Meet the Kindering CHERISH Team
Our staff is trained to advocate across systems for children and families involved in the child welfare system. We provide services to every person involved in the child’s case, creating a trusted and knowledgeable circle of support.
Visit the Kindering Careers page to learn about openings on our team.
For information about CHERISH teams at other agencies, visit the Services page.
Administration/Trainers
Julie Fisher, CHERISH Program Director
Julie is originally from Indiana, but has lived in the Seattle area for most of her adult life. She got her start in Seattle doing crisis intervention work and then outreach and engagement in homeless shelters. After receiving her MSW from the University of Washington in 2001, Julie has focused her work on trauma-exposed children and families. She worked with foster children in Snohomish and Whatcom Counties as a Connections Specialist on a project that assessed child well-being when parent and caregiver relationships are supported and encouraged. After studying under attachment therapist Deborah Gray and others, Julie earned a certificate in Foster & Adoption Therapy from Cascadia Training. Since 2006, she has been part of the CHERISH program and currently serves as its director. Julie, with the help of Kindering’s amazing team of clinical social workers, is involved in replicating CHERISH in other Early Intervention settings. Since 2013, she has been humbled and awed by all that she’s learned from other therapists (OTs, PTs, SLPs, and educators) who have trained with her to provide CHERISH services at their agencies. Julie is always eager to talk with anyone who feels passionate about improving the lives of foster children and impacting systems and policies. In her spare time, Julie can be found laughing and playing with her family and friends. She’s especially engaged when playing scrabble or euchre (a Midwest card game), eating tasty food, or exploring something or somewhere new.
Mara Calhoun, CHERISH Program Manager
Mara has lived most of her life in the Northwest and is deeply committed to supporting the lives of young children and their families in the community. She began her early intervention career at Kindering as a paraeducator and FRC, later returning as a CHERISH Clinical Social Worker after completing her MSW at the University of Washington. Since receiving her MSW in 2006 she has worked in educational, medical, mental health and child welfare settings providing her a cross-systems perspective helpful in her CHERISH role of program development and systems advocacy. She has been Clinical Faculty at the CHDD and holds graduate certificates from the University of Washington in Infant Mental Health and LEND (Leadership and Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities). In her spare time, she enjoys getting outdoors, drawing, watching soccer, spending time with family and friends, and raising two great kids.
Jennifer Gears (she/her), Community Engagement Specialist
Jennifer received her MSW from the University of Hawai`i, after receiving Bachelor’s degrees in both Social Work and Psychology at the University of Washington, and now appreciates learning through work and life in our community. She is focused on confronting inequities for systemically oppressed communities, and creating comprehensive networks of support that effectively addresses barriers for each individual to achieve their goals. Wherever she is in life, Jennifer is actively trying to incorporate mindfulness, humor, and music into all that she is doing (preferably with a snack in hand).
Dianna Zaorski, CHERISH Clinical Social Worker and 3-5 Program Manager
Dianna is originally from the East Coast but has called the Pacific Northwest home for the last 20 years. She began her professional career in the for-profit sector which enabled her to travel extensively and experience an array of cultures. Dianna’s passion for social justice and volunteer work with homeless women and children ultimately led her down the path of social services. Dianna has a bachelor’s degree in sociology and graduate degrees in communications and social work. After obtaining her MSW from the University of Washington in 2007, Dianna spent ten years at a private child-placing agency as a social worker, clinical supervisor, and social services director, where she served children in foster care and their families. She has completed the Attachment and Trauma Focused Certificate Program and is a Bringing Baby Home Certified Gottman Educator. Eager to return to direct service work with families, Dianna joined Kindering in 2018 as a CHERISH Clinical Social Worker and Manager of the CHERISH 3-5 program. In her spare time, Dianna enjoys spending time with family and friends, cheering her son on at soccer games, traveling, reading, and listening to music.
Tracy Kaplan, CHERISH Program Trainer
Tracy is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist with a Master of Science in Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences from the University of Arizona. She has been practicing for over 16 years, working in various settings (i.e., community/home health, schools, hospitals, clinics) and with people of all ages. Tracy is a Certified Lactation Counselor, she has an educational background and training in maternal child health, and she was a LEND Fellow through the UA College of Medicine, Dept. of Pediatrics. She has also completed an Infant-Parent Mental Health fellowship through the University of California-Davis, the Phase 1 NMT training/certification with Dr. Bruce Perry through The Child Trauma Academy, and she has been working as a CHERISH™ Infant Mental Health Specialist in the field of early intervention since 2015. Most recently, Tracy has been enrolled in a 15-month Reflective Supervision Fellowship Program. Tracy enjoys blending her work in Speech-Language Pathology, child development, and infant-early childhood mental health principles into an interdisciplinary approach to optimally serve children and families, professionals, and communities. Her areas of interest and specialty include: communication and feeding disorders, infant-early childhood mental health, and reflective supervision and consultation. Outside of her local endeavors, Tracy volunteers internationally to support feeding and infant mental health practices for underserved populations. She also adores being outside and soaking in beautiful vistas with her hubby and two furry friends, Ira and Sal.
Rikki-Rachelle Hinz, CHERISH Program Planner
Rikki has been working with young children and families in various capacities for about 15 years. Before this role, Rikki worked for Kindering as an infant mental health therapist on the ESIT team. She is a first generation college graduate, has a Masters of Arts in applied child psychology, and recently completed the Barnard Center’s Advanced Clinical Training in IECMH program. Rikki has a deep passion for supporting equitable experiences for young children and families and uses the motto: “None of us are well, until all of us are well.” Her self care often includes playing in the mountains, and spending time with loved ones. Currently, she is working on finishing the 100 highest peaks of Washington and hopes to complete the list in 2023!
Marlene Liao (she/her), CHERISH Program Coordinator
In 2022, Marlene moved from the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), also known as Vancouver, BC, Canada. She has an Anthropology degree from the University of British Columbia and a Social Work degree from the University of Victoria. Her volunteer and work experience includes working with school age children and youth, then later working with folks struggling with mental health, substance use, and housing in the Vancouver downtown eastside. Her professional areas of interest include working with the BIPOC community, particularly Indigenous folks and new immigrants. She enjoys doing animal rescue work, outdoor climbing, board games and spending time with her furry family. Marlene and her partner have a grey tabby cat, a black cat, and a VERY food driven German Shepherd.
Terreca DeFehr, CHERISH Parent Engagement Advisor
Terreca has found purpose through her own adversities, inspiring hope and emphasizing the importance of support during uncertain times. She affirms that we will find our worth when we are unconditionally supported when facing our doubts. Terreca is a parent who’s personally navigated the child welfare system. Her determination in a complex two-year journey through the Washington state Child Welfare Dependency court process resulted in her reuniting with her children in 2007. Drawing from her own experience, she swiftly turned it into a guide for others and became a Parent with Lived Experience. With a background as a Registered Substance Abuse Counselor, Terreca brings practical insights to her work. Returning to her passion in 2019, Terreca focuses on helping parents within the Child Welfare system. She’s pursuing a Psychology major with a minor in Industrial and Organizational Psychology at Eastern Washington University, aiming for graduate school to enhance her impact. Her greatest joys are being a mom, grandmother, music, and traveling.
Clinical Service Providers
Sarah Branson, CHERISH IMH Therapist & Trainer
Sarah was born and raised in Wisconsin and has been passionate about caring for marginalized groups and catalyzing systemic change for over a decade. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in Psychology with a minor in At-Risk Child and Youth Care. Throughout internships and early jobs, Sarah began working as a teacher and paraeducator with children and adolescents who had behavior challenges due to histories of trauma and developmental delays. After working overseas with women and children who had been trafficked and sexually exploited, Sarah moved to the PNW to pursue a Masters in Counseling Psychology from The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology. She has since worked as a mental health counselor with children, teens, and adults in school and office-based settings in South King County. Through years of further study and working as a nanny for infants and toddlers, she developed an interest in fostering resilience and healing through the Caregiver-Infant dyad. Outside of CHERISH, Sarah enjoys visiting family, cooking tasty food, discovering new places, and reading in her hammock.
Carmen Rodriguez, CHERISH Clinical Social Worker
Carmen Is a native of the North West and received her MSW from the University of Washington in 1992. Carmen is passionate about providing clinical services to families utilizing a culturally relevant, racial equity lens. Prior to receiving her MSW she completed a BFA at the Cornish Institute in Visual Art. Carmen is certified in Child Parent Psychotherapy and is an endorsed Infant Mental Health Therapist. Carmen has worked in Early Childhood Education, Mental Health and Medical Social Work settings. Carmen also enjoys mentoring students and has been a Practicum Instructor for University of Washington, Seattle University and Washington State University. Carmen likes to spend time with family (especially fur babies and human grandson) and friends and enjoys reading, spending time outdoors, exploring new restaurants, making jewelry and traveling.
Gretchen Stewart, CHERISH Clinical Social Worker
Gretchen grew up in the California Bay Area and has called Seattle home for the past 20 years. She earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from Pomona College in southern California, and her MSW from the University of Washington in 2006. Gretchen’s career has been focused on serving children and families. She began working with families in hospital settings, first in graduate school at Seattle Children’s in the Oncology Department and following graduation at UWMC where she worked mainly with mothers and their newborns. Gretchen spent over 10 years working at a private child-placing agency in Seattle where she supported foster families. She completed Deborah Gray’s Attachment and Trauma Focused Therapy Certificate Program in 2021. Gretchen is humbled by the strength and resiliency of her clients and appreciates the opportunity to partner with families to help children thrive. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her two kids, husband, and dog, running, thrifting, taking walks with friends, drinking large mugs of coffee, and noticing the beauty in everyday things.
Family Resource Coordinators
Alyssa Strowe, CHERISH FRC
Alyssa grew up in Washington, moving from Vancouver to all over the Greater Seattle area. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Society, Ethics, and Human Behavior from the University of Washington in Bothell in 2019. Her previous work involved various positions throughout childcare and preschool settings. Alyssa had found a passion for working with young children through her time as an infant teacher. She was moved by having to opportunity to support diverse families as they helped their little ones grow and develop. In her free time, Alyssa enjoys spending time with her family, friends, partner, and their orange tabby cat. She loves reading, finding new restaurants, and trying out different crafts and hobbies!
Valeria Meza, CHERISH FRC
Valeria moved to Washington at the age of 6 and has lived in the Greater Seattle area since! She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Medical Anthropology and Global Health from the University of Washington, Seattle in 2020. Before joining Kindering, Valeria worked in a childcare setting with children ranging in ages from 1-4 years. Valeria had known from a young age that she wanted to work with children, helping them grow and become their own little person. Working one-on-one with toddlers solidified that more for her! In her free time, Valeria enjoys spending time with her family, friends, husband, and their dogs. Some of her favorite hobbies include reading, traveling, trying new coffee spots, and crocheting.
