Erin Beyer
(Innocademy)
A strong & passionate advocate for kids and families. Erin has spent her life working as a camp counselor, Sunday school teacher, doula, and foster parent. She’s also served on a preschool parent board and as camp Assistant Director. Currently, she is an elementary school paraprofessional.
She and her husband, Ryan, have 4 daughters both biological and adopted.
er**@mi*************.com
Margarita Hughes
(MDHHS)
Committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the child welfare community is at the forefront of Margarita’s goals. She’s taken her BA in Criminal Justice and Master’s Degree in Public Administration, to focus on research and analysis, program operations, public policy, leadership, and diversity. She takes all of this along with her 10 years of working as a child welfare professional to create programming that will educate others on the disproportionality of children of color in foster care, and creating an environment where children and families can work alongside child welfare professionals to establish realistic and attainable goals towards reunification.
Margarita resides in Holland, with her husband, Troy, their 3 children, and 2 dogs.
ma****@mi*************.com
liz sharda // Member
(Hope College)
Care for the caregivers- parents, foster parents, social workers- is where Liz’s passion lies. She knows firsthand how challenging these roles can be, having worked for several years in the child welfare system in a variety of capacities (residential treatment, foster care, trauma treatment) before pursuing her PhD in social work. She is currently a professor of social work, educating future social workers on how to care for others effectively while also caring for themselves.
Liz and her husband, Brian, have been foster parents for over ten years. They have one biological daughter, one long-term foster daughter, and a new foster grandchild.
li*@mi*************.com