in Human Services (specializing in Social & Community Services) from Capella University.
Tameka brings her love of family and sports to her passion for collaborating, training, and supporting FRC program sites.
Personal Values: Service, Collaboration, and Learning
Audrey Carmical
Vice President for Legal and Regulatory Affairs
Audrey Carmical
Vice President for Legal and Regulatory Affairs
Audrey Carmical joined TACFS in 2021 as the Vice President for Legal and Regulatory Affairs. She spent many years at DFPS—first as a policy attorney, then as the Director of Policy & Program Support, the General Counsel, and finally, the Associate Commissioner for Compliance and Strategy. Before DFPS, she was in the General Counsel Division at the Office of the Attorney General as an Assistant Attorney General and the Court of Criminal Appeals as a Research Attorney.
She has a J.D. from the University of Texas in Austin and a B.A. from Northwestern University (double major in German and English).
Hailing from Kansas and then Arkansas, Audrey lives in Austin, has two rambunctious children, two cats (one with three legs), and a penchant for reading tedious regulatory material.
Personal Values: Productivity, Kindness, and Growth
Chelsey Castro
Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption Project Coordinator
Chelsey Castro
Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption Project Coordinator
Chelsey joined TACFS in 2021 as the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption Project Coordinator after several years as a an adoption recruiter at Arms Wide Adoption Services. A proud Houstonian, Chelsey studied social work at the University of Houston and went on to focus her career on the youth most often overlooked for adoption including teenagers, children with special needs, and sibling groups.
As an avid child advocate, Chelsey brings her focus on permanency to her work of expanding Wendy’s Wonderful Kids across Texas using a Child-Focused recruitment model.
Outside of her important work, Chelsey’s husband and children are grateful recipients of her secret talent of exceptional cooking.
Personal Values: Helping, Loyalty, and Initiative
Sarah Combs Boruff
Director of Operations
Sarah Combs Boruff
Director of Operations
Sarah Combs Boruff joined TACFS in 2007 and has served in a variety of roles over the years and now as the Director of Operations. Prior to joining TACFS, Sarah served as the Director of Communications for the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association, a tax policy think tank in Austin, and worked for many years as an editor for an Austin-based educational publishing company.
An Indiana transplant, Sarah studied journalism at Indiana University and has earned her Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Austin Community College.
Sarah brings her love of relationships and helping others to more than 15 years of supporting staff and members at TACFS.
Personal Values: Humor, Open-Mindedness, and Flexibility
Santiago Cirnigliaro
Director of Community Development
Santiago Cirnigliaro
Director of Community Development
Santiago joined TACFS in 2020 as a Public Policy Analyst and now serves as the Director of Community Development. A Houston transplant from Argentina, Santiago studied social work at Lamar University and earned his MSW from the University of Houston. Following a session as a policy analyst with former Representative Garnet Coleman, Santiago served as a CPS conservatorship caseworker.
With a desire to make the child welfare system work better, Santiago focuses on courts and preparing communities for Community-Based Care.
Personal Values: Humility, Fairness, and Vision
Meg Davis
Director of Communications
Meg Davis
Director of Communications
Meg joined TACFS and child welfare work as the Director of Communications n 2022 after stints at Texas PTA as Director of Events & Programs and Midway ISD as a Multimedia Specialist. Born and raised in Killeen, Meg completed both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Journalism at Baylor University where she studied public relations and new media.
With a passion for child-serving systems and an obsession with story-telling, Meg supports all communication and public relations efforts of the Alliance.
Personal Values: Integrity, Justice, and Humor
Tiffany Greco
Vice President of Learning
Tiffany Greco
Vice President of Learning
Tiffany joined TACFS as the Director of Learning in 2020 after serving as the Project Coordinator for Community Partnerships for Protecting Children in Southern Maine. She developed and managed the network‘s strategic learning initiatives, facilitated cross-sector partner meetings, and supported community-based child welfare reform efforts.
Tiffany has also served as the Director of Education at a victim service agency in upstate New York where she led the implementation of The Enough Abuse Campaign, a child sexual abuse prevention education initiative. Tiffany was appointed by Prevent Child Abuse New York as the initiative‘s statewide Master Trainer and Project Consultant.
An Oklahoma native, Tiffany is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with an MSW from Baylor University.
Personal Values: Joy, Connection, and Creativity
Alma Guardado
Staff Accountant
Alma Guardado
Staff Accountant
Alma joined TACFS in November of 2021 after more than 15 years in accounting. She started her career in public accounting where she assisted in audit preparation for clients in healthcare, real estate, retail, and manufacturing. Alma went on to work in the private sector’s technology and energy industries and later in local government.
A Texas native, Alma warned MBA and BBA in Accounting from Angelo State University. She obtained her Certified Public Accounting license in 2005.
Personal Values: Hard Work, Responsibility, and Friendliness
Lesley Guthrie
Director of Community Relations and Business Development
Lesley Guthrie
Director of Community Relations and Business Development
Lesley joined TACFS as the Director of Community Relations and Business Development in 2022 after 25 years in state government. She most recently served as a Director in the Chief Public Affairs Office at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Prior to HHSC, she worked for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services where she launched and led two divisions, coordinated child welfare summits, and collaborated with foundations to better serve youth, young adults and families. Lesley also worked for the Office of the Governor for 14 years, the Comptroller of Public Accounts, and both the Texas and U.S. House of Representatives.
A proud Austinite, Lesley studied government at University of Texas at Austin and is a graduate of both the Texas Health and Human Services’ Executive Leadership Academy and The Leadership Challenge.
Lesley brings her heart for service to building and leading programs and developing strategic partnerships throughout Texas.
Personal Values: Dependability, Loyalty, and Empathy
Sarah Hall
Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth Project Manager
Sarah Hall
Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth Project Manager
Sarah Hall joined TACFS in 2021 as the Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth (CSEY) Project Coordinator. In her role at TACFS, Sarah is working to help our member organizations build capacity to provide more direct care services to youth who have undergone commercial sexual exploitation and to increase CSEY prevention services throughout the state. As an expert and survivor of Human Trafficking, Sarah’s lends her support to service provider organizations by designing, coordinating, and facilitating trauma-responsive trainings for youth-serving professionals, with a particular focus on preventing, identifying, and responding to youth commercial sexual exploitation.
Sarah is a Texas Licensed Professional Counselor Associate and a National Certified Counselor. She has an M.A. in Professional Counseling, a B.Sc. in Mathematics, a B.A. in Government, and a B.A. in Anthropology.
She has previously counseled juveniles in a residential treatment setting and engaged in consulting work for anti-trafficking organizations in the Austin area. Having worked closely with both children and adults who have a wide-range of disabilities throughout her life, she considers herself an advocate and ally for people with disabilities.
Personal Values: Connection, Authenticity, Intellection
Valerie Hallam
Data and Evaluation Specialist
Valerie Hallam
Data and Evaluation Specialist
Valerie joined TACFS in 2021 as the Data and Evaluation Specialist after several years in the energy industry. Valerie brings her puzzle-solving skills to her work in data management and supporting multivariate analytics, statistical modeling, and process-based management.
An Arkansas transplant from Kentucky, Valerie earned her master’s degree from Northern Arizona University in physical science with a focus on statistical relationships observed in nature, and more recently she earned an MS in Family and Human Development from Arizona State University with a study focus on child development within the school to prison pipeline.
Personal Values: Humility, Service, and Kindness
Brenda Keller
Director of Clinical Practice Initiatives
Brenda Keller
Director of Clinical Practice Initiatives
Brenda joined TACFS in 2019 as the Director of Clinical Practice Initiatives adding to more than 18 years in social work.
She earned her bachelors degree in social work from the University of North Texas and her master’s degree in social work from Eastern Washington University.
Brenda has worked in child welfare, hospitals, community mental health, in-patient psychiatric units, Active Duty Military and volunteered in the AmeriCorps. She worked as an Active Duty Clinical Social Worker in the U. S. Air Force with Active Duty service members from all military branches and their families specializing in PTSD, trauma and crisis intervention. She currently serves in the U. S. Air Force Reserves and has her advanced clinical license.
Personal Values: Growth, Honesty, Humor, and Kindness
Jennifer Lawson
Director of Research and Evaluation
Jennifer Lawson
Director of Research and Evaluation
Dr. Jennifer Lawson is the Director of Research and Evaluation at TACFS. Prior to her current position, she held academic positions at Texas State University, University of Texas at Austin, and University of California, Berkeley.
A 5th generation Texan, Jennifer is an LMSW with a focus on community and administrative practice, and she holds a Ph.D. in Social Welfare from Berkeley.
Prior to her academic and research career, she was a Child Protective Services caseworker and supervisor in Texas. Jennifer is an expert in child welfare services and policy, evidence-based practice, quantitative research methods, child exposure to domestic violence, and Court Appointed Special Advocates.
Personal Values: Ethics, Competence, and Empathy
Jamie McCormick
Vice President of Public Affairs
Jamie McCormick
Vice President of Public Affairs
Jamie joined TACFS in 2017 after more than 15 years working on public policy, advocacy, and communications. She is passionate about sharing the stories at-risk children, youth, and families and the professionals and organizations called to serve them. Jamie came from the Department of Family and Protective Services, where she oversaw the External Relations and Community Engagement teams, and later worked in an advisory role to the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner. Jamie previously worked in the Texas Senate as a Communications Director and Policy Analyst, focusing on health and human services, budget, and education policy.
Jamie can find her way around the Texas Capitol blindfolded as she began her work there in 2005 while working on a campaign and as a legislative consultant.
A Kansas native, Jamie studied Political Science and Studio Art at Oklahoma State University. Jamie is also an avid reader, a working artist, and mom to two.
Personal Values: Creativity, Hard Work, and Understanding
Rachel Messmer
Training & Curriculum Development Specialist
Rachel Messmer
Training & Curriculum Development Specialist
Rachel joined the TACFS team in 2022 after several years as an Assessment Program Director where she collaborated with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services providing contracted home assessments. Her team ensured that home assessments (kinship and foster/adoptive) met DFPS standards and requirements.
Born and raised in Texas, she graduated with a Master’s in Social Work from Our Lady of the Lake University at San Antonio. Rachel has been actively involved with social work and child welfare for more than 20 years and has worked as an investigator, supervisor and trainer for DFPS.
Rachel currently lives in Cypress, Texas with her husband, Scott and they are raising three boys who keep them active with football, baseball and basketball.
Personal Values: Honesty, Kindness, and Commitment
Rachel Nicholson
Director of Policy and External Relations
Rachel Nicholson
Director of Policy and External Relations
Rachel joined TACFS in 2022 after more than 15 years working in Texas politics. She has spent the past six years focusing on the Texas Child Welfare system, and most recently worked at the Department of Family and Protective Services, where she served as Director of External Relations and later as a Senior Financial Analyst. Rachel formerly worked in the Texas House of Representatives for several members of the Legislature, and focused on health, child welfare, water, veteran’s affairs, tax, and elections policy.
A Houston transplant from Louisiana, Rachel is a proud graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. She, her husband, and their daughter, and two dogs indulge in frequent baking and napping.
Personal Values: Dependability, Hard Work, and Kindness
Katie Olse
Chief Executive Officer
Katie Olse
Chief Executive Officer
Katie was appointed CEO of the Alliance in December of 2016. She arrived with many years of experience as the Associate and then Deputy Commissioner for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). She also served as the Chief of Staff for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the Senior Policy Advisor to the Executive Commissioner for DFPS and the former Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services. Katie was also the Director of the Center for Consumer and External Affairs at DFPS where she worked closely with the DFPS Commissioner and the Legislature on critical issues within the child protection, regulatory, adult protective and prevention/early intervention realms.
Prior to joining the HHS system, she was the executive director of a statewide nonprofit organization where she worked on health and human services issues as well as other issues including education, criminal justice, and mental health.
As a poultry expert*, Katie’s no chicken when it comes to supporting and protecting the interests of Texas children, youth, and families. She brings decades of expertise and passion for the cause to building the TACFS team each day.
Raised in Indiana, Katie earned a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and completed graduate studies at the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs.
Personal Values: Service, Creativity, Forward-Thinking, Responsiveness, and Excellence
Katelyn Powers
Project Support Specialist
Katelyn Powers
Project Support Specialist
Katelyn Powers, LCCA, joined TACFS in 2023 as the Project Support Specialist. In her role, Katelyn is working to support the TACFS Learning Team through administrative duties for training and technical assistance (TA) projects, with a primary focus on our CSEY work to build sustainable capacity and improve the quality of care at residential placements for survivors of human trafficking, or youth-at-risk.
Hailing from Waco, Texas, Katelyn earned her BS in Child & Family Studies at Tarleton State University. Prior to serving TACFS, Katelyn worked for 10 years serving children and families across central Texas in numerous roles, including both healthcare and residential settings. She’s served in roles at three TACFS member organizations! Katelyn was a Child Life Assistant at McLane Children’s Hospital, a Houseparent at The Settlement Home for Children, and a Residential Administrator at TFI Family Services.
After spending most of her career serving children, youth, and families, in times of stressful or traumatic life events or situations, Katelyn has a heart for promoting quality services to reduce the negative impact of congregate care while advocating for ongoing partnerships and collaboration.
Personal Values: Conviction, Tenacity, Connection, and Creativity
Megan Ransom
Chief of Staff
Megan Ransom
Chief of Staff
Megan joined TACFS as the Director of Community Engagement in 2019 and moved into the role of Chief of Staff in 2021. She came to TACFS from Partnerships for Children, an Austin-based nonprofit, where she served as the Director of Foster and Adoption Services. Megan worked closely with DFPS and many Central Texas child placing agencies and nonprofits on community education/outreach initiatives built around children in the foster care system who are waiting for adoption. She also Texas CASA in the Quality Assurance Department.
She has a passion for building strategic collaborations that produce results and continuously work towards improvement of practices and partnerships to lift up the children and families involved in the child welfare system.
An Indiana native, Megan earned a BA in Sociology & Psychology from Indiana University and a Master’s of Nonprofit Management from Regis University in Denver, Colorado. She is also Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) Practitioner through the Karyn Purvis institute of Child Development.
Megan and her husband are parents to two boys, both adopted through the Texas foster care system.
Personal Values: Compassion, Inclusion, and Justice
Erin Reas
Graphic Designer
Erin Reas
Graphic Designer
Erin joined TACFS in 2022 as the Graphic Designer after freelancing for the Alliance since 2019. Before joining the TACFS staff, Erin worked for a children’s clothing company as the company’s graphic designer where she designed assets and promotional materials for marketing campaigns.
Born and raised in Plano, Erin studied at St. Edward’s University and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design.
Erin values collaboration and supports Alliance staff with most of the visuals you see!
Her personal motto is to “create something every day.”
Personal Values: Excellence, Kindness, and Hopefulness
Andrea Requenes
Statewide Training Coordinator
Andrea Requenes
Statewide Training Coordinator
Andrea joined TACFS in 2021 as the Statewide Training Coordinator on the Learning and Development team. Prior to joining TACFS, Andrea worked for 20 years at Arrow Child & Family Ministries as a Program Director and Regional Director providing leadership on compliance with regulatory standards. She also served on many collaboratives, committees, and projects, including on the board of the Texas Foster Care Association. Andrea began her career as a foster care caseworker for the Louisiana Department of Social Services and briefly worked for Tarrant County Mental Health Mental Retardation.
Andrea brings her passion for training to coordinating and facilitating education opportunities in support of the Texas Foster Youth Health Initiative (TFYHI).
A Louisiana transplant from Florida, Andrea earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from McNeese State University in Louisiana. In addition to being trained in various curriculums, she is a Licensed Child-Placing Agency Administrator and a Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) practitioner through TCU’s Karyn Purvis Institute for Child Development.
Personal Values: Authenticity, Balance, and Humor
Alexandra Torres
Director of Foster Care Capacity Building
Alexandra Torres
Director of Foster Care Capacity Building
Alexandra Torres (Alex) joined TACFS as the Director of Foster Care Capacity Building in 2022 after seven years at the Children’s Alliance of South Texas where she started as a Forensic Interviewer working with alleged child abuse victims and ended as the Executive Director.
An El Paso native, Alex earned her BA in Social Work at the University of Texas at El Paso. After graduating, she served as an investigator and supervisor at Child Protective Services.
Alexandra shares her heart for advocacy with the Alliance through focus on FosterTX.org, a statewide foster care capacity building project.
She and her husband reside in San Antonio with their four young children.
Personal Values: Hard Work, Integrity, and Honesty
Tina Williams
Director of Finance & Administration
Tina Williams
Director of Finance & Administration
Tina joined TACFS in 2022 as the Director of Finance and Administration after 13 years with the Make-A-Wish Foundation at the national and local levels. She has always worked in non-profit accounting and is passionate about missions that help children.
Despite being a native Austinite, Tina graduated from West Texas A&M with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA).
Tina has one child, Brady (named after the GOAT himself) and two black cats (one with a tail and one without). Outside of work, Tina competes as a semi-professional bowler. Bowling since age four, Tina competed with Team USA in 2007 and 2008, runner-up for the collegiate national title at West Texas A&M and she has bowled more than 40 perfect games!
Personal Values: Commitment, Hard Work, and Generosity
