CURRENT CHALLENGES
& OPPORTUNITIES

Melissa started her journey with the DFPS in 2016 as a conservatorship worker, where she gained experience in investigations, conservatorship supervision, and child placement. Melissa was the Lead Centralized Placement Coordinator for DFPS Regions 4 and 5 and has a strong understanding of all the moving parts of placement and permanency. Melissa loves coffee, true crime shows, and reading … in that order! She and her husband, Mark, have three children who are 15, 13, and 8 years old and a dog child named Spinner. One of their favorite things to do as a family is to travel.

Courtnee comes to 4Kids4Families after serving as the DFPS Conservatorship Program Director for multiple Counties. During her tenure as Program Director, Courtnee implemented new strategic programs designed to ensure caseworkers were trained in trauma-informed behavioral intervention. Courtnee also co-founded “Anderson County Cares,” a nonprofit corporation that provides clothing, backpacks, school supplies, and Christmas presents for children that are in the department’s conservatorship as a means of giving an elevated sense of “normalcy.” Courtnee is a graduate of Texas A&M University, with a degree in psychology. She is a devoted mother to her two amazing children.

Sara has 15 years of professional and volunteer experience in child welfare. She has been a conservatorship worker and trainer with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. She was a CASA volunteer for four years. Sara is passionately pro-child and pro-family and believes every child is adoptable. She has a strong background in research and is constantly striving for best practices. Sara is a native East Texan and is excited to work in Region 4.

Sandy Stephens started her career in child welfare over 30 years ago as an investigator with Child Protective Services. She has been with Arrow Child & Family Ministries for over 25 years. During that time she led the opening of the Tyler office and provided leadership and compliance with regulatory standards for the growth of that office. Sandy is a Licensed Child Placing Agency Administrator and Trust-Based Relational Intervention practitioner and has assisted many children to permanency through adoption. Sandy has also been continuously involved in the East Texas community she loves through collaborative efforts like the East Texas Network for Children Training Conference. Sandy is a proud graduate of Texas A&M University in College Station. She and her husband of 36 years, Jeff, enjoy their time outdoors in the rolling hills of East Texas.