Six years ago, Crossnore expanded its reach to Hendersonville, North Carolina. What started as a foster care team of one has now grown to a staff of five. Our dedicated foster care team has been working diligently. They’ve licensed more than 38 foster families, who have served more than 70 children. Seventeen of whom have reached permanency through adoption. There are many challenges building a foster care program from the ground up. This is true especially when it takes, on average, two years from the time a family expresses interest in foster parenting to actually becoming fully licensed foster parents. What we have been able to accomplish in our short six years in Hendersonville is pretty incredible!
Lisa Melton: Permanency Planning Supervisor
When the Hendersonville office first opened six years ago, Lisa Melton was a one stop shop. She handled it all, from licensing families and placing children in their homes to providing case management services. What keeps her invested in this work is seeing positive permanency outcomes for children. For Lisa, seeing children and families overcome trauma and reunite or find a forever home through adoption rejuvenate her and keep her going. Finding positive permanency for children, she says, is hard but rewarding work.
When Lisa is not traveling across western North Carolina working with families, she can be spotted at a dance competition for her daughter or cheering her son on at a football game. Her loving and large family also includes two cats and ten dogs. Between work and family, there’s never a dull moment.
Holly Buff: Licensing & Training Supervisor
As we grew, we hired Holly Buff to be in charge of foster parent recruitment and family licensing. Holly, our Licensing and Training Supervisor, joined the team about four years ago. In a previous life, Holly was a marriage and family therapist. But after taking what she thought would be a short break from clinical work, found herself in foster care, where she’s worked diligently for eight years. Holly enjoys the work of building families, whether it be through temporary foster care, reunification, or adoption.
When not working, Holly is usually out on an adventure with her son or podcasting about Appalachian true crime. When there’s a spare moment, Holly can be found working enthusiastically on a DIY home improvement project. Another fun fact? She’s also ambidextrous!
Christy Spangler: Western Regional Program Director
Almost two years ago, Crossnore decided to hire a local program director in the Hendersonville region. Previously, the foster care team reported to a Triad regional director who sat some three hours away. This transition was a big procedural and logistical process that took months to implement. But the effort was absolutely worth it so our Hendersonville team could have the support of an on-site director. A little over a year ago, we were excited to welcome our Western Regional Program Director, Christy Spangler. Earlier in her career Christy was interested in child welfare. However, she found balancing raising children while also working to keep children safe from child abuse and neglect challenging. After a couple of decades in substance use and disorder treatment, Christy decided to return to child welfare. We’re so glad she did! Christy hit the ground running, diving deep into the work. She enjoys immensely working directly with children and families.
In her free time Christy spends time with her three grandchildren, often cheering them on at a baseball game. A Saint Bernard puppy, named Calypso, recently joined her family.
Shamilah Thompson: Licensing Family Caseworker
In January of this year, we were thrilled to welcome Shamilah Thompson, our new Licensing Family Caseworker. Shamilah came to us from a school-based mental health therapist. Previously, Shamilah worked in probation as a parole officer and in child welfare as a CPS investigator. Growing up in New York in the 1990’s, Shamilah witnessed disheartening and challenging circumstances. She was driven to work for the greater good via a helping profession. She has a strong calling to make a difference in the lives of children and families.
Shamilah grew up with a love of dancing, focusing on Caribbean, hip hop and contemporary movements. She attended college on a basketball scholarship. In her free time, Shamilah enjoys eating at new restaurants and lifting weights.
Ashley Marlow: Permanency Planning Family Caseworker
Most recently we were beyond thrilled to welcome our new Permanency Planning Family Caseworker, Ashley Marlow. Ashley previously owned and operated a daycare center and has previous child welfare experience. Ashley hit the ground running and has made our team complete.
Outside of work Ashley stays busy being a mom to three sons, camping, and running a non-profit organization rescuing animals. On their small farm, her family cares for several animals including dogs, pigs, cows, llamas, a donkey, and an emu. Dive a bit deeper and you will discover that Ashley is a self proclaimed Disney fanatic.
Over the past seven years the Crossnore foster care team has developed and grown a dedicated staff of employees to better serve the needs and challenges of families and children in the Hendersonville region. During this time we have done this deeply important work in rented spaces that were not ideally suited for the mission at hand. We are thrilled to announce a more permanent solution and affirm our commitment to seed, plant, and foster roots within the Henersonville community with our very own purpose built, Crossnore owned, building set to open in the summer of 2025.
