Staff
Children’s Aid Society of Alabama Staff
Susan Crow
Susan Crow joined the staff of Children’s Aid Society of Alabama in August 2022 and serves as Deputy Director, with oversight of all programs. Prior to coming to CAS, Susan has spent her career in the nonprofit sector, serving as CEO of Appalachia Service Project and executive director of Workshops Empowerment Inc. Susan has a B.A. from Birmingham-Southern College, M.S.W. from the University of Denver and M.Div. from Iliff School of Theology. Susan is married to Steve Norris and is a proud mom to two sons– a high school junior and a college sophomore. Together they reside in Birmingham with their spoiled dog and three cats.
Susan Crow CAS Deputy Director
205-943-5330 (O)
scrow@childrensaid.org
Torre McDonald
Torre McDonald, a native of Huntsville, AL, is a graduate of the University of Alabama with a Bachelor’s in Human Environmental Studies and a graduate of Boston University with a Master’s in Social Work. Now, Torre serves as the Independent Living Program Director at Children’s Aid Society of Alabama where she is able to fulfill her passion of working with teens. As a lived experienced foster youth, Torre is blessed to work with her incredible IL team to assist 14 – 21 year olds in the foster care system, preparing them for a successful life after foster care. In her spare time, Torre enjoys traveling and spending quality time with her fiancé, friends, and three perfect furbabies.
CAS IL Program Director
205-943-5345 (O/C)
tmcdonald@childrensaid.org
Jeremiah C. Stone, Sr.
Jeremiah C. Stone, Sr. joined the Independent Living team at Children’s Aid Society in 2023. With over eight years of experience in youth ministry he knows the importance of meeting youth where they are and strives to learn the stories of anyone he encounters. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Huntingdon College and a Master of Arts in Youth Ministry from Memphis Theological Seminary. In his role with IL he manages all forms of communication including social media, ilconnect.org, and the IL Connect App. In addition, he provides logistic support for all IL events. Jeremiah and his wife, Allison, live in Vestavia Hills with their son, Cash and their crazy, but lovable cat, Memphis.
CAS IL Communications and Logistics Specialist
205-251-7148 EXT. 406 (O/C)
jcstone@childrensaid.org
Samantha Whitley
Samantha Whitley, a native of Tuscaloosa, AL, was a part of the foster care system from age 13 until she aged out at 21. During her time in care, she was in three different group homes. She graduated from The University of Alabama in May 2021 for Criminal Justice with a double minor in Cyber Criminology and Social Welfare. She now works as the Independent Living Team Lead for Children’s Aid Society. Samantha’s main goal in life is to utilize her experiences and challenges while in custody to better the foster care system. One of her life mottos is to turn messes into messages, by using her story to educate and advocate for the needs of foster youth. In addition, she wants to promote equity and inclusion by discussing the unique experiences LGBTQ individuals face in foster care. She is currently the lead of an LGBTQ foster youth support group, known as LGB-Tea Tuesdays. She is also working on an Independent Living Skills curriculum to be utilized throughout the state of Alabama.
CAS Team Lead
205-251-7148 EXT. 401 (O/C)
swhitely@childrensaid.org
Angel Boisclair
Angel is an Experienced Youth from Tuscaloosa that resided in several areas of foster care here in Alabama. She is currently a Social Work Student at The University of Alabama on a Pre-Law track. Angel has had the opportunity to advocate on Federal Policy in Washington D.C. Angel lives by the Motto, “You go Through what you go through, to teach others down the road.” She is a firm believer that experienced youth are a huge part of advocacy and reform of the United States Foster Care System. Additionally, Angel started her pathway to Advocacy as an IL DREAM Ambassador.
CAS IL Youth Consultant
205-251-7148 EXT. 405 (O/C)
aboisclair@childrensaid.org
State DHR Staff
Valencia Curry
Valencia Curry, a native of Birmingham, Alabama has been employed with the Alabama Department of Human Resources for 30 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social work, and master’s degrees in counseling and social work. She began her social work career with Jefferson County DHR. She worked in the CAN, Family Preservation, Foster Care and Training units. In 2010, she was promoted to the state office in Montgomery as a Child Welfare Specialist. After serving and consulting with counties all over the state, Valencia was promoted to Program Supervisor and shortly afterward was promoted as the Program Manager of State DHR’s Foster Care Division. She is the current Deputy Director for the Family Services Division-Independent Living Program at State DHR. Having extensive public speaking experience, she is known for her engaging and energetic style. Above all else, she is committed to doing her part to advocate on behalf of foster youth in Alabama to become all that they were created to be.
DHR Deputy Director
334-353-2509 (O)
Valencia.curry@dhr.alabama.gov
Kanoschu Anderson Campbell
Kanoschu Anderson Campbell is Human Resources Program Manager and currently manages the State’s Independent Living and Fostering Hope Scholarship program serving Alabama’s foster youth age 14 to 26. Mrs. Campbell graduated Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology in 1992. She has twenty-eight years of service with the State of Alabama, Department of Human Resources as a Social Worker. She has served as a Child Protective Service Worker, Foster Care Worker and Quality Assurance Coordinator for Montgomery County for fifteen years. She began her State Office Service in October 2010 as the State’s Foster Care Program Supervisor and Permanency Roundtable Coordinator. She has enjoyed serving the older youth in Alabama since being assigned as the State’s ILP Coordinator position in September of 2011. She was promoted to the position of Program Manager of the State’s Foster Care and Independent Living Programs in 2015 and was assigned Interim Program Manager of Adoption in January 2018 until February 2019. Mrs. Campbell has trained throughout the State and has provided training at national conferences as a subject matter expert regarding older youth education success, psychotropic medication, sex trafficking and effective foster care services and supports.
DHR ILP Program Manager
334-353-3108 (O)
Kanoschu.campbell@dhr.alabama.gov
Bill Benson
Bill Benson serves as the Independent Living Coordinator for the Alabama Department of Human Resources with more than 20 years of experience working in the foster care system. The primary focus of his role is to develop and provide resources to DHR county staff, current youth in foster care and live-experience youth who have left or aged out of the Alabama foster care system. The goal of the work done through Alabama ILP is to help youth successfully prepare and enter adulthood. Some of the resource programs that Bill coordinates include the Fostering Hope Scholarship, Educational Training Voucher program and Foster Youth to Independence. These resources provide ongoing assistance to current and prior Alabama foster youth through obtainment of post-secondary education services, certifications for employment and housing vouchers.
DHR ILP Coordinator/Program Supervisor
334-353-4494 (O)
334-202-8529 (C)
Bill.benson@dhr.alabama.gov
Brianna Bell
Brianna Bell is a Licensed Master Social Worker based in Montgomery, AL. She holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Social Work. Brianna has been employed with the Department of Human Resources for eight years. Her career started at Elmore County
DHR, where she served as a foster care caseworker for over six years. While working as a caseworker, serving Independent Living (IL) aged youth quickly became her passion, as she thoroughly enjoyed building connections with the youth she served and advocating for youth in foster care. This led her to her current position serving as an Independent Living Consultant for State DHR’s Office of Independent Living, where she provides support to the southern region DHR counties in their role of serving IL aged youth and promoting successful transitions from foster care.
DHR ILP Consultant
334-242-9514 (O)
Brianna.juraez@dhr.alabama.gov
Darlene Flowers
Darlene currently serves as the Independent Living Consultant – North Region. She wants to help youth and young adults become self-sufficient adults that learn that they can have it all if they choose. She believes there is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self. Two of her passions are working with YOUTH and caring for pets.
Teryn L. Anderson
Teryn L. Anderson, M.A., MSW, graduated from The University of South Alabama with a Bachelor’s in Sociology and minor in Gerontology. In 2009, she graduated with her Masters in Marriage and Family Counseling from the University of Mobile. In 2021, she graduated with her Masters in Social Work. She began working with DHR in 2005 in Mobile County as an On-going Protective Service Worker. Later, she transferred to Autauga County DHR in 2011 as an OPS and CAN worker. She was promoted to supervisor in 2012 over CAN, Intake, and Adult Protective Services. In September of 2016, she was promoted to Program Specialist in the Independent Living Division of Family Services at State DHR as a Fostering Hope Mentor. She absolutely loves what she does and has a passion for helping our children transition into their independent life well.
DHR Fostering Hope Mentor
334-353-1045 (O)
Teryn.anderson@dhr.alabama.gov
Cecelia Williams
Cecelia Williams, LMSW is from Huntsville. She graduated from the University of South Alabama with a Bachelor’s Degree in English and minor in African American Studies. She went on to receive a Master’s in Social Work from Alabama A&M University, and became a Licensed Master’s Social Worker in 2014. She has worked as a case manager at a therapeutic foster care agency, as well as an adjunct Social Work instructor at the University of Alabama in the Graduate Social Work Program. Cecelia worked at Madison County DHR as a case aid, then became a student intern in CAN and Intake, before becoming a Senior Child Welfare Social Worker in the Family Drug Court unit in 2015. In July of 2022, she was promoted to Program Specialist in the Independent Living Division of Family Services at State DHR as a Fostering Hope
Mentor. She is passionate about Social Work and is dedicated to assisting foster youth in successfully transitioning into independence and adulthood.
DHR Fostering Hope Mentor
334-353-1045
Cecelia.williams@dhr.alabama.gov
