Leadership Team
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Amie Cooper
Executive Director
TBRI® Practitioner
Amie Cooper is the Founder and Executive Director of Flourishing Families of South Carolina, a nonprofit organization offering hope and healing to foster, adoptive, and kinship families. Having served for over sixteen years as a trainer, recruiter, and case manager, both for state departments and the private sector, Amie is a seasoned family services professional. Since 2017, Amie and her team of family coaches have trained 400 caregivers and professionals in Trust Based Relational Intervention. In the two years since securing a statewide contract with South Carolina Department of Social Services, FFSC has provided Adoptive Family Support Services to 145 families under her leadership.
While Amie’s professional experience demonstrates her passion for helping hurting families, her personal experience as a foster and adoptive parent is what drives her continued advocacy. She is the mother of nine children ages 7 through 30, and grandmother of two. Amie understands navigating multiple systems to find services and support for her family’s complex needs surrounding developmental disabilities, mental health diagnoses, special education, residential treatment, and transitions to adulthood. Amie credits Dr. Karyn Purvis for inspiring her to change the world for children, beginning in her own home, and teaching her that when you connect to the heart of a child everything is possible.
Amie earned her Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Development from Liberty University, is a Trust Based Relational Intervention Practitioner trained by the Karyn Purvis Institute for Child Development, and is pursuing a Masters in Mental Health Counseling from the University of the Cumberlands. Her writing detailing her experiences as an adoptive parent has been featured by Focus on The Family’s blog, and she co-authored a book, Adopted for Daily Life: A Devotional for Adopting Moms. Amie recently started the South Carolina TBRI Practitioner Network to connect professionals across the state, collaborate and share resources, and create pathways to further their work on behalf of families they serve. Amie plans to continue developing innovative programs and strengthening partnerships across systems so that all families flourish in connected communities.
Jennifer Giugliano has 20 years of experience in business administration and non-profit development. She studied at Trident Technical College and Charleston Southern University. Jennifer is passionate about TBRI® since experiencing the transformation of her parenting style with her children.
Jennifer Giugliano
Director of Operations
Anthony Giugliano
President
Board of Directors
Anthony is an Account Manager for MasterCraft Renovation Systems, LLC. He is a graduate of Charleston Southern University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Anthony is an adoptive father with a heart to help other families throughout South Carolina and beyond. He is supported by his wife Jennifer, daughter Maria and son Jonathan.
Emily is a foster and adoptive mother who uses TBRI® parenting strategies with her own children at home. She is passionate about God's heart for the vulnerable and social justice. Emily has faithfully supported Flourishing Families since the beginning, serving in leadership with a focus on community connections.
Emily Pridgen
Vice President
Board of Directors
Sherry Rauch
Secretary
Board of Directors
Dr. Sherry Rauch obtained her bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech and DDS at Indiana University. Dr. Rauch owns Dutch Fork Family Dentistry in Irmo, SC. Sherry has experience with kinship care and believes in the mission of FFSC. Her family resides in Chapin and they learn and grow in their faith at Decided Church in Irmo. She and her husband Anthony stay busy with their precocious daughter while cheering on their 20 year old son who is a member of the SC Air National Guard.
Gary is Vice President and co-owner of Palmetto EHS, LLC, an environmental health and safety consulting firm. He graduated from Winthrop University with a Bachelor's in Business Administration. Gary is an adoptive father and is supported by his wife Colleen, and daughters Katie and Sophie.
Gary Eubanks
Board of Directors
Rachel Kennon
Treasurer
Board of Directors
Rachel graduated from Bluefield College in 2011 with a B.S. in Psychology. Since then Rachel has spent her career in the non-profit sector fundraising, grant writing, event planning, accounting, and operations management. Rachel and her husband Josh live in Myrtle Beach with three amazing adopted children. Rachel has experienced the life transformative effects of TBRI first-hand and desires for all foster and adoptive families to have access to the training and services Flourishing Families provides.
Staff
Cindy Painter has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Winthrop University and her Master’s in Counseling from Webster University. She has worked with all kinds of families as a Director of a daycare and Children’s Minister. Her passion for helping adoptive families began with the adoption of her youngest son. That passion led her to start her career as a Licensed Professional Counselor and become a TBRI Practitioner to better help fostering and other adoptive families. Cindy and her husband of 30 years cherish their time with their family and friends.
Cindy Painter
Family Coach
TBRI® Practitioner
April Ficklin
Coordinator of Family Support Services
TBRI® Practitioner
Upstate Region
April is a mom of four who has degrees in English and Education from Furman University and Clemson University. Her career has taken her on many journeys from the high school classroom to virtual university forums to being an entrepreneur working from home. As an adoptive parent, April is passionate about serving children from hard places and their foster and adoptive families as well. She is a strong advocate for the vulnerable.
Maria Dayton has a BSBA from Southern Wesleyan University. She is the Lexington County Foster Parent Association's President, a former juvenile arbitrator and plays the keyboard in her church band. Maria and her husband Mike have fostered 100 teenagers, raised 5 adult children, have 8 grandchildren and recently adopted their 18 year old son. She is currently on the SCDSS Task Force helping to advocate, and develop training for use by DSS workers and caregivers, of LGBTQIA+ youth in care. Maria is also on the SC Foster Parent Advisory Council which provides SCDSS with guidance, assistance, and recommendations for addressing the needs of foster parents, children in foster care, and their families. Maria reshaped the way she parents after seeing how children respond to TBRI® techniques.
Maria Dayton
Family Support Services Supervisor
TBRI® Practitioner
Midlands Region
Kristien Morris
Family Coach
TBRI® Practitioner
PeeDee Region
Kristien Morris has 25 years experience in management, business, and people development. She studied at Ivy Tech State College in Indiana. Kristien is passionate about many things, especially children, animals, and athletics. She has long term experience with foster and adoption in the PeeDee and Lowcountry regions of SC. She and her wife Beck have 2 adopted daughters, Fynnley and Oakley and they continue to foster and have plans for additional adoptions when it’s meant to be.
Allison is a foster and adoptive mama who had her world turned upside down by welcoming children with trauma into her home. With limited training she became an overnight mom, but more importantly she became a fierce advocate for her children. Her journey to understand, guide, and love her kids well led her to TBRI® and it's principles have changed her home from the inside out. Allison graduated college with an accounting degree, but has spent most of her career as a project manager and COO for various start-ups. Organizing, advocating and serving are core strengths and she loves to share her passion for children from hard places.
Allison Cordle
Family Coach
TBRI® Practitioner
Lowcountry Region
Crystal Holder
Family Coach
TBRI® Practitioner
Upstate Region
Crystal Holder has a Master's Degree in Social Work from Campbellsville University and a BA in Speech and Communication Studies from Clemson University. She has professional experience in private foster care and adoption and as a school social worker. She has 20+ years of experience working with families through non-profits and faith-based agencies. A lifelong resident of the upstate, Crystal and her husband have a child that is adopted and a child that has Down syndrome and is medically complex. She is passionate about helping families thrive despite their challenges. She has a particular interest in helping families navigate school and medical resources.
Shelby has a BA in English Education and TESOL as well as an Master of Education. As a mom and an educator, she believes every child deserves love and connection, and she’s passionate about helping caregivers know they’re not alone in walking hard roads. She and her husband, Jason, have had the privilege of loving kids through kinship care, foster care, and adoption. Her three children keep her busy, and when she’s not working and “moming”, she loves exploring new places and getting lost in a book.
Shelby Rickey
Family Support Specialist
Midlands Region
Michelle Borkey
Family Coach
TBRI® Practitioner
All Regions
Michelle is a foster and adoptive mom. She graduated from the University of South Carolina with an Exercise Science degree focusing on public health. She was introduced to TBRI® since becoming a foster mom and it completely changed her parenting style. She is grateful to be a TBRI® Practitioner to better serve and support other foster and adoptive families.
Jenny and her husband have a background of caring for youth in foster care in a group home setting. They adopted a sibling group of four children and have a biological son who has autism. Jenny completed her bachelor degree in Sociology and Psychology at Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. She loves being a TBRI Practitioner with Flourishing Families South Carolina because she is able to be a tangible support to families on the front lines of fostering and adopting. With a strong passion for advocacy and support Jenny does not easily give up when it comes to supporting families.
jenny scarchilli
Family Coach
TAYLOR SMITH
Outreach & Communications
Coordinator
Taylor has a BBA from Charleston Southern University and a Master of Science in Sport Management from Coastal Carolina University. Taylor and her husband live in the Midlands region with their son. Taylor values time with family and friends, enjoys taking photos and playing volleyball.