At Clara's Hope, our mission is simple yet powerful: We help families
achieve success in foster care and adoption. Serving Livingston and
Genesee County, we bridge the gap between families and agencies by
providing essential resources, guidance, and community support.
Our mission is guided by four core values:
Excellence:
Delivering high-quality, impactful support to
families with care and efficiency.
Integrity:
Operating with honesty, transparency, and
accountability in every interaction.
Family-Centered:
Tailoring our support to meet the unique needs
of each family, ensuring holistic care.
Community:
Building strong partnerships to create
a network of support and connection.
While we are not a child-placing agency, we focus on building meaningful
connections and offering ongoing support to families navigating the
foster care and adoption journey.
Strong families create strong communities, and together,we can bring
hope, stability, and lasting change. Thank you for being a part of our
story.
Our story
Read December 2024 Newsletter
Financials
Clara’s Hope is a 501(c)(3) organization. Email us here request to see our 990.
Our staff
Meet our amazing team
At Clara's Hope, our dedicated staff is committed to providing
compassionate support to the families we serve. Through their expertise,
care, and hard work, they create a nurturing environment that
empowers families to thrive. We are grateful for their passion and
dedication every day.
I was a foster parent for 16 years with 40 children in foster care living in our home throughout that time. I'm the mother of 7 forever kids (3 biological, 3 adopted, 1 in process of adoption). Clara is my daughter and the catalyst for this organization. I have a passion to see the entire family learn to heal and work toward wholeness.
Tami Kromer
Executive Director
& Founder
My fifteen years of experience in the field of social work has consisted of assisting and empowering individuals, families and children, while they work towards their own healing. I focus on bringing a calming presence to all family engagements and utilize a person centered, trauma informed approach to guide my work. My goal in this role is to support families to strengthen their community and connect them with the necessary resources to thrive. Thank you in advance for trusting me with your experience and inviting me into your homes and lives.
Maria Penrod
Family Support Specialist
and Volunteer Lead
I have always been in the field of helping people. Starting out as a Sheriff Deputy, 14 years teaching preschool, 5 years Head start/Great Start advocate and 6 years as a foster care and adoption worker. I love what I do and helping every member of the family through the licensing, foster care or adoption journey is so rewarding to me. I have 3 biological children but have still faced similar challenges our families experience. I'm so excited to be part of Clara's Hope and work with families during their time of need but also helping them to build their community. As they say it takes a village to raise a child and I would love to be part of your village.
Debbie Verbison
Family Support Specialist
& Program/Events Lead
With a background in nonprofit work and health education, I am passionate about building meaningful connections between the local community and the families Clara’s Hope serves. My goal is to strengthen support systems by cultivating community awareness and collaboration for foster and adoptive families.
Megan Suhs
Development
Coordinator
Resources
You are not alone. At Clara's Hope, we understand the challenges and
joys that come with the journey of foster care and adoption. Whether
you're just starting out or have been walking this path for years, we're
here to provide support and guidance. Below, you'll find a collection of
resources designed to equip, encourage, and empower you as you navigate
this meaningful journey.
Together, we can build stronger families, provide healing, and create
brighter futures for children in need.
Explore the resources below to find support, tools, and connections that
will help you every step of the way.
Tools to implement today
Hands on support
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