About Us

Founded in 1984, Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth (SAFY) partners with youth, families, foster parents, and communities to support well-being and stability. We’re a leading provider in foster care, family supportive services, and behavioral health care across seven states, including Alabama, Colorado, Indiana, Kentucky, Nevada, Ohio, and South Carolina.

SAFY has designed a service blueprint based on research addressing the roots of trauma while affecting lasting change.  Our comprehensive foster care services, family support services, and child and family services are built to strengthen families, support foster homes, and improve outcomes for youth. We work closely with foster parents and families to provide the guidance, tools, and behavioral health support needed to feel connected.

Driven by our mission, we construct solid support structures to help families maintain stable mental, physical, and emotional foundations to weather the storms where they are, home, school, work, or community.

Our dedicated team of case managers, therapists,, and foster care professionals collaborate closely with families, schools, and communities to ensure every child receives the guidance, care, and resources they need. Through SAFY foster care and  family supportive services, we empower youth to overcome challenges, reach developmental milestones, and thrive in safe, supportive environments.

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Mission

Preserving Families, Securing Futures through foster care, family supportive services, and behavioral health care.

We provide alternatives for youth and families that strengthen relationships, promote stability, and support well-being.

Vision

At SAFY, our vision is to create thriving families and communities where every individual, regardless of background or circumstance, can reach their full potential.

Our Commitment to You

SAFY is committed to the continuous pursuit of a diverse workforce that represents the youth and families in our care. We are dedicated to creating a culture of inclusion and belonging within our organization and the communities we serve. We will establish systems and apply practices in a fair and equitable manner.

Through SAFY’s foster care, behavioral health, and family supportive services, we prioritize consistent, evidence-informed support for youth, families, and caregivers. Our programs are designed to strengthen connections, support emotional well-being, and promote stability across the states we serve.

Organizational Leadership

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    William Matt

    President and CEO

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    Nathan Leonhard

    Chief of Finance and Business Administration

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    Faith Shachter, PHR; SHRM-CP

    Chief of Human Resources

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    Tonya Brooks-Thomas, MSSA, LISW-S

    Ohio Senior Executive Director

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    Christi Wright, MA, LPC, LPC/S, CACII

    South Carolina Executive Director

State Leadership

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    Larry Dancy, MS, LPC

    Alabama Executive Director

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    Gloria Whitcraft, M.S. Ed, LMFT

    Indiana Executive Director

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    Sarah Braun

    Kentucky Associate Executive Director

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    Nichole Gilkey, LCSW

    Kentucky Associate Executive Director

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    Anya Earl

    Nevada Executive Director

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    Carley Clark, LCSW

    Colorado Associate Executive Director

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    Nicole Cochran, LCSW

    Colorado Associate Executive Director

Board of Directors

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    James J. Pozy

    Board, Chairperson

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    Charmaine Brittain, MSW, PhD

    Board, Vice Chairperson

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    Elisabeth B. Evensen, PhD

    Board, Director

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    Jeffrey A. Crawford

    Board, Director

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    Francisco Torres

    Board, Director

  • Man wearing glasses, blue jacket and tie with a white dotted shirt

    Anthony Gray

    Board, Director

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    Gloria J. Holloway

    Board, Director

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    Ricardo Perry

    Board, Director

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    Gabby Hart

    Board, Director

  • Brian Mathias, man wearing shirt and jacket

    Brian Mathias

    Board, Director

Annual Reports

Latest News

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News and Resources
Create Safe, Stable, and Nurturing Environments for Children in Care
Create Safe, Stable, and Nurturing Environments for Children in Care

In twenty-plus years as a social worker, I’ve accompanied many people on some difficult journeys. Whether it was assisting a family to tell their children about the death of a beloved family member or helping young children express their worries after a SWAT team removed them from their family, I know firsthand that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are common. 

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Parenting Skills and Protective Factors That Strengthen Families
Parenting Skills and Protective Factors That Strengthen Families

Strong families are built with intention through supportive relationships, practical skills, and access to resources that help caregivers navigate everyday challenges. In child welfare, these strengths are known as protective factors which are the conditions that reduce stress and support healthy development.

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Why Keeping Children Connected to Their Communities Matters in Foster Care
Why Keeping Children Connected to Their Communities Matters in Foster Care

What helps youth in foster care feel safe, grounded, and supported? This post explores why connection to community, culture, and belonging is essential and how foster care works best when those connections are preserved.

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