.jpg)
Instructors
Cornerstones of Care is proud to partner with experts to provide high quality professional development opportunities.
Instructors with Cornerstones of Care
Sr. Manager of Collaborative Learning
Amber Maledy, LMSW
Amber Maledy, LMSW is a training specialist with Cornerstones of Care and serves on the WIDE committee ensuring a commitment to diversity and inclusion within the organization. She has experience in child welfare, developmental disabilities, and trauma. She has been with Cornerstones of Care since 2015 working with children and families in the child welfare system. Prior to Cornerstones of Care she worked with cancer patients at a cancer center and worked with individuals diagnosed with developmental disabilities in a supported living setting. Amber has a undergraduate degree in Psychology from Columbia College and a Master’s degree in Social Work from UMKC. She has presented at International Conferences such as the Signs of Safety Gathering and National Conferences including Sanctuary Network days and Netsmart’s Connections Event. She also won the Spirt of the Alliance award in 2016 for outstanding service with families and children.
Director of Collaborative Learning & Training
Lesa Chandler
Lesa A. Chandler has almost 40 years of experience working with children and families. She is currently the Director for Collaborative Learning at Cornerstones of Care in Kansas City, Missouri, and serves on the Champions of Hope for implementing Sanctuary, a trauma-informed model of culture change. She has been a therapeutic foster parent; trained foster parents and staff for Maryhurst in Louisville, Kentucky; directed a performance-based contracted foster care case management program; served on committees to help implement Family2Family in Jefferson County, Kentucky; and provided contract training in a variety of settings. She has presented at local, regional, and national workshops including the Alliance for Children & Families, Foster Family-Based Treatment Association, Fostering Strategies for Change, and the Kansas Excellence in Supervision Conference. Her degrees are in Education and Communication from William Jewell College (B.A.), Central Missouri State University (graduate work), and Midwest Baptist Theological Seminary (M.R.E.). She was disappointed for the annual service trip with high school youth from her church, which she regularly chaperones, to be canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19.
Learning Manager
Beth Harmon
Beth is a Training Specialist at Cornerstones of Care. Her areas of expertise include recognizing behaviors as trauma symptoms, developing trauma informed interventions for these behaviors and working with children and adolescents suffering from adversity and trauma. Beth has presented twice at the Sanctuary Institute training symposium and many regional and local conferences.
Learning Partner
Kathy Faaborg- Nicholson
Kat Nicholson-Faaborg, has a BS degree in Psychology, Sociology, and Social Work from Peru State College, in Peru, Neb. Before becoming a training specialist with Cornerstones of Care, she spent almost 30 years working with children and families, primarily focusing on child welfare. Kat has worked in the child welfare arena in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and North Carolina. She was awarded the Nebraska Protection and Safety Worker of the Year in 2004 for outstanding work in Child Abuse/Neglect Investigations. Currently, Kat serves on the Cornerstones of Care Employment Relations Committee, ensuring a commitment to new and current team members within Cornerstones of Care and its affiliates.
Learning Partner
Katie Ramel
Kathleen (Katie) joined Cornerstones of Care in 2022. She worked as a paramedic then transitioned to a middle school reading, science, and math teacher where she taught in a public school for over a decade. Katie serves on the Center School District Board of Education and holds a B.A.E. where she served as part of the Delta team committed to social justice within the School of Education.
While teaching, she developed an advanced skill set creating an inclusive classroom. Katie believes that wrapped around social services and a trauma-informed mindset are the keys to successfully educating children and families experiencing economic, social, or educational poverty. Privately, you might see Katie kayaking a river, sharing her love of the great outdoors with her partner and their two young boys.
Learning Partner
Jonathan Graham
Jonathan Graham joined Cornerstones of Care as a training specialist in 2023. He started his training career in the animal industry as a professional dog trainer. Jonathan has studied canine behavior and body language for eleven years. He has taken his training and skills for behavior, body language, and instruction, to a new level working with children, families, and professionals. Jonathan is working on a degree in social work with a minor in psychology through Maryville University of Saint Louis. Additionally, Jonathan is a Treat Foster Care parent and has a thorough understanding of trauma informed parenting and the support that foster parents and youth require. Jonathan’s classes are sure to bring to life the topic matter through interactive participation, conversations, and real-life experiences.
Learning Partner
Ted Arrandale
Learning Partner
Deraan Washington MA
Deraan Washington is a Professional Development Trainer at Cornerstones of Care. In her role as a Trainer, she designs and facilitates professional development experiences that promote empathy centered dialogue, belonging, and responsive resolution. Deraan has experience as a mental health specialist, sociology professor, and intercultural trainer.
Her approach integrates trauma-informed principles to ensure a supportive and gradual learning experience, fostering environments where participants can thrive. She values facilitating learning experiences that prepare participants for meaningful relationships professionally and personally. She accomplishes such learning experiences by placing self-awareness and empathy building concepts at the center of her training and coaching projects.
Learning Partner
Ryan Anderson
With over 9 years of experience directly in coaching and training, Ryan has a passion for developing positive, life-long habits and leading others in their own self-improvement. Ryan is a Learning Partner and Trainer for Cornerstones of Care, where he facilitates learning for social workers with a specific focus in foster care. Ryan is a co-founder and volunteer board member of a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization called Enoch Initiative, which makes a strong impact in the lives of those in need around the world. Ryan and his wife are the proud parents of 8 children. Ryan and his family volunteer abundantly in their Church congregation and community with a main focus on serving youth, children, and families.
Partners with Cornerstones of Care
Crystal Rozelle – Bennett, LMSW
Crystal Rozelle – Bennett, LMSW is the founder and CEO of THRYVE, LLC. Ms. Bennett brings over 20 years of experience with youth and families to the leadership of THRYVE. She is committed to advocating for and empowering individuals and communities. Through coaching, consultation, presentations, and workshop facilitation, Ms. Bennett has worked with thousands of professionals, across the nation, to promote the delivery of trauma-informed, culturally inclusive, and person-centered strategies and services. Her areas of expertise include Human Trafficking, Suicide Prevention, Child Trauma/Maltreatment, Motivational Interviewing, Racial Trauma, Cultural Humility, and working to dismantle systems of white supremacy to promote equity and justice.
Contract Instructor
Tamicka Monson MA, MS, LPC
Tamicka Monson, MA, MS, LPC, CCTP is a professional counselor at Tamicka Monson Counseling LLC. She holds three degrees, including a Master of Science in counseling psychology from the University of Kansas. Tamicka is extremely passionate about identity work. Through individual and group counseling, speaking, and writing, Tamicka helps others heal, grow, and become the best version of themselves.
As a dedicated speaker for over fifteen years, Tamicka uses her skills to reach out to hurting individuals within communities. Her topics include mental and emotional healing and living as a whole person after experiencing trauma. She also speaks to community leaders about social justice (such as gun violence, mass incarceration, and poverty) affecting minority communities. Furthermore, having worked in childcare, youth development, education, and mental health for more than fifteen years, she challenges educators to consider the unique struggles of those within minority and poverty-stricken communities and how these struggles affect them.
Tamicka has written articles and has been featured on several podcasts and radio stations, including 90.7 KJHK and 90.9 The Bridge. Additionally, she is a rap artist and songwriter and uses her music to bring healing to others. For more information on Tamicka's work, visit https://www.tamickamonsoncounseling.com/.